GLP-1 medication use is one of the latest developments in weight loss and dieting. GLP-1 receptor agonists yield impressive results, which is part of the reason behind their popularity. GLP-1 medications like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) and tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro) are drugs that help our bodies manage blood sugar and weight. These medications target specific areas of the body by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). This hormone is naturally produced in our intestines when we eat food.
The use of GLP-1 receptor agonists has become popular for those seeking help with diabetes management and weight loss, making them a significant focal point in modern healthcare. GLP-1 medications, as receptor agonists, can lead to important improvements in health. These drugs not only assist in appetite regulation but also promote insulin secretion, suppress glucagon production, and carry potential cardiovascular benefits. They can be advantageous for people struggling with type 2 diabetes or those who want to shed excess weight for reasons related to health and wellness. (1)
Because these medications are so popular, offering them through your dermatology (or other medical field) practice can help bring your practice to new heights. Losing weight is now easier than ever, and helping patients achieve these results will yield exceptional results for your medical practice, your business, your patients’ satisfaction, your passion as a doctor, and more. Offering these medications will also increase the need for skin-tightening procedures, wrinkle reduction, and dermal fillers. Sagging skin is a well-known effect of rapid weight loss, and as people lose weight with these medications, the “Ozempic face” and “Ozempic body” effects have become more widespread. These colloquial terms refer to the aged, wrinkly, and deflated appearance of the face or body after weight loss with GLP-1 medications, and many patients will require treatment to reverse these effects.
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About
The human body relies heavily on hormones to communicate and manage various functions. Among these hormones is GLP-1, which plays a crucial role in regulating blood sugar levels. When glucose enters the bloodstream after eating, GLP-1 helps control how much insulin is released by the pancreas. It also encourages feelings of fullness (satiety) and decreases hunger, which can contribute to weight loss.
Notably, GLP-1 medications were developed primarily to aid in diabetes management. They are used widely among individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, helping to maintain healthy glucose levels and prevent complications from the condition. However, many people have begun using these medications for weight loss as well, especially given the increasing prevalence of metabolic syndrome—a cluster of conditions increasing the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Research and statistics indicate that over 30 million Americans are living with diabetes, and obesity rates have surged in recent years, prompting healthcare providers to seek effective solutions. People want to avoid complications associated with diabetes while also pursuing a healthier lifestyle. (2)
As people rapidly lose weight with these medications, they may suffer from “Ozempic face” or “Ozempic body,” as mentioned above. Excess skin is one of the most common and well-documented complications of weight loss, especially when significant amounts of weight are lost in a short period. “Ozempic face” refers to the formation of jowls, sunken eyes, and an overall “hollow” appearance on the face as fat is reduced. Patients afflicted with this will likely inquire about procedures like face lifts, dermal fillers, Botox, and other skin-tightening and rejuvenating treatments to help them achieve a more youthful and healthy appearance. Similarly, “Ozempic body” results in baggy, deflated, and wrinkly skin around the abdomen, breasts, flanks, thighs, and more. Procedures like tummy tucks, breast lifts, dermal fillers, thigh lifts, and more can help patients achieve the toned, attractive bodies that they have been working toward throughout their weight loss journeys.
Benefits of Offering GLP-1 Medications
What sets GLP-1 receptor agonist medications apart from other weight loss medicines is that they work exceptionally well and yield results within years. As such, they have exploded in popularity. When you offer these medications through your medical practice, you can experience:
- Higher patient satisfaction: Weight loss is nothing short of an arduous journey. When patients can quickly see results through these medications, they become satisfied with their results.
- Closer doctor-patient relationships: GLP-1 medications can help patients lose weight after seemingly nothing else works. Achieving these results will strengthen the relationships patients have with their providers.
- Enhanced patient retention: Helping your patients access these medications (which can be difficult to obtain for many) and realize the weight loss results they have been striving for will lead them to return for future treatment.
- The increased popularity of corresponding treatments: Skin tightening treatments, dermal fillers, lift procedures, and more will be more widely requested when after patients lose significant amounts of weight.
- Career satisfaction: Practicing medicine is about helping patients improve their health to live happy, healthy, confident lives. When you offer these medications at your practice, you can enhance your career satisfaction by helping your patients lose the weight they want to and help them achieve attractive, toned, healthy bodies.
Candidates for GLP-1 Medications
Patients struggling with obesity or type 2 diabetes can receive a customized GLP-1 receptor agonist medication regimen. Generally, patients should be at least 18 years old and have not had success with weight loss through other methods. This also includes individuals who have not achieved desired blood sugar control with diet, exercise, or other medications. Aside from obesity and the health complications it brings, patients should be in good general health before receiving these medications. Individual consultation with each patient is the best way to determine the safest and most effective course of action for GLP-1 medications.
