Ozempic is an injectable medication predominantly used for managing type 2 diabetes and increasingly for weight loss. Celebrated for promoting weight loss in overweight or obese individuals, Ozempic’s usage has surged. Increasing numbers of celebrities have openly admitted to using it. This has led to its use even amongst people who would not be classed as obese. However, a side effect of this dramatic weight loss is a change in facial appearance often called “Ozempic face”. This refers to the changes in face volume and potential premature ageing triggered by rapid and large amounts of weight loss. Despite the name, it can be caused by any weight loss injection, or by rapid weight loss in general. In this post, we unravel the effects of Ozempic and other weight loss injections on your skin and face. We also discuss what you can do to avoid and treat Ozempic face aging.
What is Ozempic Face and How Does it Happen?
Before we dive into the specifics of Ozempic face, let’s examine how Ozempic and other weight loss injections impact your skin. Semaglutides like Wegovy and Ozempic, as well as liraglutides like Saxenda, help you lose weight by altering your body’s insulin and glucagon responses. This affects glucose storage and metabolism. They also work by curbing your appetite and slowing digestion. These mechanisms of action can result in significant weight loss. However, substantial and rapid weight loss can also lead to several changes in your skin and facial appearance.
The most common skin-related effects of weight loss injections include dryness and laxity. As your body loses weight rapidly, it can affect your skin’s moisture levels, leading to dry and flaky skin. Your skin might also reduce its ability to produce collagen and elastin. This gives rise to skin ageing which manifests as thinner, wrinkled and less pliable skin. Other potential skin-related side effects include breakouts, rashes and irritation.
When you lose a significant amount of weight, you also lose fat from the face and your facial fat pads shrink. These fat pads normally provide support and volume, and give the face a more youthful appearance. As they shrink, they cause face volume loss which gives a gaunt or hollow appearance. Research links this combination of facial fat loss and reduced collagen to the appearance of premature ageing. When combined with other skin changes, your skin may look looser and start to sag. As such, lines and wrinkles become more noticeable. This is particularly true for those with naturally thin faces, where excessive face volume loss becomes even more stark.
The term Ozempic face specifically refers to the combination of changes seen in the facial structure and skin following significant weight loss. These changes typically include loss of facial volume, sagging skin and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Taken together, they give a gaunt, wrinkled face that can make you look older and less healthy.
Is Ozempic Face Unique to Ozempic?
The phenomenon of Ozempic face is not unique to Ozempic alone. In fact, this is a slightly misleading term, as these facial and skin changes can occur with any substantial weight loss. It can be caused by Ozempic, any other injection, or any rapid weight loss method at all. The term has simply gained popularity and stuck due to the widespread use of Ozempic and the media coverage around it. Any significant weight loss, no matter the cause, can result in similar changes to your face and skin.
How Can You Prevent or Treat Ozempic Face?
The easiest way to avoid Ozempic face aging is to use a more gradual weight loss method such as lifestyle modifications. However, this is not possible for everyone. For example, you may have been unsuccessful with this approach before. Alternatively, rapid weight loss might be needed for your health. As such, you and your doctor may decide that weight loss injections or other rapid methods like surgery are the best approach. In this case, whilst it may be challenging to prevent Ozempic face, there are a few ways to reduce or treat it. A good first step is to reduce the risk by using a lower dose of weight loss injection. This slows the speed of weight loss slightly and may limit the extent of the face volume loss. If that doesn’t work or isn’t an option, you can address the signs of Ozempic face aging directly.
Which Skincare Helps with Ozempic Face?
To tackle the skin ageing changes, you can try active and prescription anti-ageing skincare. Retinoids like tretinoin smooth the surface of the skin to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. They also stimulate your skin cells to produce more collagen and elastin, which makes the skin plumper and more elastic. Humectants like hyaluronic acid and polyglutamic acid hydrate the skin. A good emollient moisturiser then seals in this hydration to tackle any dryness or flaking.
What About Injectable and Professional Treatments?
These options are carried out in person rather than online, but they are worth understanding. With regards to the volume loss, you may need to consider treatments like hyaluronic acid dermal fillers. These temporary injections replace lost facial volume and so reduce the hollowing associated with Ozempic face. Injectable skin boosters like Profhilo can also help. Skin-tightening treatments like RF microneedling and traditional microneedling can improve tightness and elasticity. However, they will not restore lost facial volume on their own.
Ozempic and other weight loss injections can very effectively promote weight loss. Even so, it’s important to be aware of their potential side effects and risks. These include changes to the appearance of your skin and face, and even hair loss. Understanding this can help you anticipate and manage the changes. Start by discussing the best weight loss options with your doctor and how you might avoid facial changes. If rapid weight loss is unavoidable, you can seek advice from a dermatologist or aesthetic doctor on treatments for Ozempic face aging.
At City Skin Clinic, we are passionate about personalised skincare. Our online clinic offers safe and effective treatments using ingredients like tretinoin and hydroquinone where appropriate. Our doctors treat skin conditions like acne, hyperpigmentation, melasma and skin ageing, as well as hair loss, all via bespoke compounded treatments designed around you. To start your personalised plan, book a virtual video consultation or use our online consultation form. The journey towards great skin and hair starts here.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified medical professional with any concerns about your skin, hair or treatment options.
