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Hamilton Fraser’s guide to weight management in aesthetic medicine

Chapter 1: The rise of medical weight management in aesthetics

This chapter introduces the growing demand for weight-loss treatments in aesthetic practice, driven largely by the surge in GLP-1 receptor agonists. It explores how these medications work, why they have become so popular, and the common misconceptions and risks surrounding their use. The chapter underscores the importance of medical oversight, patient education and safe prescribing in an increasingly commercialised landscape.

Chapter 2: Regulation, CQC requirements and professional responsibility

Here, we outline the regulatory framework governing weight management services in the UK, including when CQC registration is required for clinics offering medical weight-loss interventions. The chapter explains why weight management is a regulated medical service – not a cosmetic add-on – and highlights the practitioner’s duty of care around safeguarding, governance and ethical decision-making in terms of patient safety and legal compliance

Chapter 3: Supporting sustainable outcomes through nutrition, lifestyle and mindset

This chapter examines the essential role of behavioural and lifestyle support in achieving long-term, healthy weight loss. It explores how nutrition, exercise, sleep and emotional wellbeing interact with medical treatment, and why practitioners must screen for issues such as disordered eating or unrealistic expectations. The chapter also discusses how to integrate holistic, education-led approaches into aesthetic practice to help patients build sustainable habits.

Chapter 4: Managing rapid weight loss and “Ozempic face” with aesthetic treatments

This chapter focuses on the aesthetic considerations associated with rapid weight reduction, including the widely publicised “Ozempic face.” It explains how sudden fat loss can affect skin quality, facial structure and body contour, and outlines the treatments that may help to restore balance, such as skin-tightening devices, collagen-stimulating injectables and personalised skincare. The chapter emphasises the importance of ethical communication, realistic expectations and choosing interventions that complement, rather than mask, a patient’s weight-loss journey.