GLP-1 drugs improve health while changing the way cosmetic providers care for patients

GLP-1 medications are not only helping patients lose weight; they are also improving blood sugar, lowering blood pressure and changing overall health. Additionally, these treatments are creating new challenges for cosmetic providers, who are seeing shifts in how patients look and how they think about weight loss.

New York plastic surgeon Konstantin Vasyukevich, M.D., said he regularly hears from patients who report major improvements in their overall health after starting GLP-1 therapy. Many tell him their blood pressure has improved, their blood sugar is under control or they have reduced or stopped other medications. For aesthetic providers, this shift means adjusting expectations and approaches to care.

“The most important thing, it really makes people healthier,” Vasyukevich said. “I see a very significant health benefit in those medications, and we all just have to readjust what we do. As long as we can offer treatment, as long as we can offer some solutions to people, then the side effects really should not stop anybody from taking the medication that's definitely going to make them much healthier.”

He said he believes aesthetic practices must adapt as more patients experience weight loss-related changes in their face and body. That could include offering procedures or treatments that address skin sag or volume loss. However, he stressed that cosmetic concerns should not outweigh the clear medical benefits of improved metabolic health.

In addition, Vasyukevich shared that he draws a line between using GLP-1 therapies for medical reasons and using them solely for cosmetic weight loss. He supports their use for managing diabetes and other health conditions without hesitation, but when it comes to weight loss for appearance alone, he is more cautious.

He added that traditional lifestyle changes still play an important role. Exercise and healthy eating not only improve long-term health but also affect how weight loss looks on the body. Patients who build muscle through strength training often maintain better tone and energy. From a cosmetic perspective, that can result in a fuller and healthier appearance compared with rapid weight loss without muscle development.

As GLP-1 use continues to grow, Vasyukevich urges aesthetic providers to balance both realities. These medications are improving patients’ health in meaningful ways, but practices should be prepared to address appearance-related concerns and encourage healthy lifestyle habits that support both medical and cosmetic outcomes.