Experts weigh in on addressing the side effects of injecting semaglutides.
by Jason Keil
Your favorite celebrity has raved about their effectiveness on the pages of your go-to magazine. So has your co-worker when showing off their new wardrobe. Semaglutides – the anti-diabetic and obesity drugs that have taken the world by storm – promise users smaller waistlines. While the merits of injecting these drugs are up for debate, their efficacy is undeniable.
But one side effect not explicitly mentioned in advertisements for Mounjaro and similar pharmaceuticals has a decidedly more negative connotation – and moniker: “Ozempic face.”
The term describes the gaunt appearance that sometimes results from rapid weight loss. This condition, characterized by sunken cheeks and hollow facial features that can make users look older, can occur in anyone experiencing a significant drop in pounds for any reason, not just when injecting drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy or Rybelsus.
“What’s happening is, since you’re losing so much weight so fast, is that you’re also losing that beautiful fat in your face, too,” says Trish Hultgren, an aesthetic nurse practitioner at Stockton Dermatology in Phoenix.
Hultgren says she has seen more patients seeking to offset “Ozempic face” effects over the last two years, and she often recommends dermal fillers in combination with a collagen stimulator to restore the volume of their face, depending on their age and how much weight they’ve lost.
Except for redness and swelling, dermal fillers have few side effects unless too many are injected in a short amount of time, causing the face to have a puffy appearance.
However, these treatments can be pricey. Dermal fillers aren’t covered by insurance, so adding them to the cost of semaglutide prescriptions can be expensive.
“OZEMPIC FACE” PROGRESSION: A patient at Stockton Dermatology in Phoenix at the beginning of her nine-month Ozempic journey (far left), followed by photos taken after aesthetic nurse Trish Hultgren administered lip and dermal fillers to restore youthful facial fullness.
Spanx for the Face 101
In addition to dermal fillers and proper nutrition, here are some other ways to avoid
the hollow appearance that can come with rapid weight loss.
Skin Tightening
Excessive fat loss can lead to loose skin. There are non-invasive ways to stimulate collagen to tighten it, such as microneedling, ultrasound technology and radiofrequency treatment.
Increased Supplementation
Some supplement companies offer products to compensate for the lack of nutrition many experience when taking semaglutides. It should be noted that the Federal Drug Association does not regulate supplements.
Facial Exercises
You can give your cheekbones and jawline some definition by regularly working those muscles. It won’t be a significant result, but it will help restore the contours of your face faster.
