The 60% Stat: Why GLP-1 Patients Are Choosing Integrated Care.
The 60% Stat: why GLP-1 patients are choosing integrated care.
Patient behavior around GLP-1 medications just changed in a measurable way. New data released by Allergan Aesthetics in March 2026 shows a clear shift: patients are no longer choosing the cheapest or most convenient GLP-1 provider. They're choosing the provider who can handle everything that comes after.
The headline number
According to Allergan Aesthetics' most recent consumer market research, 60% of patients receiving GLP-1 medications now obtain them from providers who also offer aesthetic treatments. In late 2024, that number was 49%. That's an 11-point jump in a single year — and the trajectory is still climbing.
This wasn't framed as a trend. It was framed as a market-restructuring event. Allergan presented the data at the 2025 American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Annual Meeting, then published it in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal's Open Forum in January 2026, then presented follow-up analysis at the 2026 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting in Denver (March 27-31). Three separate industry venues. Same conclusion: the single-service clinic is an increasingly obsolete model.
of GLP-1 patients experience midface volume loss
express concern about facial appearance during treatment
of physicians report increased filler demand from GLP-1 patients
What's actually driving the shift
The 60% number doesn't exist in isolation. It's the downstream consequence of something more specific: GLP-1 patients are experiencing aesthetic changes they weren't prepared for, and they're looking for a single provider who can address both sides of the equation.
The data tells the story:
- 61% of GLP-1 patients experience midface volume loss — the hollowed cheeks and temples commonly called "Ozempic face"
- 50% develop skin laxity — crepey texture, loose skin, loss of firmness
- 35% notice new facial wrinkles and folds — deepened nasolabial folds, marionette lines
- 52% are actively concerned about facial appearance during treatment — not as an afterthought, but as an ongoing issue
- 67% of patients say their treatment shifted their appearance-related goals
Critically, Allergan's research shows that 32% of GLP-1 patients seeking aesthetic treatment are entirely new to aesthetics. These aren't existing filler clients adding GLP-1s. They're weight loss patients who have been forced into the aesthetic conversation because of what the medication did to their face.
The clinical context
GLP-1 medications have transformed weight loss outcomes — semaglutide typically produces 15-17% body weight loss, tirzepatide 20-22%, and the newly approved oral Foundayo around 12.4%. But the speed and volume of fat loss means skin, muscle, and facial structure often can't adapt fast enough. The aesthetic changes are predictable, documented in peer-reviewed literature, and now clearly changing how patients choose their providers.
The three scenarios patients face
To understand why 60% are now choosing integrated providers, consider the three practical options a GLP-1 patient faces today:
GLP-1 Only Clinic
- Prescribes GLP-1s
- Facial volume support
- Skin tightening
- Muscle preservation
- Hormone evaluation
Aesthetics Only Clinic
- Fillers & EMFACE
- Skin tightening
- GLP-1 prescribing
- Root-cause weight loss
- Lab-guided care
Dual-Service Provider
- GLP-1 program
- Facial restoration
- Skin + muscle care
- Hormone optimization
- One integrated plan
The patient in Scenario 1 loses 20% of their body weight, looks in the mirror three months in, and has to start over — find a new provider, book new consultations, explain their history again, and coordinate care between two providers who don't talk to each other. The patient in Scenario 2 has to find a GLP-1 prescriber, coordinate that medication separately, and navigate the side effects without the team that's handling their aesthetic care.
Scenario 3 is why the 60% number is growing.
What integrated care actually means
At Defiance Health, every patient who starts a GLP-1 program gets more than a prescription. Here's what's built into the model:
- Comprehensive intake and labs — thyroid panel, hormone levels, insulin markers, inflammatory markers. Because if your fatigue or weight plateau is driven by a thyroid issue or perimenopause, medication alone isn't the answer.
- Body composition tracking — InBody scans that monitor not just weight but lean mass preservation. This matters because 25-40% of weight lost on GLP-1s can be muscle if it's not actively managed.
- Protein and nutrition guidance — structured around preserving lean mass during the weight loss phase.
- Aesthetic planning built into the treatment plan — not as a reactive "you have Ozempic face now, here's a filler" but as a proactive strategy. When appropriate, we start EMSCULPT NEO during active weight loss to preserve body muscle, start EXION RF microneedling to support collagen remodeling as skin retracts, and time dermal fillers and EMFACE sessions to match the shape of your face once weight stabilizes.
- Hormone optimization — because for women over 40 especially, underlying hormonal shifts often drive the weight issues GLP-1s are treating.
- Skin resurfacing and quality — BBL Hero and MOXI laser treatments address the accelerated visible aging that accompanies rapid fat loss.
None of this is revolutionary. It's what the 60% of patients in Allergan's research are now demanding. The research simply confirms that the market has moved.
The financial math also works in your favor
One of the underappreciated aspects of integrated care is what it does to total cost. Consider the alternative: a GLP-1 patient paying $400/month at one clinic, then $800 for a filler consultation and treatment at a second clinic, then another $4,000-6,000 for EMSCULPT NEO packages at a third provider. That's three new patient intakes, three sets of labs, three different EHR systems, three billing relationships.
