According to the statistics of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), surgical adjustments to fix the so – called “Ozempic face” have been added to the list of top – trending cosmetic procedures. The academy’s annual survey of its board – certified members has found that the popular GLP – 1 medications are influencing Americans’ demands for plastic surgeries.
Dr. Patrick Byrne, the president of AAFPRS, said in an academy news release, “While these drugs are highly effective in achieving rapid weight loss, they often lead to issues such as volume loss and sagging skin. As a result, more patients are turning to facial plastic surgery to address these aesthetic concerns.”
For example, facial plastic surgeons reported a 50% increase in the number of facial fat – grafting procedures throughout 2024, likely due to the effects of weight loss aided by GLP – 1s.
Members expect that other non – surgical procedures, such as injectable facial fillers, will also become more popular as Ozempic and its similar drugs help people lose weight.
Already, one in every ten AAFPRS members say they are prescribing the weight – loss meds to patients.
In 2025, traditional cosmetic surgeries still topped the list of the most popular procedures.
Rhinoplasties (commonly known as “nose jobs”), facelifts, and eye lifts remained the top three surgical procedures in 2025. Rhinoplasty continued to be the surgery most frequently requested by patients, said the AAFPRS.
However, the average age for a facelift is getting younger. In recent years, people aged 35 to 55 accounted for 26% of facelift clients, but that number rose to nearly one – third (32%) by 2025.
Most patients are not choosing complex and invasive surgical procedures. However, Botox and similar “neurotoxin” injections, as well as dermal fillers, are much more popular. More than 90% of AAFPRS members say they perform such procedures regularly.
Byrne said that women in menopause and perimenopause can notice the effects of hormonal changes on their faces – thinning skin, bags under the eyes, and weakened facial bones – and often go to their plastic surgeon’s office.
“The AAFPRS president explained, “Soft tissue fillers, especially biostimulatory fillers, can help replace collagen stores from the inside out and outside in, which can be helpful for women experiencing a drop in collagen levels, leading to wrinkles and fine lines.”
Byrne suspects that a new openness about menopause is driving the trend.
He said, “The growing conversation around menopause and aesthetics marks a significant shift in how women approach this life stage, empowering them with the knowledge and resources to embrace and celebrate it with confidence.”
The report found that men are not far behind women in seeking to counter the effects of age.
Almost all (92%) AAFPRS members said men are among their patients seeking facelifts, nose jobs, eye lifts, Botox, and other interventions.
And the survey found that men far outnumber women when it comes to hair transplants.
Members are also looking ahead to the future of their profession, which increasingly involves cutting – edge regenerative medicine.
Byrne explained, “Treatments like platelet – rich plasma (PRP) and exosome – based therapies are gaining popularity, providing patients with minimally invasive options that are intended to target the cellular level to rejuvenate and repair skin.”
Steven Jurich, the CEO and executive vice president of the AAFPRS, said that many of the trends outlined in the survey are driven by social media.
But there is also a lot of hucksterism and misinformation. Jurich advised consumers to check a practitioner’s training and credentials before consenting to any procedure.
He said in the news release, “The best way to maximize satisfaction with any facial rejuvenation procedure is to choose a qualified facial plastic surgeon. Always select a surgeon specifically trained in procedures on the face, head, and neck and make sure the physician is qualified, experienced, and board – certified in the procedure you want.”
The new survey was conducted in December by ACUPOLL Precision Research, Inc. through an online survey of a select group of the organization’s members.
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