Move over mommy makeover: The "Ozempic makeover" may be the hottest new trend
Mom is always going to be number one. There's just no replacing her! Yet, the mommy makeover, one of the past decade's most popular plastic surgery trends, may be overtaken by the "Ozempic makeover."
Ads aplenty, from social media to Super Bowl Sunday, tout the newest "magic bullet" for weight loss – semaglutide drugs. The extreme rise in popularity of weight loss drugs like Ozempic is helping people shed pounds like never before. Unfortunately, most people are only just realizing that rapid, significant weight loss comes with loose, sagging skin and hollow cheeks. Enter the Ozempic makeover.
What is the Ozempic makeover, and why is it quickly becoming one of the hottest new plastic surgery trends? Move over, Mommy, we are about to find out.
Understanding weight loss and Ozempic
"Ozempic makeover" is the catchy name given to a set of plastic surgery procedures that address the physical issues that can come from rapid or significant weight loss. Ozempic is not the only weight loss medication catching fire in the United States, but it is the one lending its name to this buzzworthy procedure.
Semaglutide is the "active" ingredient in Ozempic and other weight loss medications like Wegovy. It mimics the natural hormone GLP-1, which promotes insulin production to reduce blood sugar. In specific quantities, this hormone also interacts with the brain to help suppress appetite by signaling that one feels full.
These drugs are nothing new or particularly innovative. Physicians have been using this classification of medication to help treat patients with type 2 diabetes for more than a decade. One of the side effects people with diabetes reported when taking the drug was weight loss. Eventually, medical professionals started prescribing these drugs off-label to help individuals manage their weight when other options like diet and exercise weren't enough. Early studies show that patients shed more pounds using semaglutide drugs than those who only made lifestyle alterations.
Shedding stubborn pounds sounds like a dream come true, but there are potential side effects once the weight disappears. Gradual weight loss gives skin and other tissues time to adjust. Rapid weight loss doesn't, which can lead to sagging, drooping or loose skin, especially around the arms, legs and belly. Another issue with semaglutide drugs for weight loss, or any weight loss, is that you don't get to choose where your body loses fat. Many people on these medications are shocked to wake up one morning and find their face looks a little gaunt or hollow.
What is the Ozempic makeover?
Why is the Ozempic makeover gaining such popularity? Kristy Hamilton, MD, points to the raw facts.
"In 2023, 40 percent of the United States adult population was classified as obese, and as of today, 12 percent of Americans have been on a GLP-1, so there are a significant number of people losing a significant amount of weight," said Dr. Hamilton. "After the fat melts away, these patients are left with a substantial amount of excess skin that cannot be 'exercised' away. The only remedy – as of today – is to surgically cut it out with body contouring procedures."
The Ozempic makeover helps patients address facial and body changes to feel comfortable in their "new" body. Like the mommy makeover, an Ozempic makeover is customizable. A board-certified plastic surgeon works with you to address your unique concerns and find solutions that can help you achieve your desired aesthetic outcome.
"As we are seeing more and more patients lose weight with medication, a new wave of people is flooding into the plastic surgery offices," said Ashley Amalfi, MD. "These patients are losing weight quickly and rapidly and are unhappy with the way their skin and tissue look after their weight loss."
Once again, since you can't choose where you want to lose weight, even with targeted exercise and training, Ozempic makeovers can be personalized to address each patient's specific needs.
"For surgical planning for these individuals, we are often addressing the arms, back, abdomen, breasts, thighs and even the face and neck in many cases due to this significant deflation," said Dr. Hamilton. "As such, I ask patients to choose up to two areas to treat at a time, and we stage their operations."
Patients should reflect on which areas they want to focus on first, remembering that it may be easier to address specific areas of the body and let them heal before moving on to another area.
"I also suggest they start with the body area that 'bothers' them the most, so they can see improvement immediately, and that helps build confidence as well," said Dr. Hamilton. "That's one of the key takeaways that this will be a series of operations rather than a single grand makeover."
While you may know which areas of your body you want to address with an Ozempic makeover, it is vital to work with an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon. They can answer your questions and offer surgery solutions that may be better tailored to your body type.
"Often patients need a breast lift procedure and sometimes the addition of volume with fat grafting or a breast implant," said Dr. Amalfi. "Also, because their tissue has stretched and deflated very quickly, they often need soft tissue support or the use of mesh in their breast cases. For their abdomen, there's loose skin, and a tummy tuck is an obvious next step. There is often inflation of their backside as well, and radiofrequency devices for skin tightening can be used here. Even in thin patients, it may be necessary to lift their buttocks."
What to know before you schedule your Ozempic makeover
There are a few things that you need to consider before you rush out to schedule a plastic surgery consultation for an Ozempic makeover. First, although you may continue to take medication to help you maintain your weight, you'll want to consider surgery when you are at or near your "goal weight." Additional significant weight loss after plastic surgery can significantly alter your plastic surgery results.
"Patients should be at or near the end of their weight loss journey before having surgery," said Dr. Hamilton. "If they continue to lose significant weight after their operations, then they may look a little 'loose' again if they deflate further."
Patients must also understand that they will need to discontinue the use of their weight loss medication before surgery. Semaglutide drugs complicate anesthesia. Without necessary calories and food intake, these drugs can also potentially deplete the body of essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients needed for healing following surgery.
"I ask them to stop their GLP-1s one month in advance so that they can work on their nutrition," said Dr. Hamilton.
Some patients may stress about the thought of discontinuing their medication before and potentially after surgery, but your surgeon is there to reassure you it will be okay.
"Patients also don't need to worry about gaining weight in that early postoperative period," said Dr. Hamilton. "I tell patients they are 'metabolic powerhouses' during this time, their bodies are working day and night to heal after surgery, so they are burning tons of calories, without having to worry about regaining fat."
It's important to continue keeping an eye on your diet and exercise once you recover to optimize your results.
"As always with rapid weight loss, we recommend a lot of protein intake and regular weightlifting so there is no loss of muscle mass," said Dr. Amalfi. "This can really help with a patient's surgical results once they have a sculpted body underneath their new tight Ozempic makeover."
Increasing protein and muscle helps with recovery post-surgery and may enhance a patient's chances of bouncing back more quickly.
"For surgery, in general, and for patients on GLP-1s specifically, they should be maintaining a high protein diet and – when surgically appropriate – pursuing strength and resistance training to build muscle, maximize their health and optimize aesthetic results," said Dr. Hamilton.
Mom may be number one in our hearts, but the Ozempic makeover may eclipse the mommy makeover, benefiting women and men who want to refine their features after weight loss.
To find a qualified plastic surgeon for any cosmetic or reconstructive procedure, consult a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. All ASPS members are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, have completed an accredited plastic surgery training program, practice in accredited facilities and follow strict standards of safety and ethics. Find an ASPS member in your area.
