Is it safe to be taking GLP1 going through lipo & fat transfer surgery & recovery?

Hi there,

Thank you for your thoughtful question, and it's great that you’re planning ahead. GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide or tirzepatide are powerful tools for weight management, but there are a few important considerations when taking them before and after procedures like 360 lipo, AirSculpt, and fat transfer:

Is it safe to take GLP-1s around surgery and recovery?
In many cases, these medications can be continued, but some surgeons and anesthesiologists recommend pausing them at least 1 week prior to surgery. GLP-1s delay gastric emptying, which can increase the risk of nausea, vomiting, and aspiration under anesthesia. Always follow your surgical team’s specific pre-op instructions regarding medication.

Can it affect liposuction or fat transfer results?
Yes—it can. Rapid or continued weight loss while on GLP-1s can potentially affect the fat graft survival in transfer areas like the hips and may alter the contour and volume retention post-liposuction. The newly transferred fat cells need stability and adequate nutrition to survive, and continued weight loss may lead to less graft take or volume loss.

What else should you consider?

Timing is key—it may be ideal to pause or taper GLP-1 therapy around the time of your fat transfer (as advised by your provider), then resume once healing is underway.

Hydration and nutrition are critical in both healing and fat graft retention. Focus on protein intake and maintaining a steady weight post-op.

Close coordination between your injector, surgical team, and medical provider managing your GLP-1 treatment is essential for the best outcomes.

Wishing you a smooth procedure and beautiful results—feel free to check in again along the way!

Liposuction is a very safe procedure in regards to complication rates.
I far the most common undesirable outcome or Aesthetic issues.
Plastic surgeon will make the wrong decision, the appropriate of surgery, including the impact of medication’s.
The two most important variables are understanding your candidacy and provider selection.
a person who is an excellent candidate for Liposuction has the potential of having excellent outcomes.
They can also be left disfigured if the procedure is done poorly.
A person who is a good candidate for Liposuction does not have the potential of having quality outcomes, regardless of who does the procedure.
Understanding your candidacy for Liposuction and fat are therefore an important part of understanding what the procedure can and cannot accomplish.
To find the right provider, I suggest having multiple in person consultations with plastic surgeons in your community.
Bring pictures of your body to use as reference during the consultation.
During each consultation, ask each provider to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection of before, and after pictures of previous patients who had similar body characteristics to your own kind of
In Other words previous patients who had the same candidacy for the procedure.
Sufficiently experience provider should’ve access 100s or preferably thousands out before and after pictures to choose from.
Always schedule in person consultations with the surgeon who is going to do your procedure
Avoid virtual consultations whenever possible.
There’s no correct number of consultations needed to find the right provider.
The more consultations you have the more likely, you are to find the better provider.
Having only one consultation, more or less eliminates the ability to choose a better provider.
In the end provider selection is by the most important variable because it is the one single variable patients have control over that actually matters.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD