Tap “stats on how many Americans are using GLP-1 drugs” into your search option of choice, and the real skinny on the weight-loss phenom quickly emerges.
As it turns out, only one in eight, or roughly 12 percent of the U.S. adult population, took the plunge into semaglutides (the generic term for anti-diabetic/anti-obesity drugs Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, etc.) this past year. And given that at least a chunk of that user base is driven by legitimate health concerns, the semaglutide craze doesn’t loom nearly as large as all the chatter around it would have us believe.
But with stronger variations of these Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists headed to market, and the rise of “skinny culture” firmly kicking aside the body-acceptance of the past decade, expect more of the gen-pop to partake, leaving spas to assist with the aftermath, namely loose body skin and sagging facial contours.
After a debrief with skin experts who are actively in the trenches—including estheticians, spa owners, and dermatologists—it’s amply clear that they’re more than up to the challenge. While some practitioners are focused solely on treating semaglutide-related skin issues, others are affiliated with spas that are actively engaged with helping clients shed excess pounds.
With an array of tissue tighteners and its own Rebalance medical weight loss program, SkinSpirit, now up to 60+ locations nationwide, does both.
“We spent significant time researching GLP-1 medications in-depth and developing a comprehensive policy and procedure that outlines our clinical protocol,” says Jessica Huggins, Certified Medical Assistant and esthetician based at the company’s Palo Alto location. “This ensures that our entire team is aligned, knowledgeable and confident in providing safe, effective, and consistent care for every patient using GLP-1 therapy with us at SkinSpirit.”
Facing Up to Instant “Aging”
SkinSpirit, a national medi-spa brand, now has 60+ locations.
Fact: Rapid weight loss can do a number on facial contours. Just ask Huggins’s fellow esthetician Monica Monahan, who works her post-semaglutide magic at SkinSpirit’s Seattle location and has numerous medical designations in her official title: RN, BSN, CANS. Luckily, she’s got an arsenal of treatments at the ready.
“Hyaluronic acid filler, Sculptra, and Radiesse are all great options for volume loss in the face,” says Monahan. “Non-invasive ultrasound-based devises such as Sofwave and Ultherapy can also be helpful in helping to tighten the skin.”
Just don’t expect miracles—and know that a trip to the plastic surgeon’s office could still be in your future. “There are limitations to non-invasive treatments,” Monahan admits. “A great provider will listen to your esthetic goals and give you honest feedback as to the best treatment plan for you, even if that includes a surgical intervention.”
Superstar facialist Tammy Fender, owner of two sun-drenched spas on Florida’s east coast, sees both plusses and minuses for clients dabbling in weight loss drugs.
The semaglutide craze may be louder than it is large, but its impact on skin, aging, and spa care is already reshaping treatment rooms.
“Losing weight often means lowering inflammation, which can have a positive effect on the skin, and reduce inflammatory stress, while also supporting the skin in becoming more calm and clear,” notes Fender. “Of course, this is especially true when clients are also making healthier lifestyle choices that make it all sustainable, alongside working with GLP-1 to lose weight.”
Still, says Fender, rapid weight loss can outpace the skin’s natural resilience, causing it to appear lackluster and depleted. The face can also begin to appear hollowed, especially around the jawline, cheekbones, and temples.
To combat these issues, Fender and her team lean into deep hydration and replenishment of the skin’s natural oils.
“We use circulation-stimulating massage to reawaken skin vitality, and gentle sculpting to help restore natural muscle memory and tone,” says Fender. “In this way skin is supported, strengthened, and nourished in order to become supple again. Through holistic care, our goal is to really restore the skin’s vital life force.”
Embracing Early Intervention
Board-certified dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD, treats a growing number of patients using semaglutide.
Board-certified dermatologist Ava Shamban, whose practice is based in Beverly Hills, was among the first to decry what she calls “Ozempic face.” And as she and her team treat an ever-larger swath of the population diving into the semaglutide pool, they’ve learned that the earlier they partner with patients, the better.
“We like to start treating when the patient begins their Ozempic journey by beginning with some regenerative injectables, as well as tissue-tightening devices,” says Shamban, ticking off a tidy list of skin-rejuvenators she swears by.
“Sculptra and hyperdilute Radiesse are both great biostimulatory injectable products to use for face or body that will continue to stimulate the fibroblasts to produce new collagen and elastin for overall enhanced skin quality,” Shamban notes, adding that she has also had success with tissue-tightening via ultrasound and radio frequency.
“Sofwave and Ulthera—along with Sinclair V-FR—are all exceptional devices to support skin response to both the weight loss and, quite frequently, the decrease in the amount of protein consumed,” says Shamban. “Using controlled heat sources triggers the body’s natural tightening response to contract the tissue. There are other ablative laser devices that also provide some additional support in collagen and elastin, but the radio frequency and ultrasound are the primary tools that we pair with biostimulators and hyaluronic acid gels in our GLP-1 protocols.”
Despite all the high-tech talk, Shamban says she and her team also encourage patients to embrace non-drug approaches to looking their absolute best. “We also recommend that they’re advised on proper nutritional support,” she says, “and that they participate in weight training to maintain lean muscle mass.”
Dana Wood
Dana Wood is the Contributing Beauty Editor at InsidersGuidetoSpas.com. She has been writing about beauty and wellness for decades, and no matter how many times she taps the words “hyaluronic acid” or “healing modalities” into her keyboard, it never gets old. Dana spent a total of 20 years at Condé Nast, serving as Beauty Director for W, Cookie, and Brides. A transplanted New Yorker, Dana now lives in St. Petersburg, Florida. Her peak spa experience? Dana says it’s impossible to decide between the Coco-Mango Body Buff at the Driftwood Spa at Jakes in Treasure Beach, Jamaica, The Land of Beautiful Waters Anti-Aging Facial at Four Seasons Nevis, and the 80-minute 5 Senses massage at the Spa by JW in Marco Island, Florida.