What is “Ozempic Face”? How to Improve an Aged or Sunken Look From Weight Loss Medications

Weight loss medications like GLP-1s have quickly become a popular and widely used non-surgical treatment to regulate hunger, reduce appetite, and help individuals reach their ideal weight range faster than achieving results with dieting and exercise alone. However, some patients have noticed changes to their facial appearance catalyzed by this rapid weight reduction, leading to an aesthetic known as “Ozempic Face.”

This term is used to describe a general hollowing or aging of the facial features due to facial fat and muscle loss noticed after using a wide range of weight loss medications — not just Ozempic. For patients wondering how to combat this potential side effect during or after their weight loss journey, top La Jolla plastic surgeon and board-certified aesthetic specialist Scott Miller, MD, FACS breaks down the relationship between weight loss and facial aging and outlines effective solutions to treat “Ozempic face,” restoring your soft, youthful facial contours for the long-term. 

What is “Ozempic Face”?

“Ozempic Face” is a non-medical term frequently used to describe the facial changes that can occur after significant or rapid weight loss. While the body becomes leaner, the face may simultaneously lose volume, leading to a more aged or hollowed appearance.

Common characteristics of “Ozempic Face” often include:

• Hollowing of the cheeks and temples
• Increased visibility of fine lines and wrinkles
• Sagging or loose skin, particularly around the jawline
• A more gaunt or tired appearance 
• Overall dullness of the skin

It’s important to note that “Ozempic Face” is not unique to this medication alone. Similar facial changes can occur with any form of rapid or notable weight loss. 

Why Does “Ozempic Face” Occur?

At its core, “Ozempic Face” is the result of volume loss and skin laxity: two key contributors to facial aging that can be accelerated by weight loss. Dr. Miller comments:

“It’s established that much of the weight loss from GLP-1s is due to ‘muscle wasting,’ rather than fat loss alone. This occurs in the face as well as the body. Not only are muscle and fat affected, but also skin quality and elasticity.”

A sunken or aged look in the face from non-surgical weight loss medications can often be caused by a combination of: 

• Lost facial fat volume: Fat helps provide softness, structure, and natural fullness in the face, particularly in areas like the cheeks, under-eyes, and temples. When weight loss occurs quickly, the body typically reduces fat stores throughout, including in the face. Unlike gradual weight loss, which may allow the skin and tissues time to adapt, rapid fat loss can leave the face appearing deflated.
•  Reduced skin elasticity: As we age, our skin naturally produces less collagen and elastin, which are proteins responsible for firmness and elasticity. When facial volume decreases suddenly, the skin may not have the ability to contract and conform to the new contours, resulting in loose skin, early appearance of jowling, or more prominent creases like nasolabial folds.
• Greater visibility of facial aging: In many cases, signs of aging may already be present but subtly masked by facial fullness. Once that volume is reduced, underlying wrinkles, creases, and structural changes can become more visible.

Who is at Risk for “Ozempic Face”?

While not everyone who takes GLP-1s will experience noticeable facial changes, the degree to which “Ozempic Face” develops depends on several factors, including:

• The amount and speed of weight loss
• Age and baseline skin quality
• Genetics and natural fat distribution
• Lifestyle factors such as sun exposure and smoking

Patients who lose a significant amount of weight in a short period of time are generally more likely to experience facial changes. At Miller Cosmetic Surgery, these unwanted changes can be treated with a custom treatment plan personalized to your specific needs and goals. 

How Can I Fix “Ozempic Face”? Advice From a Board-Certified Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon

When it comes to combatting the appearance of facial volume loss and redefining the contours, some patients may assume fillers are the appropriate solution. However, Dr. Miller advises a more nuanced approach.

“When considering the best way to treat ‘Ozempic Face,’ it’s important to not jump to fill, fill, fill! Better results are achieved when we treat the muscle tone of the deep plane, along with redraping the skin,” he states. “By repositioning and supporting the musculature and skin of the face via a proper facelift procedure, a more full, youthful appearance is achieved using one’s own tissues. Thus, volume is transferred from where it migrated to where it was originally, often negating the need for fat grafting at all.”

Dr. Miller comments that a well-executed facelift and neck lift provides the most effective and long-term solution for “Ozempic Face” when compared to fat grafting and fillers alone. By tailoring a facelift to restore the underlying facial structure, patients can achieve more natural results that have greater longevity.
 
When asked by patients whether facial fat grafting can replenish volume, Dr. Miller adds that fat grafts survive and thrive by being “embedded” in healthy tissue. “Thus, you cannot lift (skin and muscle) and fill (fat graft) an area at the same time,” he clarifies. “If a small amount of filling is desired for fine tuning, it’s best to do so after facelift surgery — once everything has healed and settled, and the new proportions of the face can be viewed and assessed. At that time, some filler can be placed towards the back of the face (temples, back of jaw, cheek bones, etc.), providing more youthful contours as opposed to in the front of the face (nasolabial folds), as this can cause an unnatural, front-heavy look. This is especially true when done in weaker, less elastic skin.”

Ultimately, addressing “Ozempic Face” while maintaining youthful facial harmony requires a thoughtful approach. Board-certified, fellowship-trained plastic surgeon and aesthetic facial specialist Scott Miller, MD can speak with you about your concerns and partner with you to formulate a custom treatment plan to reduce signs of aging accentuated by rapid weight loss. Contact Miller Cosmetic Surgery today at our La Jolla practice to book a consultation.