Medical Weight Management Considerations in Plastic Surgery

Area of Science:

• Obesity and Plastic Surgery
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Obesity is a major public health issue in the US.
• Plastic surgery in obese patients is associated with increased complications.
• Antiobesity medications are evolving, impacting surgical patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the evolution of antiobesity medications.
• To discuss the role of new pharmacologic agents in plastic surgery.
• To highlight challenges in perioperative management for patients using these drugs.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of antiobesity medications.
• Analysis of pharmacologic advances, including GLP-1 agonists.
• Discussion of clinical implications for plastic surgeons.

Main Results:

• Bariatric surgery offers long-term obesity treatment.
• Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists (e.g., semaglutide) show significant effectiveness.
• New medications present unique perioperative management challenges.

Conclusions:

• Understanding novel antiobesity pharmacotherapy is essential for plastic surgeons.
• Managing patients on these medications requires careful consideration of risks.
• The landscape of obesity treatment is rapidly changing, affecting surgical practice.