At a dual-service provider, the labs are shared across the treatment plan. The intake happens once. The treatment timing is coordinated. And — for financial considerations — many clinics (including Defiance Health) offer bundled pricing or membership structures that make the total program cheaper than piecing care together across three separate providers.
What this means for you
If you're currently on a GLP-1 and your provider doesn't offer aesthetic treatments, you're not alone — yet. But you're moving into the 40% rather than the 60%, and the research suggests that gap will widen.
The practical takeaway isn't "switch providers tomorrow." It's "ask your provider this question: what's your plan for the face and body changes that come with weight loss?" If the answer is "we don't really handle that side," you've identified a gap in your care that, based on the data, more than half of GLP-1 patients are no longer willing to accept.
If you're starting a GLP-1 journey now, the research suggests choosing a provider who can do both from the beginning will save you time, money, and the emotional labor of reconstructing your care mid-treatment.
The weight loss is only the beginning.
At Defiance Health, we run medical weight loss, hormone optimization, and aesthetic treatments all under one roof. Book a consultation and we'll design a plan that covers the full arc — not just the injection.
Book a ConsultationFrequently asked questions
Why did the 60% number jump so quickly?
Awareness. In late 2024, most GLP-1 patients hadn't yet experienced or heard about the aesthetic consequences of rapid weight loss. By early 2026, "Ozempic face" had become a mainstream term, peer-reviewed papers had been published, and patients were actively researching before choosing a provider. The 49% to 60% shift reflects patients learning — and making informed decisions.
Do I need to switch providers if mine only does GLP-1s?
Not necessarily immediately. But you should have a plan. Many patients keep their GLP-1 prescribing relationship and add an aesthetic provider for the downstream treatments. The tradeoff is coordination friction and potentially higher total cost. Integrating with a single dual-service provider is smoother, but only worth switching for if the new provider is actually competent at both sides of the care.
At what point in my GLP-1 journey should I add aesthetic treatments?
Earlier than most people think. EMSCULPT NEO and EMFACE can be started during active weight loss to preserve muscle and facial tone. Dermal fillers work best when weight has been stable for 2-3 months. Skin resurfacing treatments typically sequence after 3+ months of stability. A good provider will design this timeline with you at the outset — not reactively once the changes appear.
Is this only relevant for women?
No. Allergan's research shows GLP-1 patients seeking aesthetic treatment are 70% female and 30% male — but the 30% male subset is growing rapidly. Men experience midface volume loss, jawline laxity, and body changes from rapid weight loss just as women do. The historical gender split in aesthetic medicine is shifting as GLP-1s bring new patient populations into the conversation.
What if I'm losing weight slowly — do I still need this?
Probably less, but still worth considering. The aesthetic changes are driven primarily by rate of weight loss, not total weight lost. Losing 15% of body weight over 3 years looks dramatically different on the face than losing 15% over 9 months. If you're losing slowly (1 pound or less per week), your skin and muscle have time to adapt, and aesthetic intervention is usually less urgent.
Does insurance cover any of this?
GLP-1 medications may be partially covered depending on your plan and diagnosis (obesity vs. type 2 diabetes). Aesthetic treatments (fillers, EMFACE, EMSCULPT NEO, EXION, BBL, MOXI) are considered elective and not covered by insurance. At Defiance Health, we accept HSA and FSA cards for qualifying treatments and offer financing through CareCredit and Cherry for larger treatment plans.
Is a dual-service model the "correct" care, or just convenient?
It's both, but more importantly: it's what the data now supports as the patient-preferred model. The 60% number reflects patient behavior, not clinical superiority per se. That said, there are real clinical benefits — shared labs, coordinated treatment timing, one provider understanding your full picture — that make the care better, not just more convenient.
Where can I read the original Allergan research?
The foundational paper is Moradi A, et al., "Nonsurgical Aesthetic Treatment of the Face and Neck in GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Weight Loss Patients: Experience-Based Considerations," published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal's Open Forum, January 2026. Follow-up data was presented at the 2026 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting in Denver (March 27-31). The consumer market research was announced via AbbVie/Allergan press release on March 4, 2026.
References
- Allergan Aesthetics. Allergan Aesthetics Highlights Medical Weight Loss (MWL) Data and the Changing Profile of Patients. Press release, March 4, 2026. AbbVie News
- Moradi A, et al. Nonsurgical Aesthetic Treatment of the Face and Neck in GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Weight Loss Patients: Experience-Based Considerations. Aesthetic Surgery Journal's Open Forum, January 2026.
- Burgess C, Sadeghpour M, Hooper D, et al. Population Trends in Facial Aesthetic Concerns Among Patients Receiving GLP-1 Agonists for Weight Loss. Poster presented at the 2026 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting. Denver, Colorado, March 27-31, 2026.
- Jastreboff AM, et al. Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity. New England Journal of Medicine. 2022.
- Wilding JPH, et al. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. New England Journal of Medicine. 2021.