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A new study explores an effective treatment protocol to restore volume and improve skin quality in patients experiencing facial changes from weight loss medications.
At the 43rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, Galderma presented encouraging 3-month interim results from a phase 4 clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness and safety of combining Sculptra with Restylane Lyft or Contour to treat facial volume loss associated with medication-induced weight loss.1
The results showed notable improvements in mid-face shape, contouring, skin quality, and hydration. Additionally, almost 90% of patients reported increased confidence in their appearance three months after treatment.1
In an interview with Dermatology Times, Michael Somenek, MD, a facial plastic surgeon practicing in Washington, DC, shared perspectives on the study's design and outcomes.
Somenek participated in the research study, highlighting its outcomes and evaluating the treatment protocol used to restore volume and improve skin quality in this patient population.
Somenek explained that a significant portion of patients, particularly in the United States, are using medications that promote weight loss, such as GLP-1 agonists.
"In a lot of our practices, and a lot of our aesthetic practices, a large percentage, particularly in the USA, of our patients, are on medications that are driving their weight loss, GLP-1 agonists," he said.
As a result, practitioners are seeing varying degrees of volume loss, particularly in the face. This led to an unmet need in the market to better address these patients’ concerns, prompting the development of a specialized protocol and research project.
The study, which included around 41 subjects, provided interim results after 3 months. Somenek noted, "We were able to re-establish some of the volume within their face, particularly in the mid face, with Restylane Lift and Restylane Contour, and also within the lower third of their face, we were able to address their cheek wrinkles, as well as some skin quality measures with Sculptra."
The findings suggest that treatments like Sculptra could help restore volume in the face and improve the overall skin appearance.
Beyond volume restoration, the study also measured improvements in skin hydration and thickness. "We were able to show a significant improvement in the hydration to the skin," Somenek added. "We were able to increase skin thickness based on ultrasound and also the radiance with Sculptra."
Patient satisfaction was another key takeaway from the study. "Greater than 80% of the subjects that felt they felt better about their appearance, they felt natural, and their skin quality as well was improved," Somenek shared.
These high satisfaction rates are indicative of the protocol's effectiveness in addressing both cosmetic concerns and patient expectations.
One of the study’s key features was its standardized protocol, which helped minimize some of the challenges commonly encountered in treating patients on weight loss medications. Somenek explained, "We had people that had to maintain a stable BMI plus or minus 2 kilograms throughout the duration of the study, and so that really reduced what I would consider one of the top challenges in treating medication-driven weight loss patients."
By ensuring stable weight during the study, practitioners were able to reduce confounding variables, making it easier to track the impact of treatments on volume and skin quality.
The study also highlighted the importance of individualized care.
"We really need to take, similar to the holistic individualized treatment plan that we used within this study, the Shape Up protocol, and we need to pass that on to many of our patients, because everyone truly needs to be looked at individually," Somenek emphasized.
The individualized approach ensures that each patient’s unique needs and stage of weight loss are considered when determining the most effective treatment plan.
Looking forward, Somenek believes this study is only the beginning, as the use of weight loss medications continues to rise.
"We're going to see a wider variety of patients on their medication-driven weight loss journey, and we're going to see a big spectrum of changes in the skin that we're going to need to address in one form or another," he said.
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