The rapid weight loss experienced by Americans taking blockbuster GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy is starting to have unintended consequences, with many patients noticing a difference in their facial appearance. The president of the AAFPRS, Dr. Patrick Bryne, notes that the drugs cause dramatic and fast weight loss, leading to sunken features and sagging skin, commonly referred to as “Ozempic face.” This has prompted many newly svelte patients to seek out treatments at med spas and plastic surgery clinics to restore a youthful appearance.
The effects of GLP-1 drugs can be particularly noticeable in the face, with patients experiencing hollowed-out sounds, sunken cheeks, gaunt eyes, sagging neck skin, surprise jowls, and caved-in temples. A-listers in Hollywood are also rumored to be affected by the alleged “Ozempic face.” The decline in collagen production during menopause may make middle-aged women more susceptible to these facial changes, according to Byrne. To combat this, patients are turning to treatments like facial fillers to plump and lift their faces.
Facial fillers, particularly those made with hyaluronic acid, are a popular choice for patients looking to restore volume to their face without undergoing surgery. These fillers are reversible and safe, with minimal risks of rejection or reaction. Patients like Mary-Beth Renfrow, who lost weight on GLP-1 drugs, use fillers to address wrinkles and fine lines that may appear due to the weight loss. The results are temporary, lasting for several months up to a few years, before being absorbed by the body.
Other treatments sought after by patients with “Ozempic face” include laser procedures and ultrasound devices that stimulate collagen production and tighten the skin. Radiofrequency devices, fractional CO2 laser resurfacing, and focused ultrasound devices like Sofwave address concerns like wrinkles, sagging skin, and turkey necks. Results from these treatments may take a few months to show, but many patients find the results dramatic and worth the wait. Surgical options such as full face and neck lifts, fat grafting, and eyelid surgery are also popular amongst GLP-1 users looking to address the physical changes caused by rapid weight loss.
Americans are increasingly turning to cosmetic surgery to address the effects of their post-weight loss faces wrought by GLP-1 drugs. Surgical options are most effective for patients experiencing volume loss and decreased skin elasticity. Procedures like full face and neck lifts, lower eyelid surgery, fat grafting, and brow and upper eyelid lifts are amongst the most common surgical interventions sought by patients with “Ozempic face.” While surgical procedures tend to be more predictable than non-invasive treatments, they also come with risks and recovery times that need to be carefully considered before undergoing the surgery.
