Allergan Aesthetics Finds Higher Facial Satisfaction in GLP-1 Users

Adults taking GLP-1 medications for weight loss reported improved satisfaction with their facial appearance after receiving aesthetic treatments, according to new results from Allergan Aesthetics presented at the 2026 American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) Annual Meeting in San Diego. The company shared findings from two Phase 4 studies, HARMONY IN DIVERSITY and HALO, focusing on adults who experienced facial changes such as loss of volume and altered skin quality while on stable doses of GLP-1 medications.

HARMONY IN DIVERSITY is described by Allergan as the first study to evaluate a combination of neurotoxin and hyaluronic acid (HA) injectables in this population. In its medical weight loss cohort of 30 adults, participants received HA injectables, onabotulinumtoxinA, and a specified skincare regimen. The mean FACE-Q Satisfaction With Facial Appearance score improved by 42.4 points from before treatment to 30 days after onabotulinumtoxinA, with statistically significant gains also seen in skin quality, psychological function, and social function. Most treatment-related adverse events were reported as mild and nonserious, resolving without intervention.

In the HALO study, an interim analysis of 25 adults treated with HA injectables across the face revealed a 39.6-point mean improvement in FACE-Q Satisfaction With Facial Appearance at three months. Allergan reported that nearly all participants said they still looked like themselves, and more than four out of five were satisfied or very satisfied with how natural they looked. On the SKIN-Q Looks scale, 88% were satisfied with how natural their skin appeared. Most adverse events in this group were also mild and nonserious.

Image: Allergan Aesthetics

Joely Kaufman-Janette, M.D., board-certified dermatologist at the Skin Research Institute and study investigator, said, “Having data specific to this population gives us a clearer starting point for setting expectations and building a treatment plan that reflects what they’re experiencing.”

Both studies used validated patient questionnaires, FACE-Q and SKIN-Q, where higher scores indicate better outcomes. The reported improvements reflect the average change in these scores from before treatment.

Darin Messina, Ph.D., senior vice president and head of aesthetics research and development at AbbVie, said, “Over time, their aesthetic concerns can change and may call for more than one treatment approach. The breadth of the Allergan Aesthetics portfolio lets us study our products in combination to generate evidence that helps providers make informed decisions about their potential use together in practice.”

The HARMONY IN DIVERSITY study also included a broader cohort of 100 participants aged 22 to 65, representing Fitzpatrick skin types I-VI, who received multimodal treatment of the face and neck. This group reported a 42-point mean improvement in facial satisfaction scores, as well as gains in psychological and social function.

Allergan Aesthetics also presented findings on other approaches, including a topical serum containing exosomes derived from human fibroblasts. In a 12-week study of 36 premenopausal and postmenopausal women, the serum improved skin tone evenness and smoothness by week 1 and reduced lower facial sagging by week 8. Additional studies evaluated the serum’s use alongside growth factor serums and in-office procedures.

The company stated that most adverse events across the studies were mild and nonserious. Treatments such as HA injectables and onabotulinumtoxinA are available only by prescription and should be administered by a licensed healthcare professional. The magazine has also reported on Immunotherapy Regenerative Medicine’s stem cell treatments for skin glow.