PATIENTS undergoing GLP-1 weight loss commonly report skin, hair, and strength concerns alongside changes in weight.
A survey of 1,226 people receiving pharmacologic weight management found that more than 60% reported concerns such as skin laxity, facial volume loss, hair shedding, poorer skin quality, or reduced muscle strength. The findings suggest that follow-up conversations should extend beyond the number on the scale to include changes patients notice in their appearance and physical function.
The anonymous, voluntary survey included patients receiving care through a national telemedicine platform. Researchers assessed reported dermatologic, aesthetic, and muscle-related outcomes, then combined the survey findings with a targeted literature review to develop a practical management framework.
Concerns became more common as the amount of weight lost increased. They were also reported more often by people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists than by those using other pharmacologic approaches. GLP-1RA users generally lost more weight, however, so the survey cannot determine whether the medication itself, the greater weight reduction, or other factors explain that difference.
The reported outcomes also span distinct clinical issues. Hair shedding and changes in skin quality may call for dermatologic assessment, while perceived declines in strength warrant attention to muscle function. Facial volume loss and skin laxity may matter to patients even when treatment is meeting its weight management goals.
The authors propose a holistic approach that considers nutrition and strength preservation, with aesthetic or regenerative therapies when appropriate. Their framework highlights an opportunity to ask about these concerns during routine follow-up and discuss them in the context of each patient’s goals. The survey did not test whether any proposed intervention prevents or reverses the reported changes.
Interpretation requires caution. Participation was voluntary, creating potential selection and recall bias, and respondents were predominantly White women receiving telemedicine care. The researchers did not capture the rate of weight loss, leaving its possible contribution unclear. These findings identify concerns worth discussing with patients, but they do not establish how frequently the changes occur across all people receiving medical weight management or whether GLP-1RAs cause them.
Reference
Santiago Mangual KP et al. Aesthetic, muscle, and dermatologic effects of medical weight management: patient-reported outcomes shape a holistic preventive procedural approach. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2026;12(3):e283.
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