What Is Ozempic Face? Why It Happens and How to Fix It

“Ozempic face” refers to the facial changes that can happen after rapid and dramatic weight loss from Ozempic or other GLP-1 drugs, including Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound. While it’s not an official medical term or diagnosis, the phrase has become better known as GLP-1s have become more popular in recent years.

What Causes Ozempic Face?

Ozempic face may be caused by fat loss, reduced skin elasticity and collagen, or possibly because of the way GLP-1s directly affect skin cells.

Fat Loss

How quickly you lose that fat also matters. “If a lot comes off very quickly, the skin and underlying tissues have less time to catch up,” says Kseniya Kobets, MD, director of cosmetic dermatology at Montefiore Einstein Advanced Care in Elmsford, New York.

Reduced Skin Elasticity and Collagen

“Imagine a balloon full of air: If you let a little bit of air out, the balloon is still tight. However, as more and more air is released, the balloon becomes loose, and the elasticity of the balloon cannot compensate for the loss of air volume,” says David Shafer, MD, a plastic surgeon in New York City.

A similar effect happens with the body and face. “The skin thins [and] loses its elasticity and luster from sudden and rapid depletion of the essential fatty acids that make up the skin barrier function,” says Michele Koo, MD, a plastic surgeon in St. Louis and the San Francisco Bay Area. “Collagen and elastin metabolism is also disrupted, resulting further in sallow, dull, thin skin.”

An Emerging Cellular Theory

“It’s an interesting early signal that Ozempic face might not be just about fat pad shrinkage — there could be a direct effect on skin cells too,” says Rekha Kumar, MD, an endocrinologist and obesity medicine expert at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. “But we need controlled human studies before drawing firm conclusions.”

How to Prevent Ozempic Face

There are a few best practices that will help keep you healthy while taking GLP-1s, but they won’t necessarily help you avoid Ozempic face entirely, Dr. Ahmed says.

• Talk to your prescriber about pacing. Slower weight loss can give the skin time to adjust and help you avoid sudden facial structure changes. To achieve that, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose of your GLP-1.

  [1]

  “The goal should be high-quality weight loss rather than simply the fastest possible weight loss,” Ahmed says.
• Optimize protein intake and hydration. Increasing protein and water intake are commonly recommended supportive measures for people on GLP-1s. Protein can help with muscle preservation during weight loss, and water promotes elasticity in the skin.

  [2]

Dermatological and Medical Treatment Options

Various treatments can help improve the appearance of your skin after weight loss. Consult a dermatologist or plastic surgeon to determine the right approach for you, as it depends on your needs, your age, your anatomy, your baseline skin quality, and how quickly you’ve lost or are losing weight, Kobets says.

Injectable Dermal Filler

Energy-Based Treatments

Ultrasound treatments like Ultherapy and Sofwave use ultrasound energy to stimulate the formation of collagen below the skin’s surface, Shafer says. Producing collagen takes time, so results can become more apparent over two to three months or sometimes up to six months.

CO2 lasers are another popular option that can address skin tightening. Although the recovery time can be up to two weeks long, since these lasers remove the superficial layers of the skin, “the results can be substantial on fine lines and pigmentation,” Shafer says.

Finally, a newer energy technology called radiofrequency microneedling may produce significant changes. “Small needles pierce the skin and send energy below the surface to stimulate collagen and tighten the skin,” Shafer says. “The microneedles penetrate and reach the deeper levels that lasers can’t treat.”

Surgical Options

When the excess skin is too significant for nonsurgical treatments to make an impact, surgery may be an option. “Creams, devices, and injectables simply can’t reproduce what surgery can do when there is a large amount of tissue laxity,” Kobets says.

At-Home Devices

You may also come across radiofrequency, microcurrent, or red and near-infrared LED devices designed for at-home use. “I think they can have a place, especially with consistent use, but expectations should be realistic,” Kobets says. You may notice modest improvements in hydration, elasticity, texture, and fine lines, but “they aren’t going to replace significant lost facial volume,” Kobets says.

When to Talk to a Doctor

“If your face looks noticeably more sunken, sagging, or aged compared to before you started your GLP-1, that’s worth a conversation with your doctor,” Dr. Kumar says.

Visit your prescribing physician so he or she can evaluate the pace of your weight loss and whether you may have a nutritional deficiency. Experiencing persistent nausea or vomiting, difficulty eating or drinking adequately, weakness, dizziness, hair loss, or loss of strength are also signs to consult your physician. “Those symptoms may indicate that the treatment plan or nutritional intake needs to be reassessed,” Ahmed says.

If everything health- and weight-wise is stable, it’s time to consult a board-certified dermatologist, facial plastic surgeon, or plastic surgeon, Ahmed says. Don’t just stop your medication on your own because you’re unhappy with your appearance. Chances are the metabolic and cardiovascular benefits of the GLP-1 outweigh your cosmetic concerns. “Facial volume loss can be distressing, but it should not automatically prompt discontinuation of an effective medication,” Ahmed says.