How does taking Ozempic affect your face?

Ozempic face describes the drastic facial changes seen in some people who lose a lot of weight quickly. The term has been attributed to Ozempic because the medication is so effective and quick at causing people to lose weight, which means facial changes are more noticeable. Ozempic face is a real thing but it has more to do with significant weight loss rather than being a specific side effect of Ozempic. The features attributed to "Ozempic Face" could happen with any medication that causes rapid weight loss.

Most people who administer Ozempic won’t develop the gaunt look of Ozempic face, although their face may become noticeably slimmer.

What effect does Ozempic have on the face?

Weight loss in the face causes a hallowed facial appearance and saggy, loose, facial skin which can wrinkle around the eyes, temples, jawline, and mouth, making a person look much older than they are. Symptoms may include:

• Sunken eyes or dark circles under the eye
• Hallowed cheekbones or temples
• Increased lines and wrinkles around the forehead, eyes, and mouth
• Sagging jowls and skin around the jawline.

What causes Ozempic face?

Ozempic face is caused by rapid weight loss, it is not a specific side effect of Ozempic. Other medications, such as Wegovy, Zepbound, and Mounjaro, and even intensive lifestyle changes can also have the same effect if you lose enough weight.

When a person loses fat quickly, they lose it all over their body, not just in one area, such as the belly or the thighs. This means they lose fat around their face as well.

Facial fat helps to pump out the skin and provides an underlying structure. It prevents wrinkles and folds and makes your skin look fuller and smoother. When you lose a certain volume of facial fat, you lose that underlying skin support. This, combined with a loss of skin elasticity as you age, means your skin is not as effective at bouncing back to what it was before you gained weight, and your skin hangs off your facial bones, resulting in wrinkles and jowls.

Ozempic contains semaglutide, which works by mimicking the action of a naturally occurring hormone in the body, called GLP-1. This hormone has multiple effects in the body. It lowers blood glucose levels by stimulating insulin secretion and lowering glucagon production when blood glucose levels are high. It also helps to reduce your calorie intake, by activating GLP-1 receptors in the brain and stomach, which make you feel fuller for longer and lowers your appetite. All of these effects help you to lose weight.

Related questions

• Ozempic Side Effects to Watch For
• Mounjaro vs Ozempic: How do they compare?
• How do Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Zepbound compare for weight loss?

How do you prevent Ozempic face?

Because Ozempic face is caused by rapid weight loss, slowing down the rate of this loss, by either reducing the dosage of your weight loss medication or changing to a different medication can help. You should also:

• Keep hydrated by drinking 1 to 2 liters of water a day
• Ensure your diet contains a good amount of protein (protein is found in foods such as meat, cheese, nuts, and fish).

If you are unhappy with the gauntness of your face you could talk to your healthcare provider about facial fillers which can help restore volume in the face. The fillers can be injected into the chin, cheeks, and under the eye area and they help create a fuller and smoother appearance.