More than 15 million Americans have used weight loss drugs. 

And in turn, there has been a boom in people seeking out surgery for loose skin, as the rapid weight loss leaves patients with excess, sagging skin.

However, surgeries for this can be extremely painful and expensive, potentially costing up to $100,000 for full body contouring.

But for those who don’t want to go under the knife or can’t afford the time and cost of procedures, there is hope in sight. 

Experts suggest that to minimize overly loose skin, individuals using weight-loss medications should incorporate weight training to develop muscle, particularly while taking GLP-1 drugs, as this can help fill areas where fat was previously.

Furthermore, conversations with health professionals as reported by the Daily Mail reveal various non-surgical approaches, such as the use of fillers and treatments aimed at enhancing collagen production.

Dr. Michele Green, a cosmetic dermatologist from Manhattan, highlights that collagen is a crucial protein, key to maintaining the skin’s elasticity, structure, and smoothness.

And ‘increasing collagen production can tighten and firm the skin’ where is has become saggy.

Surgeries to remove excess skin after weight loss on GLP-1 drugs can cost tens of thousands of dollars

At 34, Amy Kane from Chicago, after losing over half her body weight with Ozempic, has openly shared her journey dealing with excess skin on social media, ultimately deciding to undergo surgery to remove skin from her abdomen.

Collagen accounts for about 30% of all protein in the body and is vital for preserving the skin’s structure, elasticity, and firmness. It also contributes to the health of hair and nails.

According to New York-based personal trainer Natalie Alex, resistance training, which aids in muscle development, is the most effective strategy to address the skin slackness caused by fat reduction.

Resistance training, as well as aerobic exercise, can also help improve skin’s elasticity, allowing it to ‘snap’ back, somewhat, to pre weight-gain firmness. 

Exercise boosts collagen production by increasing blood flow, which delivers essential nutrients and oxygen to fibroblast cells responsible for collagen synthesis.

Resistance training, in particular, can stimulate growth hormones and increase the expression of collagen genes.

‘Muscle building underneath the skin changes how it drapes and gives a firmer, more contoured appearance. Targeting glutes, hamstrings, back, shoulders, and chest is especially helpful for the areas that tend to show sagging most,’ Alex recommends.

Furthermore, exercise reduces chronic stress, lowering cortisol levels, which can break down collagen.

Alex says visible changes from strength training typically appear within eight to 12 weeks, with more significant differences over three to six months, and the best outcomes at six to 12 months of consistent effort.

Nicholas Perry, 32, from Florida, became famous for his Mukbang videos online (left). He has now lost the weight he gained and had plastic surgery to remove the loose skin 

Mr Perry went from morbidly obese to a healthier weight and was left with 10lbs of sagging excess skin 

To complement weight training and exercise to fix sagging skin, New York-based bariatric surgeon Dr Daniel Rosen told this website that he recommends facial fillers. 

Dr Rosen said that while clothing can hide sagging skin on the body, one place it shows no matter what is the face. 

He explains: ‘Deflated skin from rapid fat loss tends to hang more and give a mouth an older appearance with deepened marionette lines – the vertical wrinkles that form from the corners of the mouth down to the chin – and jowling. 

‘Skin elasticity diminishes with age and losing fat in your face very quickly will accelerate the phenomenon.’

To fix ‘Ozempic face’ Dr Rosen recommends the careful use of facial filler to restore volume. 

Instead of synthetic dermal fillers, the surgeon recommends fat grafting. 

Also known as a fat transfer, this procedure involves removing fat cells from the abdomen, thighs, or buttocks, prepared as fat grafts, and transferring them to problem areas of the face or elsewhere.

The cost of fat grafting to the face, which is a one-time procedure, typically ranges between $3,000 and $7,500. 

Another favorite treatments of Dr Rosen’s to improve collagen production is Morpheus8. The device uses heat and microscopic needles to tighten skin and is billed as a non-surgical facelift. 

It can also be used on other areas of the body, with popular spots being the abdomen, knees, bra areas, and arms.

More than 15 million Americans have used weight loss drugs. And in turn, there has been a boom in people seeking out surgery for loose skin, as the rapid weight loss leaves patients with excess, sagging skin

The cost of one Morpheus8 session is usually between $900 and $1,200 and surgeons recommend several sessions. 

Pricey procedures aside, Dr Rosen says regular moisturizer, Tretinoin, a prescription retinoid medication that treats acne and other skin issues like dark spots and wrinkles, and sunscreen can also work wonders to restore skin texture and help tighten the visage.

Dr Green says she has many clients who lost a considerable amount of weight from GLP-1 medications and her go-to treatment is Thermage.

She explains: ‘Thermage is a non-invasive treatment that delivers radiofrequency energy to the inner layer of skin to stimulate the production of new collagen. 

‘Collagen is a protein essential for providing the skin with elasticity, structure, and suppleness. 

‘By increasing collagen production, Thermage can tighten and firm the skin in the treated area.’

The procedure can be performed on various areas of the body, including the face, neck, décolletage, arms, abdomen, buttocks, thighs, and knees. 

Dr Green says a perk of the treatment is that there is no downtime and it is safe for patients of all skin types and tones. 

Patients will notice visible results four to six months after treatment, and results can last up to two years. 

The cost of Thermage treatments typically range from $1,500 to $5,000 per session.

Sofwave is another treatment which is similar to Thermage, but preferred by Dr David Goldberg, director of Cosmetic Dermatology and Clinical Research at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York.

He explains that Sofwave is similar to Thermage because both are non-invasive treatments that use controlled energy to stimulate collagen production and tighten the skin, but they differ in their energy source.

Sofwave, which costs from $2,000 to $4,000 per session, uses high-frequency ultrasound technology, while Thermage uses radiofrequency energy.

Both target the mid and superficial layers of the skin to improve skin laxity and appearance, with Sofwave sometimes being considered to provide stronger lifting and tightening effects for mild to moderate skin laxity.

Dr Goldberg adds: ‘Sofwave is a very popular ultrasound approach that can be used in all skin types and works both on and off the face. 

‘The skin tightening is combined with both fillers for volume loss and topical exosome treatment to improve the quality of skin. This combined approach is best for the so called Ozempic face’ 

Ultherapy, costing up to $5,000 per area, uses the same energy source as Sofwave and according to New York plastic surgeon Dr Jennifer Levine, is it even more effective as it reaches deeper layers of the skin and produces longer-lasting results.

Combined annual sales for Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy

She reveals: ‘Ultherapy is my go-to treatment for laxity. I love it for the face and neck, and it was recently FDA approved for the abdomen and arms. This treatment yields excellent results on the face and body.’

Along with non-invasive procedures, there are now a plethora of collagen-packed products on the market that claim to improve skin elasticity. 

Piers Raper, CEO of skincare drink Skinade, says his products deliver 7g of protein per serving, supporting skin hydration, elasticity, and overall skin health. 

Protein provides the essential amino acid building blocks for your skin’s structural proteins, collagen and elastin, which keep it firm, smooth, and elastic.

It also contributes to maintaining the skin’s barrier, promoting hydration, reducing inflammation, and supporting repair and regeneration, leading to healthier, more youthful-looking skin.

Mr Raper told this website: ‘Skinade is the only product in the US that uses hydrolyzed marine collagen peptides and blends them with powerful ingredients such as Vitamin B Complex, MSM, Vitamin C, L-Lysine, and Omegas 3 & 6.

‘In a recent clinical trial, 91 percent of participants reported improved skin hydration, and 88 percent saw enhanced skin elasticity after regular use and is a favorite among celebrities like Victoria Beckham and Sienna Miller, who swear by its glowing benefits.’