You may have seen the news that the FDA is moving to restrict the large-scale compounding of semaglutide and tirzepatide, the active ingredients in Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound. A public comment period is open through June 29, 2026, and a final decision is expected to follow.
Many of our patients have asked what this means for them. We are a plastic surgery practice, not a prescriber of these medications, so we will keep the regulatory part brief and point you to the right people for medication decisions. What we can speak to, with real depth, is the question we are uniquely qualified to answer: what a steady, well-managed weight-loss journey means for your body and your results if body contouring is part of your future.
During the medication shortages of 2022 through 2024, pharmacies were permitted to make their own compounded copies of these drugs, which is why many telehealth companies could offer them at lower prices. The FDA has since declared those shortages resolved and has proposed closing the door on large-scale compounding of these specific medications.
The brand-name medications from the manufacturers are not affected. What is being restricted are the custom-compounded copies, which the FDA has noted are not reviewed for safety, effectiveness, or quality the way approved medications are. If you take a compounded version, this is a conversation to have with your prescribing physician, not with us. They know your history and can guide you on the safest path forward.
This is where our experience genuinely matters. The way you lose weight, and how steady that process is, has a direct effect on your skin, your tissue, and your ability to heal beautifully after body contouring surgery.
“The quality of a body contouring result begins long before the operating room. A stable, well-nourished, medically supervised weight-loss journey gives us healthy tissue to work with and a patient who heals predictably. That is the foundation of a safe, lasting result.” — Dr. Joseph F. Capella
This is why the safety of how you lose weight is not separate from your surgical outcome. It is part of it. Rapid swings, dehydration, and inconsistent dosing all affect the body we ultimately operate on. A calm, supervised process under a physician who knows you is the best possible preparation for excellent results, whatever you and your prescriber decide about your specific medication.
Regardless of how this ruling lands, one reality remains. When significant weight comes off, many people are left with loose, excess skin that no medication, exercise, or non-surgical treatment can resolve. This is not a personal failure. It is biology, and it is the most common reason patients come to see us. We cover this in depth in our guide to the Ozempic body problem and loose skin.
That is the question we exist to help with, and it is a solved problem in experienced hands. If body contouring may be in your future, the most important decision you will make is choosing the right surgeon. Our guide on how to choose a body contouring surgeon after weight loss walks you through the five criteria that matter most. Whatever you decide about your medication, you do not have to figure out the next chapter alone.
Dr. Joseph F. Capella is a board-certified plastic surgeon, and a pioneer and world leader in body contouring after weight loss. He has devoted his entire 25-year career to one thing: caring for patients after major weight loss. Most plastic surgeons offer this work as one service among many. For Dr. Capella, it is not one of the things he does. It is the only thing he does. That singular focus is why surgeons across the country refer their post-weight-loss patients to him.
For this specific patient population, Dr. Capella has performed more than 15,000 procedures, cared for over 25,000 patients, and holds the largest published single-surgeon case series in the world on body lifts, arm lifts, and medial thigh lifts. He completed his plastic surgery fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, serves as Chief of the Division of Post-Bariatric Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center, is Chief of Plastic Surgery at Pascack Valley Medical Center, lectures to other plastic surgeons internationally, has co-authored several major plastic surgery textbooks, and has served on the American Society of Plastic Surgeons post-bariatric body contouring task force. He has been named one of the Top 10 Plastic Surgeons in New York and recognized among the Best Doctors in America for four consecutive years, and his work has been featured on ABC’s 20/20, The View, CNBC, and Elle. His father, Dr. Rafael Capella, was a founding member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
Whatever you decide about medication, our team at Capella Plastic Surgery is here when you are ready to plan the next chapter. Learn more about our approach to post weight loss surgery in NJ, or reach out with your questions and schedule a personal consultation through our contact us page.
Editor’s note: Information on the FDA proposal is current as of June 2026 and reflects a proposed rule open for public comment through June 29, 2026. A final determination had not been issued at the time of writing.
This article is general educational information and is not medical advice. Always consult your own physician before making decisions about medication or surgery.
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545 Island Road, Suite 2A, Ramsey, New Jersey 07446
