New Data Reveals GLP-1 Medications Impact on Medical Aesthetics Growth

Guidepoint Qsight revealed new insights Thursday on the state of the $17.5 billion medical aesthetics industry, which was up 2% in 2024. The findings highlight how the integration of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications for weight loss is reshaping the aesthetics market.

GLP-1 medications are fueling significant growth for practices across the United States, a press release explained.

Neurotoxins lead by share of non-surgical aesthetics spend, with a total patient spend growing by 4%. In contrast, surgical spend remained relatively flat in 2024, reflecting the ongoing shift toward non-surgical aesthetics. 

GLP-1 medications' contribution to overall industry growth are evident with revenue at practices offering GLP-1 treatments increasing by an average of 9% compared to a 2% decline at practices that did not offer these weight loss drugs. GLP-1 medications now contribute approximately 15% of monthly revenue at practices offering them, and around 40% of GLP-1 patients in 2024 were completely new customers to their practices, a press release from Guidepoint Qsight reports. 

“The medical aesthetics industry is continuously evolving, with GLP-1 medications fundamentally reshaping how aesthetic practices approach patient acquisition and revenue generation,” said Erik Haines, managing director of Guidepoint Qsight. “Our data indicates that practices embracing these innovations are outpacing their peers. Weight loss spending now significantly surpasses non-energy-based device skin rejuvenation and professional grade skincare, becoming the fourth largest non-surgical aesthetics segment we track.”

Sixty percent of medspas in the United States now provide GLP-1 treatments, compared to 35% of aesthetic physician offices. 

Average spends per patient across aesthetic practices grew by 5% to $1,471 in 2024, indicating that consumers are increasingly willing to invest in themselves. 

Medical aesthetics is seeing a shift in demographics according to the Guidepoint Qsight data. There is a notable increase in younger consumers. In 2024, Gen Z made up around 10% of all aesthetic patients, nearly triple their generations representation in 2017. Some older generations are starting to age out of the market, with baby boomers now representing around 20% of patients.