When Angelina started her GLP-1 weight loss journey, she says she had no idea how transformative it would be—not just in pounds lost but in her entire approach to self-care. “I always yo-yoed with my weight for about 20 years, and it was something that, you know, affected me. I was always the friend who was bigger, and I was always, you know, granted, in this industry, having a round face keeps you looking more youthful. So I’m happy for that. But I always just wanted to improve my body, and I worked so hard at the gym, but I would always gain the weight back. So starting the GLP-1s was something I would consider a lifesaver.”
Angelina is a surgical coordinator for Newton Centre, MA plastic surgeon Joseph Russo, MD, which gives her access to multiple treatments that helped her address skin concerns during her weight loss journey. “Everything was nonsurgical. Everything had minimal downtime and didn’t really hurt, which is what people want to know: How much does it hurt? Does it work? By trying these different devices, I’ve found that I can guide patients in the right direction for their specific journey. There’s no one-size-fits-all with these types of procedures.”
For skin tightening on her lower face and neck, she had Renuvion and liposuction, which she said made a huge difference. She says she focused on her arms, neck and even areas that often don’t bounce back easily post-weight loss. “Treatments like SylfirmX Radio- Frequency Microneedling, UltraClear laser resurfacing and Sculptra injections helped me achieve firmer, more toned skin.”
As Angelina and Dr. Russo note, the world of noninvasive options is expanding quickly and for someone looking for solutions while their body is changing, they say the time to start is now. “I definitely feel like the sooner you can start, the better. With GLP-1s, people often get scared, thinking, ‘I’m going to lose all this weight so fast.’ But you actually don’t want to lose weight that quickly and with GLP-1s, you don’t. It’s a gradual process of losing weight over time.”
Since it’s a gradual weight loss, Angelina and Dr. Russo agree that after the first three weeks of being on the medication, you should start planning. “This is the time you want to start planning what your nonsurgical treatments will look like,” she adds. “I think the one thing I hear the most from patients is I just want to feel better in my clothing. I hear it day in and day out, and it’s like, listen, this is gonna change your life. It really is.”