Nearly half of facial plastic surgeons reported increased patient visits related to glucagon-like peptide-1 medication effects, according to new data from the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The organization's 2024 annual survey revealed a 50% rise in fat grafting-procedures, largely attributed to volume loss from medications like semaglutide.
"While these drugs are highly effective at achieving rapid weight loss, they often result in issues like volume loss and sagging skin," wrote Patrick Byrne, MD, President of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) in a press release from the AAFPRS. The survey indicated that 10% of AAFPRS members now prescribe glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications.
Rhinoplasty remained the most requested surgical procedure, followed by facelifts and blepharoplasties. Notably, 80% of surgeons reported that more than 10% of rhinoplasty cases are revision surgeries.
The data showed a trend toward younger facelift patients: Those between the ages of 35 to 55 years increased from 26% to 32%. Sixty-seven percent of surgeons expected this age trend to continue downward.
Minimally invasive procedures constituted 80% of total treatments, and neurotoxins and dermal fillers led nonsurgical interventions. Ninety percent of surgeons regularly performed these procedures.
The survey identified emerging demographic trends, including increased treatment seeking for menopause-related concerns. Twenty-eight percent of members reported that their patients specifically cited perimenopause and menopause symptoms during consultations.
Male patients represented a growing market: 92% of surgeons reported male clientele. Blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, and facelifts were the most common surgical procedures among male patients, whereas hair transplantation remained the only procedure where male patients outnumbered female patients.
Regenerative medicine appears poised for growth. Specifically, 57% of members forecasted it as a major innovation area.
"Treatments like platelet-rich plasma and exosome-based therapies are gaining traction, providing patients with minimally invasive options that are intended to target the cellular level to rejuvenate and repair skin," Dr. Byrne wrote.
The survey was conducted in December 2024 by ACUPOLL Precision Research, Inc. through online polling of select AAFPRS members. The AAFPRS represents over 2,200 facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons worldwide.