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Published on: September 7, 2022
Impact of Preoperative Semaglutide Discontinuation Timing on Postoperative Outcomes in Aesthetic Abdominoplasty: A
Agostino Bruno1, Alessio Calicchia2, Marco Schirosi3
1Santa Maria di Leuca Clinic, Via Tiberina 173, 00188, Rome, Italy. dott.agostinobruno@gmail.com.
Background:
The widespread adoption of GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide for weight loss has led to an increasing number of non-diabetic patients seeking body contouring procedures after pharmacologic weight reduction. However, concerns have emerged regarding postoperative complications potentially linked to GLP-1 therapy, particularly when continued up to the time of surgery.
Objectives:
This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the impact of preoperative semaglutide discontinuation timing on short-term postoperative outcomes in aesthetic lipoabdominoplasty.
Methods:
Eighty patients who underwent primary lipoabdominoplasty were divided into four groups: continued semaglutide until surgery (Group A), 2-week discontinuation (Group B), 4-week discontinuation (Group C), and semaglutide-naïve controls (Group D). All patients were matched for age, BMI, and surgical technique. Postoperative complications within 30 days were assessed.
Results:
Group A exhibited the highest complication rate (45%), including wound dehiscence, infection, and seroma formation. Group B showed moderate improvement (30% complication rate), while Group C demonstrated a significant reduction in adverse outcomes (10%), comparable to the control group (10%). Gastrointestinal intolerance and prolonged drain duration were also more frequent in patients with ongoing semaglutide use. No reoperations or readmissions occurred.
Conclusions:
Continuation of semaglutide until surgery significantly increases postoperative complication risk in lipoabdominoplasty. A 4-week preoperative discontinuation period effectively normalizes outcomes, supporting its use as a safety measure in aesthetic surgery candidates. These findings emphasize the need for standardized perioperative management protocols for patients on GLP-1 therapy and underscore the importance of interdisciplinary coordination and nutritional assessment.
Level Of Evidence Iii:
This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .