Post-Ozempic Body Contouring

Post-Ozempic body contouring is a customizable treatment for patients to correct skin laxity and target specific fat deposits after taking the weight loss drug Ozempic. Semaglutide, the generic name for the branded medications Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, can be quite a transformative treatment for overweight individuals. Although many patients can begin to look and feel great in their body after achieving their goal weight, many face the dreaded “Ozempic butt” or “Ozempic face”- tissue hollowing – a natural result of losing fat. 

At New York Surgical Arts in New York City and Garden City, NY, we help patients regain their body confidence after putting in the hard work of losing weight. Our board-certified cosmetic surgeon Dr. Gordon Andan continually changes patients’ lives with tummy tuck, liposuction, and lift procedures that incorporate the safest and most highly advanced techniques. To see if one of our procedures is right for you after semaglutide therapy, call (516) 746-0155 or fill out our contact form, and a member from our team will get back to you as soon as possible. Alternatively, you can request a virtual consultation for your convenience. 

How Semaglutide Affects Body Fat and Skin

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 agonist, meaning that it imitates a hormone (GLP-1) that regulates the amount of insulin in the bloodstream. Insulin is a hormone that works to break down the sugar in food so that the body can use it for energy. For type 2 diabetics, semaglutide allows their partially functioning pancreas to produce more insulin and mitigate the complications involved with high blood sugar, like cardiovascular and kidney diseases. ⁽¹⁾ For those with obesity, the excess insulin is directed to the hypothalamus, where it then signals that the body is satiated. Semaglutide also works to slow down the process of digestion itself, so patients taking the medication physically feel fuller as well. ⁽²⁾

The resulting weight loss is often dramatic and fast, with many patients shedding several pounds over the course of a few weeks. Fat cells shrink, or atrophy, with weight loss, and the skin is unable to maintain its rigidity. Research verifies that with massive weight loss, the skin experiences a loss of thicker collagen fibers and an increase of the protein called elastin, giving it an elastic, loose quality. These effects occur all throughout the body, wherever large deposits of fat were once located. 

Candidates for Post-Ozempic Body Contouring

Minimally invasive body contouring procedures work great for those who have taken semaglutide, but they are also well-suited for almost anyone who has experienced significant weight loss. Ideal candidates are individuals in good health who have no conditions that could result in blood clotting and/or delayed healing. Candidates should also be non-smokers or willing to quit for at least 1 month in order to achieve better circulation needed for a healthy recovery. 

Personal Consultation

During your personal consultation at New York Surgical Arts, you will speak in-depth with Dr. Andan about your aesthetic concerns and skin laxity. We will walk you through various procedure options as well as their preparation and recovery processes to help you find which treatment meets your needs and expectations. You will also get a chance to ask questions to ensure you are making the best decision for yourself. 

If you are considering one of these life-changing procedures to restore your body confidence, call our offices in Garden City, NY and New York City by dialing (516) 746-0155 or by completing the form available on our contact page. 

Procedure Options 

Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck involves the excision of extra skin over the abdomen and the removal of residual fat deposits left after weight loss. With one horizontal incision across the pubic area from hip to hip, Dr. Andan will access and remove the excess tissues in order to create a flatter and more attractive abdomen. For a more comprehensive tummy tuck, often performed after massive weight loss, the abdominal muscles are sutured to restore core strength. These may also require an extra incision surrounding the navel in order to reposition it once the lax skin is removed. 

Luckily, the scar from the main incision is discreet and can be hidden beneath the waistline of a bathing suit, while the navel scar is extremely subtle.

VASER Hi-Def Liposuction 

With VASER liposuction, you can sculpt away fat deposits in a minimally invasive way that results in less bruising and swelling than standard liposuction.⁽³⁾ With VASER, Dr. Andan will administer tumescent fluid to numb the area and make the fat cells denser. Next, he will use the VASER (vibration amplification of sound energy at resonance) device that utilizes ultrasound waves to precisely loosen the fat from its surrounding tissues. Dr. Andan can create slimmer contours while also highlighting muscular definition by strategically leaving behind thin layers of fat. This makes VASER a popular device for patients who are looking to accentuate their abdominal muscles, creating a more athletic look. 

Breast Lift 

Since most of the breast volume is fat tissue, breasts often deflate and sag with significant weight loss. While a breast lift, or mastopexy, doesn’t create more volume, Dr. Andan can reposition them to a higher place upon the chest so that they appear more proportional to the rest of your body. 

If you have a milder form of sagging, called “ptosis”, Dr. Andan may utilize a crescent-shaped incision around the areolas to elevate them. Mild or moderate ptosis can be resolved through a “donut” incision that closely follows each areola. An even more comprehensive technique involves the making of “lollipop” incisions- an incision that follows the outline of the areola and a connected incision that goes vertically down to the crease of the breast. Finally, there is the full mastopexy procedure that incorporates lollipop incisions, but with an added horizontal incision on the underside of each breast; these incisions resemble an anchor. Following a mastopexy, patients are usually back to work within 1 week and are able to resume strenuous workouts within 4 to 6 weeks. 

Thigh Lift 

With a thigh lift, you can enjoy a smoother lower body silhouette with no overlapping skin. Dr. Andan can perform one of two types, depending on which side of your thighs need the most correction. A bilateral thigh lift technique can precisely remove excess tissue around the outer and front areas of the thighs. An inner thigh lift allows patients to walk without experiencing inner thigh friction when walking, even recreating the look of a thigh gap. To promote optimal healing and reduce the significance of scarring, Dr. Andan will prescribe a compression garment to wear for the first 3 to 4 weeks. 

Arm Lift 

For people who tend to gain weight in their upper body, an arm lift may be the perfect procedure for when you are left with too much skin on your upper arms. With this procedure, you can effectively regain your ability to see more muscular definition or flaunt leaner, attractive arms that fit a wider variety of clothing. 

Brazilian Butt Lift 

“Ozempic butt” is a common problem patients face after semaglutide; it is a term used to describe how the butt loses projection and volume and results in unwanted skin creases. With a Brazilian butt lift (BBL), Dr. Andan will choose a “donor” site, an area of adequate, subcutaneous fat that is extracted with liposuction. After harvesting the fat from the donor site, it is purified in a device called a centrifuge that will make it safer for reinjection into the buttocks. Next, Dr. Andan will prepare the fat into syringes and strategically determine the areas that will provide the most improvement. Recent research indicates that BBLs can be safely performed only utilizing local anesthesia with sedation, allowing patients to avoid any risk of complications from general anesthesia. ⁽⁴⁾ 

After the procedure, Dr. Andan will prescribe a compression garment that you will be required to wear for a few weeks to reduce swelling and ensure your new curves remain stable as your body heals. For the initial 3 weeks post-surgery, you will have to avoid sitting directly on your buttocks; you will be instructed to either lie on your belly, or on your side. After this time period, you’ll be able to go back to work and incorporate light exercise into your routine. 

Cost of Post-Ozempic Body Contouring in Garden City, NY

The cost of your post-Ozempic body contouring treatment plan will depend on your chosen procedures, the techniques used, anesthesia fees, and other surgical fees. However, New York Surgical Arts is dedicated to keeping your costs down without compromising on the highest quality care. 

To schedule your consultation to get an idea of the cost, call our office at (516) 746-0155 or request an appointment through our contact form. We offer several resources to provide affordable options for all interested patients. If other procedures spark your interest, take a look through our blog. We can’t wait to help you along your journey towards attaining a body that makes you feel like your most comfortable and confident self. 

References

1. Mouri Mi, Badireddy M. Hyperglycemia. National Library of Medicine. Published 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430900/ 
2. Friedrichsen M, Breitschaft A, Tadayon S, Wizert A, Skovgaard D. The effect of semaglutide 2.4 mg once weekly on energy intake, appetite, control of eating, and gastric emptying in adults with obesity. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. 2021;23(3):754-762. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.14280 
3. Ruff PG, Garcia O, Nykiel M, Galanis CJ. Consensus-based Recommendations for Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance Ultrasound-assisted Liposuction. Plastic and reconstructive surgery Global open. 2023;11(7):e5110-e5110. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000005110 
4. Villanueva, Nathaniel L. M.D.; Del Vecchio, Daniel A. M.D.; Afrooz, Paul N. M.D.; Carboy, Jourdan A. B.S.; Rohrich, Rod J. M.D.. Staying Safe during Gluteal Fat Transplantation. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 141(1):p 79-86, January 2018. | DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000003934