What Is Ozempic Face?

According to a 2023 survey, 22 percent of Americans have asked their doctors about using the GPL-1 agonist drug semaglutide (Ozempic®) for weight loss. Of those, 15 percent have used it themselves. And 47 percent know someone who has used the drug to lose weight. Millennial and Gen X women with obesity are the most likely group to ask for an Ozempic prescription.¹

Ozempic is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat type 2 diabetes only. The semaglutide Wegovy® and the liraglutide Saxenda® are the GLP-1 agonists approved for obesity.¹

GLP-1 agonists work by making you feel fuller after a meal. They also slow down the rate at which food passes through your stomach. You take in fewer calories, which can lead to weight loss.¹

The popularity of GLP-1 agonists

Celebrity endorsements and social media have made GLP-1 agonists extremely popular. The 2023 survey found that 42 percent of doctors have had patients without diabetes ask for Ozempic, and 18 percent of them have prescribed it for weight loss.¹

These drugs are often prescribed off-label. This means the drug is being used for a condition other than the one the FDA approved it for. In general, doctors can and often do prescribe drugs for unapproved uses.^2-4

The trouble is, GLP-1 agonists are meant for people with obesity and type 2 diabetes. When people without those conditions use the drugs for weight loss, it can create drug shortages that affect people with approved conditions who need them.^2-4

What causes Ozempic face?

The widespread use of GLP-1 agonists has led to the term "Ozempic face." This term refers to the loss of facial fat that comes from relatively rapid weight loss. Loss of facial fat can lead to:^5-7

• A gaunt appearance
• Wrinkles
• Sagging skin
• Sunken eyes
• Changes in the size of the cheeks, chin, and lips

But there is no evidence that GLP-1 agonists target facial fat in particular. GLP-1 agonists cause overall weight loss. One effect of this weight loss can be to deflate facial features, which can make you look older.^1,5-7

When you stay at a higher weight for a long time and then lose a lot of weight, your subcutaneous (under-the skin) fat decreases. This can lead to excess skin in your face, as well as your arms and abdomen.^1,5-7

Also, the effect of weight loss can be more noticeable as you get older. When you age, it becomes harder for your skin and subcutaneous tissue to adjust to changes in subcutaneous fat. Collagen, the protein that gives your skin strength, structure, and elasticity, also breaks down.^1,5-7

This breakdown of collagen makes you look older. Even if you gain the weight back, it likely will not collect in the same places to make you look like you did before you lost weight. Those signs of facial aging may remain.^1,5-7

How is “Ozempic face” treated?

For people with obesity who have lost facial fat, cosmetic procedures are available to improve their appearance. For example, laser treatments can improve the skin's texture and reduce wrinkles. The lasers remove the outer layer of skin. At the same time, they heat the skin underneath, which stimulates the growth of collagen. After the area heals, the skin is firmer and smoother.^8,9

Dermal fillers are a cosmetic procedure that does not require surgery. These fillers are injected under the skin with a thin needle. Dermal fillers add volume and fullness to the skin. The procedure takes about a half hour, and there is little recovery time. The positive effects can last months or even years.^9-12

Finally, a surgical face lift or neck lift can remove excess skin due to weight loss. But recovery can take 6 to 8 weeks, and you may not see the final results for months.^13,14

These cosmetic procedures are often expensive and may not be covered by insurance. Talk with your doctor to find the best way to maintain your health and well-being.