Galderma Reveals New Trial Insights on Menopause and Weight Loss Skin Changes
What Galderma’s new interim data tells us about menopause, weight-loss changes, and injectables
Last week, Galderma released interim findings from two investigator-initiated trials that shed light on how injectable, regenerative treatments may help with aesthetic changes linked to menopause and to medication-driven weight loss (Source: Galderma press release, Interim data from two ongoing investigator-initiated trials).
Why these studies matter
Both trials are small and still ongoing, but they explore two real-world problems clinicians are seeing more often: changing skin quality in menopausal patients and unexpected volume or contour changes after weight loss driven by medications such as GLP-1 receptor agonists (Source: Galderma press release, Interim data from two ongoing investigator-initiated trials).
Skin quality in menopausal patients: sequencing matters
The first study, led by Andreas Nikolis, MD, MSc, FRCSC, enrolled menopausal women and followed them for nine months to test different ways of sequencing treatments on the face and décolletage (Source: Galderma, Interim Data on File, comprehensive interim analysis).
Investigators combined two different approaches: injections of Restylane Skinboosters (a hyaluronic acid–based treatment) and Sculptra (a poly-L-lactic acid, or PLLA, biostimulator) to see whether the order of treatments changed outcomes (Source: Galderma, Interim Data on File).
Interim results showed that both treatment sequences produced progressive, meaningful gains in objective measures such as hydration, elasticity, and skin barrier function (measured by transepidermal water loss), with steady increases in patient satisfaction over time (Source: Galderma, Interim Data on File).
Early on, the most notable improvement in hydration happened when Restylane Skinboosters were given first, suggesting a rapid “boost” in extracellular matrix moisture when a hyaluronic acid treatment is applied prior to a biostimulator (Source: Galderma, Interim Data on File).
Mechanistically, the trial supports a complementary approach: hyaluronic acid formulations like Skinboosters can provide relatively immediate improvements in skin smoothness and hydration, while PLLA (Sculptra) stimulates gradual remodeling of collagen and elastin across skin layers for longer-term structure and firmness (Source: Galderma, Interim Data on File).
Clinically, that combination appears to offer both quick cosmetic improvement and sustained structural benefit, and patient-reported outcomes tracked alongside objective measures reinforced the pattern of rising satisfaction over the study period (Source: Galderma, Interim Data on File).
Dr. Nikolis summarized the interim findings as “highly encouraging,” noting that measurable gains in hydration and collagen-related quality matched increasing patient satisfaction and that these early results can help clinicians tailor strategies for aging, menopausal patients (Source: Galderma press release, Interim data from two ongoing investigator-initiated trials).
What the weight-loss study found at the cellular level
The second trial, led by Sabrina Fabi, MD, looked at 20 female patients with mild-to-moderate abdominal skin laxity to study tissue changes after medication-driven weight loss, a scenario becoming more common with the rise of GLP-1 receptor agonists (Source: Galderma press release; Investigating the Impact of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Adipose-Derived Stem Cells, Interim Data on File).
Rather than simply measuring fat loss, researchers examined the cellular composition of adipose tissue and found a roughly four-fold reduction in adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in patients who had medication-driven weight loss compared with those who had not (Source: Galderma, Investigating the Impact of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Adipose-Derived Stem Cells, Interim Data on File).
Because ADSCs are important for adipose tissue maintenance and regeneration, a selective drop in this cell population could help explain why some people notice disproportionate or persistent contour changes even when overall weight loss seems modest (Source: Galderma, Investigating the Impact of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Adipose-Derived Stem Cells, Interim Data on File).
Importantly, the trial reported that fibroblast populations were preserved, suggesting the change is relatively selective to adipose biology rather than a broad breakdown of all connective tissue (Source: Galderma, Investigating the Impact of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Adipose-Derived Stem Cells, Interim Data on File).
Dr. Fabi commented that these shifts in skin and adipose-tissue profiles may help clinicians understand—and better plan for—the volume-related aesthetic changes patients experience after medication-driven weight loss (Source: Galderma press release, Interim data from two ongoing investigator-initiated trials).
What this means for treatment planning
Taken together, the two studies point toward a more individualized, physiology‑based approach to aesthetic care rather than a one-size-fits-all model (Source: Galderma press release, Interim data from two ongoing investigator-initiated trials).
For menopausal patients, combining a fast-acting hyaluronic acid skin quality treatment with a longer‑acting biostimulator may give the immediate cosmetic benefits patients want while also building longer-term collagen and elastin support (Source: Galderma, Interim Data on File).
For patients who have lost weight with medication, the cellular findings suggest clinicians might consider treatments that promote adipose remodeling or regenerative responses to help restore natural-looking contour and volume (Source: Galderma, Investigating the Impact of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Adipose-Derived Stem Cells, Interim Data on File).
Galderma highlights Sculptra as a regenerative option that can stimulate collagen, elastin, and potentially adipose tissue remodeling; they also note the unique properties of Restylane Skinboosters as a hyaluronic acid product designed to improve multiple aspects of skin quality (Source: Galderma press release, Interim data from two ongoing investigator-initiated trials).
Limitations and next steps
These results are interim and come from relatively small cohorts, so larger, controlled trials are needed to confirm the findings and refine treatment protocols (Source: Galderma press release, Interim data from two ongoing investigator-initiated trials).
The data should be interpreted cautiously: interim analyses can point toward promising directions, but they are not definitive proof of long-term effectiveness or safety across broad populations (Source: Galderma press release, Interim data from two ongoing investigator-initiated trials).
Future research that includes more participants, diverse demographics, and randomized controls will be important to determine optimal sequencing, dosing, and how to match treatments to specific tissue changes—whether those changes are driven by menopause, medications, or other factors (Source: Galderma press release; Galderma interim data files).
Final thoughts
These investigator-initiated trials add early, practical insight into two common clinical challenges: how to support skin quality during menopause and how to address volume or contour changes after medication-driven weight loss (Source: Galderma press release, Interim data from two ongoing investigator-initiated trials).
While more research is necessary, the emerging picture supports thoughtful combinations of approaches—immediate hydration and skin quality improvement from hyaluronic acid therapies paired with longer-term structural remodeling from biostimulators—to achieve results that are both satisfying in the short term and aligned with underlying biology over time (Source: Galderma, Interim Data on File).
Clinicians and patients alike should view these findings as a step toward more personalized aesthetic care informed by tissue-level science, keeping in mind that the regulatory status of specific indications may vary by country (Source: Galderma press release, Interim data from two ongoing investigator-initiated trials).
Sources
- Galderma press release, “Interim data from two ongoing investigator-initiated trials highlight the role of Sculptra® and Restylane® in addressing aesthetic changes associated with weight loss medications and menopause.” Published April 9, 2026 and April 17, 2026. (Source: Galderma press release, Interim data from two ongoing investigator-initiated trials)
- Galderma, Interim Data on File, “A comprehensive interim analysis of skin hydration, barrier function (TEWL), elasticity, and patient satisfaction across two treatment arms.” (Source: Galderma, Interim Data on File)
- Galderma, Interim Data on File, “Investigating the Impact of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Adipose-Derived Stem Cells.” (Source: Galderma, Investigating the Impact of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Adipose-Derived Stem Cells, Interim Data on File)