Ozempic face - the beauty trend no one saw coming

The rising popularity of semaglutide drugs such as ozempic and wegovy is not only restructuring people's body shape, but also their facial features.

Historically prescribed for type II diabetes, Ozempic became the go to drug for rapid weight loss. Its booming popularity in recent years lead to a worldwide shortage and drug manufacturers could not keep up with demand. This lead to a second brand of semiglutide (trading under the name Wegovy) so that people with type II diabetes can still have their treatment.

How does Ozempic work?

These are both injectable medications that work by mimicking a gut hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which is why it is also sometimes referred to as a GLP-1 agonist.

GLP-1 agonists curb cravings and stimulate the release of insulin so that more sugar is removed from the blood. Their actions also delay gastric emptying, allowing the user to feel full for longer. 

What causes Ozempic face?

Make no mistake, the effects of semaglutides are so powerful that some users have reported up to 15% loss of body weight in the first eight weeks. The rapid weight loss causes a dramatic change to body fat composition, skin elasticity, skin hydration and eventually, muscle and bone changes. These changes over a very short period of time causes a sunken facial appearance, hollowing around the eyes, sagging around the jaw and wrinkles which were never there to begin with (sigh). This is ozempic face.

How can I avoid Ozempic face?

Unfortunately, the only way to avoid ozempic face is to lose the weight gradually. Gradual weight loss allows the skin and tissues (cartilage, muscle and bone) to adjust over time. 

How can I treat Ozempic face?

There will be products looking to take advantage of this emerging wave in the beauty, health and wellness space...

But think about it logically, no amount of cream is going to be able put that muscle and bone back into your face. 

There are talks that cosmetic fillers such as Sculptra, a biostimulator, which works with the body's natural process to fill in volume loss by stimulating collagen and elastin production as well as adipose tissue. Sculptra sounds promising (besides surgery) and we will wait to see more in this space.