“Ozempic Face” What Is It? And How To Fix It?

Summary: Semaglutide or Ozempic is among the safest and most effective weight-loss drugs. It may cause considerable weight loss in a short time. However, this may also cause facial fat loss in most people causing saggy facial skin and making people look older. There are many ways of managing this issue, and one of the most effective ways of getting rid of Ozempic face is 

Ozempic is an anti-diabetic drug that is also amazingly good for weight loss. It belongs to the class of drugs called incretin mimetics. These drugs act like incretins, hormones secreted by the intestines. It can reduce appetite, slow down gastric motility, improve insulin sensitivity, and promote weight loss.

It is an incredibly good weight-loss drug, with most users experiencing weight loss of 10%  to 15% of the total body weight in a year, or even more. 

Ozempic contains an active ingredient called semaglutide. Earlier, it was used off-label to manage obesity. However, now it is US FDA-approved drug for managing obesity. Nowadays, it is available as Wegovy to manage diabetes. Ozempic and Wegovy are both the same and contain semaglutide. However, Wegovy has semaglutide at higher dosages since studies show that semaglutide is needed at higher dosages for weight loss than when it is used to manage diabetes.

So, What Is “Ozempic Face”?

It is a term used to describe the sagging of facial skin, which occurs due to quick and massive weight loss caused by the drug. Thus, most people living with severe obesity may experience the condition after using the drug for a long, like a year or more. This term is thought to be coined by New York dermatologists since they encountered many patients who sought help for their sagging facial skin.

Sagging of facial skin makes people look older. Obese people, especially those with BMI above 40, have massive fat accumulation on the face. Since Ozempic is so good for weight loss, it also helps reduce facial fat and helps people look slim. But this comes at a cost. Fast weight loss means sagging skin on the face and tummy. Though sagging skin on the tummy is hidden by clothes, saggy facial skin causes much distress to people using Ozempic for weight loss.

It is vital to realize the severity of this problem since Ozempic or other drugs from this class will remain the treatment of choice for obesity in the coming years. This is because these drugs are highly safe and cause massive weight loss. Not only that, but these drugs also improve metabolic health and reduce the risk of obesity-related health issues. For example, they improve lipid profiles and reduce the risk of a heart attack.

Further, it is worth keeping in mind that 70% of the US population is either obese or overweight. It means that millions of people would need these drugs to manage obesity and metabolic disorder. Hence, it is vital to identify the issues caused by these drugs and find their solution.

Due to the widespread use of these medications, an increasing number of individuals are now searching the internet for “Ozempic face.” Thus, for example, in 2022, almost 2.3 million people looked for “Ozempic face” on TikTok. Google Trends show that 100,000 to 1 million people are searching for this term each month. This only highlights the severity of the problem.

Here it is vital to understand that the severity of certain issues like sagging facial skin will depend on the severity of obesity and, to some degree, on age. Thus, individuals with BMI above 40 are more likely to experience this problem. Similarly, middle-aged, and older adults are more likely to witness this problem due to lower skin elasticity in the population group.

What To Do About It?

There are many ways to combat this issue. One can use non-pharmacological means like exercise and facial massage to increase the elasticity of facial skin. However, these methods might not work for older adults or those who have experienced significant weight loss quickly. In such cases, one may need to consider other cosmetic procedures.

One of the most effective ways to manage the issue is by considering dermal fillers. The American Academy of Dermatology also recommends this method. In this method, doctors try to fix the loss of facial fat. They can fill the saggy skin with approved fillers, or they may also use body fat extracted from other body parts.

Fillers help get rid of wrinkles caused by saggy skin, make skin appear smoother and younger, and may also improve the shape of the face. However, keep in mind that these fillers are not entirely safe and may cause issues like allergic reactions and so on.

Besides “Ozempic face,” incretin mimetics like semaglutide may cause other side effects. Their most common side effects are gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and abdominal pain. Fortunately, in most cases, these issues are short-lived, and the body adapts to the drugs in a few weeks. Nonetheless, in some people, these side effects are considerable and result in the discontinuation of the therapy.