WIth the rise of medication like Ozempic and Mounjaro, rapid weight loss has become more accessible than ever before. For many, this pharmaceutical intervention is life-changing, but it’s not without aesthetic consequences. As pounds drop, so too can skin tone and firmness. For non-surgical beauty and aesthetics practitioners, the surge in these clients is creating a new wave of demand for effective solutions for post-weight-loss body skin laxity.
“Skin laxity is one of the most common concerns we treat across body areas, and it has become even more frequent over the past year,” says Shane Cooper, a beauty and aesthetics expert who specialises in advanced, non-invasive face and body treatments.
“We are seeing more clients than ever who have recently lost weight or are on GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic. These treatments can be incredibly effective for weight management but when the weight comes off quickly, the skin often struggles to contract at the same rate,” he adds.
With many clients experiencing concerns like loose skin on the stomach, thighs, buttocks and upper arms, it’s important that professionals understand what’s physiologically happening beneath the surface – and how to select the right treatment path for each case.
What happens to the skin after rapid weight loss?
From a structural standpoint, rapid weight loss presents a challenge to the skin’s scaffolding. According to consultant plastic surgeon Dr Mark Solomos, “Beneath the skin lies the subcutaneous tissue, which consists of fat interwoven with a structural network of collagen and elastin fibres – much like a biological scaffolding. During weight loss, particularly when rapid, the fat volume diminishes quickly, but the connective tissue doesn’t have sufficient time to adapt.”
This imbalance leaves skin looking loose or crepey, especially in areas like the abdomen, arms and thighs. “Collagen provides firmness while elastin is responsible for recoil,” Dr Solomos explains. “When weight is lost too quickly, these fibres don’t have the opportunity to contract and support the shrinking surface area.”
The speed at which weight is lost plays a crucial role. “Gradual weight loss allows the elastin fibres more opportunity to contract and realign,” says Solomos. “Rapid weight loss – whether from GLP-1 medications or bariatric surgery – gives the skin little time to adjust, often resulting in more visible laxity.”
Normalising body treatments
For Cooper, a major part of supporting clients through body changes is helping to normalise concerns that are still often considered taboo. “Everyone talks about facials, but cellulite, loose skin and body texture are still seen as private topics,” he says. “We want to help shift that conversation because we are treating these things constantly and they are much more common than people think.”
The most commonly requested areas? “The stomach, upper arms, buttocks and the front of the thighs. These tend to be the areas where the skin either naturally loses tone or becomes stretched after weight change or pregnancy,” says Cooper. “The buttocks and thighs are especially responsive and we often see some of the most visible results here in terms of skin firmness and cellulite reduction.”
Shifting client demographics
The landscape of body treatment clients is evolving. “There has been a noticeable shift in the past couple of years,” says Cooper. “We are seeing a more diverse range of clients, with many now choosing to explore treatments earlier as a preventative step.”
While younger clients are becoming more proactive, there’s also greater openness from men and older adults. “Social media has definitely played a role in that shift,” he adds. “There is more visibility around body treatments now, which has helped people feel more comfortable exploring options that support their confidence and wellbeing.”
Non-surgical treatment approaches
While loose skin is often unavoidable after significant fat loss, Cooper’s clinic in Kensington, London, has developed a combination-based approach to tackle it non-surgically. “Our Bespoke Body Treatment is one of the most requested and effective treatments in clinic. It combines tri-polar radiofrequency to stimulate collagen and elastin with dynamic muscle activation to tone the underlying structure, improve circulation and support lymphatic drainage,” he explains.
“We do not rely on one programme or use preset routines. I personally control and adjust the settings in real time depending on the area we are treating and how the client’s skin is responding on the day.”
This meticulous tailoring is essential, especially when skin quality can vary so much between clients. “We begin with a detailed consultation to assess skin tone, elasticity and structure. From there, we create a personalised plan. We often integrate other devices such as HIFU or Gold Lift to enhance results, especially where deeper stimulation is needed or where the skin has more advanced laxity.”
Supporting skin health from the inside out
Effective treatment goes beyond what happens on the treatment bed. “We always take a whole-body approach to treatment,” says Cooper. “When treating concerns like skin laxity or cellulite, we also look at lifestyle factors including gut health, hormones, stress, sleep and nutrition.”
Daily moisturising, dry body brushing and hydration are simple but powerful ways to extend and support in-clinic results.
“Hydration is essential for skin function and recovery. We encourage all clients to drink plenty of water, but for those who struggle, we may suggest adding electrolytes or certain supplements to help support absorption,” Cooper adds.
Supplements are also recommended by aesthetic doctor and face surgeon Dr Paris Acharya, especially for clients starting on their weight loss journey. She says, “In terms of prepping the skin for weight loss, I would start with adequate supplementation. So, making sure clients are taking vitamin D, NAD+ and collagen – whether it’s collagen itself or precursors that we need to help our body produce more collagen.”
Exercise and movement are also key: “Regular exercise or even light daily movement helps to support healthy circulation and lymphatic flow, which in turn benefits the skin’s ability to regenerate and maintain tone,” says Cooper.
When to treat and when to refer
From a surgeon’s lens, energy-based devices are useful, but not a panacea. “Devices can stimulate collagen remodelling in cases of mild to moderate laxity, but results are subtle and often temporary,” says Dr Solomos. “From a surgical standpoint, the results are inconsistent compared to surgery.”
Dr Acharya agrees: “I think radiofrequency is better for people who are just starting to need it rather than those looking for a dramatic result, and you can get better results on the face than the body with it. Radiofrequency is a huge investment and I think as practitioners you feel a bit guilty selling it without the results to go with it.”
Dr Solomos doesn’t recommend routinely combining surgical and non-surgical treatments either. “Choose one path based on patient needs and expectations. Either approach can be valid, but they should be selected deliberately and not concurrently in most cases.”
So, while non-invasive treatments can offer improvements in some client cases, it’s important to recognise when surgery may be the better option.
“Once the integrity of the skin and connective tissue is significantly compromised, non-surgical modalities have limited effectiveness,” warns Dr Solomos. “Key indicators include severe deflation, pronounced folds and lack of recoil in the skin.”
He urges non-surgical practitioners to prioritise honest assessments over sales. “Don’t overpromise. Play the long game, build trust, and focus on recommending the right treatment for each individual. Be honest about the limitations, and if surgery is more appropriate, don’t hesitate to refer.”
Dr Solomos adds, “Clinicians who collaborate across disciplines, rather than operate in silos, are best positioned to offer the highest standard of care.”
This philosophy is shared by Cooper, who regularly manages client expectations: “If someone comes in with expectations that cannot be achieved through non-surgical methods, we are comfortable having that honest conversation. We would only ever advise the surgical route if the result they are seeking is truly not achievable with a non-invasive approach.”
Treating with confidence
For clients who are adapting to significant weight loss, concerns about skin laxity are now more prevalent – and more treatable – than ever before. But the key lies in transparency, individualisation and education.
“These treatments are not quick fixes,” says Cooper. “They are part of an ongoing commitment to skin health and confidence that evolves over time.”
By combining personalised treatments with holistic care and knowing when to refer, beauty pros can help clients navigate this physical transformation with realistic expectations and lasting results.