Semaglutide and Postoperative Outcomes in Non-Diabetic Patients Following Body Contouring Surgery.

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

Semaglutide is a medication used for weight loss in obese patients. Recently, many plastic surgeons have recommended its use of semaglutide following bariatric surgery to increase one's weight loss. However, postoperative complications such as wound dehiscence, delayed healing, and infection pose significant risks. This study aimed to examine the relationship between preoperative semaglutide use and postoperative complications in non-diabetic obese patients undergoing body-contouring surgery. We hypothesized that semaglutide use would increase the risk of postoperative complications. This retrospective cohort study utilized the TriNetX Research Database. Non-diabetic patients who underwent body-contouring surgery between 2021 and 2024 after bariatric procedures were included. Patients were divided into two cohorts: Cohort A (4,215 patients) who used semaglutide for ≥6 months before surgery, and Cohort B (104,927 patients) without semaglutide use. Propensity score matching was used to create comparable cohorts based on age, gender, race, and BMI. The primary outcomes included postoperative complications within 30 days of surgery. Significant differences were found between the cohorts. Semaglutide users had higher rates of wound dehiscence (5.19% vs. 2.78%, p<0.0001), delayed wound healing (2.58% vs. 1.21%, p<0.0001), surgical site infections (5.37% vs. 2.87%, p<0.0001), nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (11.27% vs. 5.34%, p<0.0001), hypertrophic scar formation (5.53% vs. 3.86%, p=0.0011), and surgical site pain (6.05% vs. 3.29%, p<0.0001). Preoperative semaglutide use in non-diabetic patients undergoing body-contouring surgery post-bariatric procedures is associated with higher rates of adverse postoperative outcomes. These findings highlight the need for enhanced preoperative counseling and surgical planning to minimize risks and improve patient outcomes.