GLP-1 Demand Holds Steady in Aesthetic Clinics Despite Regulatory Shifts

GLP-1 Demand Holds Steady in Aesthetic Clinics Despite Regulatory Shifts

Despite regulatory uncertainty and reported shortages, aesthetic practices continue to experience high demand for glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, according to a report released by Guidepoint Qsight on October 1, 2025.

The report, Beyond the Shortage: Aesthetic Practices Sustain GLP-1 Demand Amid Regulatory Shifts, draws on proprietary transaction data to assess GLP-1 use in medical aesthetics. Patient spending on GLP-1 therapies exceeded $100 million in August 2025, though growth has slowed compared to 2024.

GLP-1 treatments—originally developed for type 2 diabetes and now widely used for weight management—have been adopted by 54% of medical spas and 32% of plastic surgery practices, the report states. Notably, 61% of GLP-1 users in 2025 were new to the practice, indicating continued value in patient acquisition.

“GLP‑1 therapies continue to serve as a powerful engine for patient acquisition,” said Erik Haines, managing director at Guidepoint Qsight. “Compounded GLP-1 remains more affordable than branded alternatives, even after recent price reductions by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. While pharmaceutical markets are reacting to regulatory uncertainty and shifting projections, our data shows the aesthetic side of the weight loss category is stabilizing—not declining.”

The report also highlights pricing disparities between branded and compounded GLP-1s, as well as persistent regulatory and legal pressures affecting availability. However, aesthetics-based GLP-1 use appears resilient.

“This analysis, updated from our spring 2025 study, shows sustained demand and a resilient industry, bolstered by sales in medical aesthetics practices,” said Erika Sheyn, senior vice president of aesthetics at Guidepoint Qsight.