Psychologist Kimberley Cairns proposes a cognitively informed GLP-1 approach for aesthetic practice
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have reshaped discussions around weight, identity and appearance. In UK aesthetic practice, clinicians are increasingly seeing patients whose bodies, and sometimes decision-making, are changing rapidly, often outside regulated, multidisciplinary weight-management pathways designed to ensure safety.¹ ² National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance specifies that treatments such as semaglutide must be delivered within specialist services with robust governance, including clinical assessment, psychological screening, structured follow-up and medical monitoring.¹ ² These requirements exclude aesthetic-only or non-Care Quality Commission (CQC) settings. Tirzepatide has also been approved for use within regulated services, reinforcing that these prescription-only medications require appropriate clinical oversight.³ ⁴
Despite this, many individuals access GLP-1 therapies privately or online without adequate review or continuity of care. As a result, aesthetic practitioners are encountering patients with rapid…
