In the last two years, weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro have skyrocketed in popularity, with public figures like Sharon Osbourne, Robbie Williams, and Oprah Winfrey publicly crediting these drugs for their weight loss success. While the drugs have made it easier for people to maintain a healthier weight, many are also experiencing debilitating side effects like nausea, diarrhea, and excessive gas.
Yet, experts caution that one significant consequence of rapid weight loss caused by these drugs is often overlooked: loose skin. When patients lose significant amounts of weight, they are often left with sagging skin, especially in areas like the stomach and breasts.
Take 31-year-old Alexandra Collett, for example. After starting Ozempic in May 2023, Alexandra, who weighs just 50kg now, has seen her body transform dramatically. Initially weighing 112kg, her weight loss was primarily driven by her desire to qualify for surgery to alleviate symptoms of stage four endometriosis. She had been prescribed steroids to manage Addison’s disease, a rare disorder of the adrenal glands, which led to significant weight gain.
After years of battling mental health struggles due to her weight, Alexandra chose to take Ozempic and later switched to Wegovy. Her endometriosis symptoms improved after weight loss surgery, and the mental health benefits were profound, she explains. However, she hadn’t anticipated the loose skin that followed the dramatic weight loss.
“About six months in, I began to notice the loose skin,” Alexandra shares. “I thought it wouldn’t happen to me, but when it did, I realized that this isn’t what a 31-year-old should look like.” She was left with sagging skin around her tummy and breasts.
Alexandra’s parents, especially her mother, have helped fund her surgeries. She has already spent £14,000 on breast surgery and is awaiting a tummy tuck and breast augmentation in April. She says the loose skin also causes physical discomfort, including rashes, and requires meticulous hygiene to avoid infections.
Plastic surgeons are seeing a rising number of patients like Alexandra, with many opting for surgeries to remove loose skin after rapid weight loss. Dr. Ahid Abood, a leading plastic surgeon, highlights that while the drugs’ effectiveness in promoting weight loss is unquestionable, they can often cause the skin to lose elasticity. This may result in excess skin that becomes not only a cosmetic concern but also a source of physical discomfort.
Dr. Abood emphasizes that this issue will likely become more widespread as weight-loss drugs gain popularity. He notes that patients undergoing surgeries to remove excess skin are not solely motivated by aesthetics, but also the functional discomfort that loose skin can cause. “Loose skin can limit activity, rub, and even cause infections. It’s a huge issue for people’s quality of life.”
As for Alexandra, despite the difficulties, she is happier with her body but still navigating the challenges of loose skin. She stresses that many people starting weight-loss drugs don’t realize the financial and physical toll that comes with the aftermath of such rapid weight loss.
With the rise of weight-loss drug use, plastic surgeons like Dr. Abood predict a significant increase in patients requesting procedures like tummy tucks to remove excess skin, and those looking for long-term solutions to skin sagging. The need for such surgeries may rise substantially in the coming years, and many patients like Alexandra, who seek these surgeries privately, may face substantial costs.
Dr. Abood further points out that in the larger context of healthcare economics, the use of weight-loss drugs might help reduce the burden of conditions like Type 2 diabetes, which are far costlier to treat long term. However, the financial burden of post-weight loss surgeries could also become an issue, and it’s uncertain how the healthcare system will address this emerging trend.
As Alexandra’s case shows, while weight-loss drugs have enabled people to lose significant weight quickly, the physical aftermath—loose skin—may require a new set of solutions, many of which come at a steep price.
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