Weight-loss drugs are having a significant impact on the beauty business and transforming demand for cosmetic procedures, reports BritPanorama.
A recently released international survey has revealed a decrease in the number of cosmetic procedures for women over the previous two years, signalling a continuing trend. The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery asked more than 2,900 plastic surgeons to submit clinical data from 51 different countries and found that a total of almost 17.9 million surgical procedures had been carried out in 2025.
Cosmetic procedures for men fell by 14 per cent in 2025 from the previous year, while procedures for women declined by 7.7 per cent. Female demand for cosmetic surgery had already dropped 4 per cent in 2024.
In 2025, demand for liposuction fell by 11.4 per cent, following a 12.6 per cent reduction the previous year. Popularity for breast augmentation and Botox is also on the slide, with demand for both procedures falling by 17 per cent in 2024 and a further 2 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively, last year.
Dr Sanjay Parashar, a surgeon and chief executive of Cocoona Centre of Aesthetic Transformation in Dubai, stated that cosmetic trends were driven by the popularity of weight-loss drugs, while economic factors could be a reason for the decline in male cosmetic procedures. “Technology has improved, as has surgical safety,” he said. “Fewer men choosing cosmetic procedures is more about economic pressure than anything else.”
Dr Parashar also indicated that wider access to existing GLP-1 drugs could lead to increased demand for excess skin removal and skin tightening. “The amount of liposuction procedures we are doing has definitely decreased because of the oral weight-loss medications now available, helping people reduce that stubborn fat. But what has gone up as a consequence are procedures like facelifts and body lifts.”
“People now do not want to resort to non-surgical like fillers to fill up their faces and look unnatural. They prefer to have a tightening procedure to look more natural, and a more cost-effective outcome,” he added.
Supercharged weight loss
Figures for the UAE were not included in the 2025 survey but featured in the 2024 edition, which showed there were 272,000 surgical procedures in the emirates during that period. Dr Parashar mentioned that the emerging class of “triple G” weight-loss drugs that target three hormone receptors simultaneously could further reduce demand for liposuction procedures as they promise even greater weight loss than existing GLP-1 drugs.
Regulatory approval has yet to be granted for the “triple G” drug retatrutide, but trials suggest potential weight loss of up to 28 per cent. These medications slow digestion, curb appetite, regulate fat metabolism, and increase energy expenditure to break down stored fat. “These medications will continue to improve, along with the side effect profile,” he emphasised.
Dr Parashar acknowledged the challenges posed by ageing, noting that “there still has not been any medical treatment to improve skin elasticity, so there’ll always be opportunities for cosmetic surgeons.” Eyelid surgery remained the most popular surgery in 2025, with 2.46 million procedures carried out worldwide.
The ISAPS survey participants completed a questionnaire that focused primarily on the number of specific surgical and non-surgical procedures performed. They were also asked questions related to surgeon demographics and the prevalence of medical tourism.
Natural look
Dubai-based plastic surgeon Dr Dmitry Melnikov remarked that while there was a trend for patients to opt for breast lifts rather than implants, the survey did not offer a complete picture of the aesthetic industry in the emirate. “Patients do tend to choose cheaper surgeons for simple breast augmentations, and they may simply have not been reflected in the ISAPS survey,” he said.
“Fashion standards have changed in the past couple of years. Patients want to have smaller, more natural breasts, but not all of [the patients]. It really depends on the country.” The survey indicated that the demand for hyaluronic acid fillers had dropped by around 25 per cent in the past year.
Dr Melnikov pointed to a “clean-girl” trend emerging, with a more natural appearance gaining popularity, influenced significantly by GLP-1 therapies. “GLP-1 has had an impact absolutely everywhere; it is also very typical for a user’s face to sag. The assumption that fillers are good, safe, and completely resolvable is finally gone,” he explained.
“They migrate; they never fully dissolve and with time they create a tired, swollen look. Patients see that, doctors see that and nowadays opt for procedures that focus on the production of a patient’s own collagen and improving skin quality rather than pumping the face with fillers.”
The rise of weight-loss drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro is also beginning to shape the cosmetics industry. The head of French beauty giant L’Oreal, Nicolas Hieronimus, noted that weight-loss drugs had made a “phenomenal” impact on the beauty sector.
While presenting the company’s latest financial results, Mr Hieronimus told investors that the latest products were designed to work alongside and complement GLP-1 medications to counter the effects of skin sagging. L’Oreal reported significant growth in the third quarter of 2026, with sales soaring 7.2 per cent to €11.6 billion ($12.9 billion) in the three months to September 30.
A recent Gallup poll found GLP-1 use had almost quadrupled in the US since 2024, while an estimated 1.6 million people turned to weight-loss drugs in England, Wales, and Scotland from 2024 to 2025.
Competition
Dr Vikas Verma, a consultant plastic surgeon at NMC Royal Hospital DIP in Dubai, indicated that an oversaturation of UAE clinics and price competition could be leading to the downturn in aesthetic surgeries. “Intense competition and the sheer number of players push price and quality of work down,” he said. “With so many providers, individual clinics can lose volume even when the market grows.”
Elsewhere, regulations are tightening on the industry. The Dubai Health Authority recently mandated that medical advertising must be truthful and supported by appropriate evidence, with disciplinary action for non-compliance. Stricter licensing is also being enforced to distinguish between medical clinics and beauty salons, aiming to reduce bookings driven by social media influencers.
“Traditional surgery still matters,” Dr Verma noted. “But the preference is shifting towards treatments that are non-invasive, can be done quickly, and provide immediate results, allowing for a return to work the next day.” He added, “GLP-1 drugs are reshaping plastic surgery, mostly by creating a new patient group and shifting demand towards facial and body-contouring work. We are getting more enquiries for such procedures and at a much younger age group.”