Personal Consultations
Before beginning a GLP-1 regimen, it is important to consult with each patient. Understanding their unique medical history, weight loss journey, and weight loss goals will be crucial in planning effective weight loss treatment. Given the complex interactions within the body involving hormones, providers must inquire about weight management goals, existing health conditions, and any medications currently taken.
Additionally, providers should also examine skin laxity, skin health, and fat deposits to speculate on what treatments may be necessary after weight is lost. Once this information is collected, a clear treatment plan can then be outlined and tailored specifically for each patient. Understanding the procedure and expected outcomes during this time ensures that patients and providers make informed decisions regarding GLP-1 therapy.
Post-Weight-Loss Procedures
Many patients, especially those who are older and lack skin elasticity, will require skin and muscle tightening and other rejuvenation procedures after they lose weight through GLP-1 therapy. These may include:
- Tummy tucks (abdominoplasty): When weight is lost in the abdomen, many patients are left with excess skin around their waist. Removing this and tightening abdominal muscles with a tummy tuck leaves patients with a smooth, healthy-looking midsection.
- Liposuction: Despite the exceptional results of GLP-1 therapy, many patients are still burdened with stubborn pockets of fat resistant to dieting, exercise, and medication. A customized liposuction procedure can help these patients sculpt their bodies to meet their ideal image.
- Dermal fillers: Hyaluronic acid and other dermal fillers can be used to restore volume lost during weight loss. This is especially effective in the face, where weight loss can result in sunken eyes, hollow cheeks, pronounced jawbones, and more that contribute to a “skeleton-like” appearance. Replacing lost mass with dermal fillers can help patients achieve a bright, vibrant, and youthful appearance.
- “Lift” treatments: Facelifts, breast lifts, thigh lifts, and more work to rejuvenate the body after the skin has become relaxed and loose after weight loss, pregnancy, or aging. These treatments vary in their targeted treatment areas and execution, but all achieve success by removing excess skin, tightening underlying muscles, stretching skin, and repositioning skin and tissues as needed.
- Fat transfers: It may seem counterintuitive to place fat in sites where it is lost, but these treatments can lead to exceptional rejuvenation for patients. In these procedures, fat is harvested from donor sites on the body via liposuction. This fat is then cleaned and processed to isolate stem cells and growth elements, and it is then reinjected into targeted areas on the body like the eyes, cheeks, breasts, and more.
- Botox: Botox, or botulinum toxin, is an effective injectable medication that helps to reduce the presence of wrinkles and strengthen loose skin. By keeping muscles in a semi-permanent relaxed state with diluted botulinum toxin, wrinkles are prevented from forming in loose skin.
Results of Weight Loss with GLP-1 Therapy
Results from GLP-1 medications are often progressive, with a gradual reduction in weight and improvement in blood sugar levels over weeks and months. Clinical trials show significant results; for instance, participants often see weight loss ranging from 5% to over 15% of their initial body weight, depending on the medication and adherence to accompanying lifestyle changes. (1) Furthermore, blood sugar levels may show noticeable improvements, reducing the risk of diabetes-associated complications such as neuropathy and nephropathy.
Patients may reflect upon enhancements in energy levels and decreased cravings, leading to sustained long-term results.
Cost of Integrating GLP-1 Medications Into Your Practice
Given the current popularity of GLP-1 medications and the speculation that they will only continue to grow in popularity, (2) investing in them can bring your practice to new heights in patient satisfaction, profits, patient retention, and more. The cost of these medications can vary between locations, insurance coverage, patient needs, and more, but most patients will pay $800 to $1,000 without insurance. Aside from financial gain, helping more patients access these medications means that you can improve the health and life quality of many patients.
FAQ
What are GLP-1 receptor agonists?
GLP-1 receptor agonists mimic the action of the natural hormone GLP-1. They improve insulin secretion, suppress glucagon, and induce satiety, resulting in better blood sugar control and weight loss.
Can GLP-1 medications replace insulin therapy?
They can complement insulin therapy in some patients, and in others, they may provide an alternative to insulin altogether depending on individual cases.
How do I offer GLP-1 medications at my practice?
Speak with a pharmaceutical company representative about offering these treatments at your practice.
Should I offer complimentary procedures if I offer GLP-1 medications?
Yes. Offering non-surgical treatments like dermal fillers, hyaluronic acid injections, Botox, and more is an easy way to increase your potential for patient care, as well as increase your business success. Surgical facilities may already offer procedures like tummy tucks, breast lifts, facelifts, and more, but ensuring that these are offered can also boost business success alongside offering GLP-1 medications.
How quickly do patients see weight reduction on GLP-1 medications?
Weight loss results may vary; however, most patients begin to notice changes after the first few weeks, with gradual and sustainable weight loss as they continue treatment.
References
- Collins L, Costello RA. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. PubMed. Published February 29, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551568/
- Holst JJ. The Physiology of Glucagon-like Peptide 1. Physiological Reviews. 2007;87(4):1409-1439. doi:https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00034.2006