ASPS Conference Coverage

Postoperative Outcomes After Body Contouring Surgery Not Affected by GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Use

Miranda Manier, BA

Key Highlights

  • Preoperative GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) use did not increase postoperative complications in patients undergoing body contouring surgery.
  • Rates of readmission, emergency department visits, and wound-related complications were similar between patients who used GLP-1 RAs and patients who did not.
  • Postoperative cellulitis occurred less frequently in patients who used GLP-1 RAs on matched analysis, although this association did not persist on multivariable regression.
  • Patients using GLP-1 RAs for obesity had lower rates of wound dehiscence compared with those using them for diabetes.

The use of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) prior to body contouring surgery did not significantly affect postoperative outcomes compared with non-users. Patients using these medications demonstrated comparable rates of readmission, emergency department encounters, and wound-related complications. These findings, which were presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons conference, support the safety of GLP-1 RAs in the surgical setting.

GLP-1 RAs have become increasingly prevalent in the management of obesity and diabetes, yet uncertainty remains about whether preoperative use affects surgical outcomes. Given the rise in body contouring procedures following weight loss, clarifying this relationship is clinically important.

Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing panniculectomy, abdominoplasty, brachioplasty, and thighplasty between November 2014 and November 2024 at a large academic institution. GLP-1 RA users were defined as those who had taken any FDA-approved GLP-1ra within 2 years of surgery. Propensity score matching was applied based on age, smoking status, body mass index, and hemoglobin A1c at the time of surgery. Outcomes included readmissions, emergency department encounters, and complications such as seroma, hematoma, wound dehiscence, and cellulitis.

Of 590 patients included, 100 (16.9%) had used GLP-1 RAs. Among these, 60% used the medications for obesity and 40% for diabetes. Patients with diabetes were older, had higher hemoglobin A1c, and longer duration of GLP-1ra use than those using the medications for obesity. Across both matched and unmatched analyses, GLP-1 RA use was not associated with increased readmissions, emergency visits, or wound-related complications. Cellulitis was less common among GLP-1 RA users in matched cohorts (P = .008), though this was not confirmed by multivariable regression. Duration of GLP-1ra use and discontinuation timing did not predict complication rates. Notably, wound dehiscence was less frequent in patients using GLP-1 RAs for obesity than in those using them for diabetes (P = .028).

“Compared to non-GLP-1 RA controls, GLP-1 RA users have similar post-operative outcomes following body contouring surgery,” Catey and colleagues concluded. “The use of GLP-1 RAs prior to body contouring surgery is safe overall. Wound dehiscence is more prevalent among patients taking GLP-1ras for diabetes compared to weight loss, potentially due to worse glycemic control or associated comorbidities."

Reference
Cathey J, Chopra S, Liang J, Patel A, Pillai T. Postoperative outcomes in body contouring procedures following glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist use. Poster presented at: Plastic Surgery: The Meeting; October 9-12, 2025; New Orleans, LA. Accessed September 22, 2025. https://www.plasticsurgerythemeeting.com/