"I lost 15 kg with Mounjaro, but my face looks so aged that I came for volume fillers and Ultherapy."
On August 31, at a dermatology clinic in Apgujeong, Gangnam, 31-year-old office worker Kim expressed her concerns after successfully losing 15 kg in just over two months. Although she aims to lose another 5 kg to reach her target weight, she is contemplating pausing her diet due to her rapidly aging appearance.
Kim noted, "My friends said, 'Lifting care is essential after rapid weight loss,' and I spent over 800,000 won on Mounjaro alone. If I add volume fillers and Ultherapy, it will exceed 1 million won," she said.
The head of consultations at the clinic reported an increase in patients like Kim, who seek lifting treatments after losing weight with GLP-1 obesity medications. He explained, "While there has always been steady demand for lifting due to the youth trend, consultations for post-diet concerns have surged in the past one to two years."
Mounjaro and Wegovy, both GLP-1 obesity treatments, have transformed the global weight loss landscape. While these drugs make weight loss easier through strong appetite suppression, another trend is emerging: many individuals who successfully lose weight are now investing heavily in lifting treatments to refine their facial and body contours.
Rapid weight loss can lead to a decrease in facial fat, accentuating nasolabial folds and deep cheekbones, which can create a tired and aged appearance. For those with significant skin sagging, non-surgical treatments like ultrasound and radiofrequency lifting are common, but severe cases may require facelift surgery.
A 40-year-old woman, Lee, shared, "I lost 12 kg in three months, but my cheeks have hollowed out, making my nasolabial folds more pronounced, and my face looks like a total mess." She added, "I first had a thread lift and am considering a facelift later."
There is also a noticeable trend among successful dieters to manage their body lines. An analysis by 365mc of liposuction data from five medical institutions in Seoul and Incheon over the past three years revealed that the total number of liposuction procedures has actually increased since the domestic launch of GLP-1 treatments.
Notably, demand for specific areas has changed. While procedures for the abdomen and thighs have decreased, the number of arm liposuction surgeries surged to 10,487 in 2023, a 31% increase from the previous year, making it the most performed procedure, surpassing abdominal liposuction.
Kim Ha-jin, chairman of the 365mc representative council, stated, "GLP-1 treatments are effective for overall weight loss, but they have limitations in improving specific areas of fat distribution and body lines due to genetic factors. Even after weight loss, areas like the arms often show little change."
The popularity of GLP-1 weight loss drugs is seen as a catalyst for reshaping the aesthetic market. Patients using GLP-1 treatments often report issues like decreased skin elasticity, worsening skin quality, and loss of facial volume, leading to an increase in combined protocols involving HA fillers, biostimulators, and energy-based devices. There is also a growing demand for fat-dissolving injections, lifting, body contouring, and regenerative treatments in South Korea.
The aesthetic market is expected to thrive, leveraging the GLP-1 trend as a new growth driver. According to a global market research firm, the aesthetic market was valued at approximately $92.55 billion last year and is projected to grow at an annual rate of 8.11%, reaching about $186.52 billion by 2034.
In contrast, gyms, which were once popular for weight loss and body management, are facing a crisis. An analysis of licensing data from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety revealed that 481 gyms closed from January to August this year, a 42.7% increase from 337 closures during the same period last year. This figure more than doubled compared to 211 closures in the same period of 2022.
Lee Eun-hee, a professor of consumer studies at Inha University, commented, "As GLP-1 obesity treatments become mainstream, the appeal of going to the gym has diminished with the prospect of losing weight with just one injection. It is essential to create spaces and cultures where exercise can be enjoyed, integrating treatment and physical activity."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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