Sculpted or Sagging? How to Fix Ozempic Face & Loose Skin
Weight loss is by no means a picture-perfect process. It can be daunting with drastic diet and lifestyle changes. However, with GLP-1 medications like Ozempic or Wegovy, the pounds vanish away rapidly, but the skin can’t always keep up. The result? A more than ever occurring phenomenon called: “Ozempic face” and unexpected changes in the contours of the body.
Here we unpack beneath the surface level —and expand on cutting-edge treatments that will help you become the new and improved version of yourself.
What is “Ozempic Face”?
“Ozempic face” is the hollowing and sagging of the face that happens after quick weight loss. As facial fat melts away, the skin loses elasticity, causing a more visibly aged and tired appearance.
Why It Happens:
• Diminished Collagen & Elastin: GLP-1 can accelerate the denaturing of key proteins.
• Loss of Facial Fat Pads: The subcutaneous fat pads located in your cheek, under eye area, and jawline may be lost due to treatment, resulting in lack of youthful facial volume.
• Muscle Mass Decline: GLP-1 can potentially reduce lean muscle in face, which affects facial tone.
Body Changes: More Than Just Fat Loss
The way GLP-1 affects the face, it can also affect the body. With fat loss from the arms, abdomen, thighs, and other areas, the skin will not always retract, leaving crepey, loose skin with visible cellulite pockets.
Factors That Influence Skin Elasticity
• Age: Starting in your mid-twenties, collagen production slowly begins to decline approximately 1% each year. It becomes more visibly noticeable in your 40s and 50s with natural signs of aging like wrinkles and sagging skin. GLP-1 further accelerates the decline of your body’s collagen production, compared to the natural, slower decline of your body’s collagen production due to aging.
• Speed & Amount of Weight Loss: Faster weight loss = little recovery time for skin to adapt. The key is pacing yourself in your fat loss and weight reduction. You don’t want to lose too much weight, too fast. Instead, averaging about 2-3 pounds of weight off each week is a healthy pace to maintain.
• Skin History: If your skin has been stretched out for many years due to significant weight gain, then it’s less likely to bounce back and constrict after weight loss.
Non-Surgical Remedies That Work
Thank goodness there are advancements in laser physics and medical technology that can help tighten and revitalize skin —without involving a scalpel.
Fotona 4D - The Non-Invasive Laser Facelift
This multi-step laser treatment targets all layers of facial skin using dual wavelengths. This non-invasive laser treatment stimulates collagen production, tightens loose skin, and decreases wrinkles —all without downtime. The four synergistic modes (SmoothErbium®, Frac3®, PIANO®, and SmoothLiftin®)—cooperate to bring back texture, tone, and volume from the inside out.
TightSculpting® by Fotona
An effective option for body contouring and skin tightening, TightSculpting uses the SP Dynamis dual wavelength laser to:
• Implement deep tissue heating to destroy fat cells (using PIANO® mode).
• Stimulate collagen regeneration for more firm and elastic skin (using SMOOTH® mode).
(Needleless) Microneedling with Fotona SP Dynamis Laser
This treatment uniquely combines the precision of laser physics with the collagen rejuvenating factor of microneedling. Using the SP Dynamis, skilled providers can target both superficial and deep layers of the skin to improve texture, tone, fine lines, and laxity of the skin.
Final Thoughts
With all the craze in the media emphasizing the importance of health and wellness, GLP-1 is in the limelight. Out of convenience and accessibility, GLP-1 has become an agreeable means on how to achieve the perfect physique. However, the aesthetic trade-offs are often not part of the conversation. After understanding the science behind collagen decline and skin elasticity, you can make more informed decisions about non-invasive treatment options to boost your confidence along your health and weight loss journey.
Whether you’re contemplating on starting Ozempic/GLP-1 or are already on it, just know that weight loss is a journey, and your skin’s appearance reflects that beautiful story.