Three practitioners discuss the pathophysiology of skin laxity and evaluate treatment modalities aimed at optimising both aesthetic appearance and functional outcomes
Weight loss can result from a variety of interventions. For example, lifestyle modifications including diet and exercise promote gradual, sustained fat loss.1 Bariatric surgery on the other hand results in rapid, significant weight reduction via restriction or malabsorption mechanisms.2 More recently, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have emerged as effective pharmacologic treatments. They work by binding to GLP receptors to trigger the effects of the GLP-1 hormones, with participants in clinical trials losing 15-20% of their baseline body weight.3,4
While these approaches are transformative in reducing adiposity, the rapidity and extent of weight loss can contribute to skin laxity due to diminished dermal support.5 The use of GLP-1 therapies and bariatric interventions means practitioners are now seeing more patients with significant weight loss and unanticipated skin…
