“Ozempic face” refers to typical side effects from the type 2 diabetes drug, semaglutide (Ozempic), that could lead to facial skin appearing aged or saggy.
In this article we’ll cover:
- What Ozempic is
- What Ozempic face is
- What causes Ozempic face
- What Ozempic face looks like
- What happens if you stop taking Ozempic
- How to prevent and reduce side effects causing Ozempic face
- Frequently asked questions.
Let’s get into it!
What Is Ozempic?
Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus are all brand names for a drug known as semaglutide. In Canada, Ozempic is marketed by Novo Nordisk, and is Health Canada approved.
Semaglutide is prescribed by medical teams in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and to assist with long-term weight management in the treatment of obesity. Those with high risk of cardiovascular events — ie, adults with high cholesterol, triglycerides, or high risk of heart attack or stroke — may also be prescribed Ozempic.
The drug is able to control type 2 diabetes by stimulating the production of insulin, supporting improved glycemic control, and lowering your A1C levels. Ozempic is generally self-administered via weekly injection with a pen (complex hypodermic needle), similar to an EpiPen.
Recently, Ozempic has become popular thanks to its weight loss benefits. This is due to the fact that the drug suppresses hunger signals, which can lead to decreased appetite and therefore put you into a calorie deficit. This has been popularized by certain celebrities and social media influencers, leading to an increased demand for the drug.
Ozempic is currently only approved in Canada for use by type-2 diabetics and those with a BMI over 27. As it’s a prescription medication, side effects (as shown in this 2022 study (among others)) will need to be considered by both the prescriber and patient.
These side effects can include:
- Stomach (abdomen) pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Constipation.
Other studies have also shown that semaglutide can cause thyroid cancer in mice (though it’s not yet known if it’ll do the same in humans), inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), and other more severe side effects.
“Ozempic Face” is a turn of phrase coined to describe the way a person’s face appears after they experience rapid weight loss. Ozempic is effective when used as a medication to help with blood sugar levels, as well as assist with weight management.
In truth, any rapid weight loss (with or without Ozempic) can cause Ozempic face, as when a person loses weight, they are often left with excess skin. Around the face and neck area, excess skin can resemble wrinkles, slack flesh, or jowls. All of this can make you appear older than you are.
Because we live in a society that fetishizes youthful appearance, many are concerned about looking old. As a society, we are also extremely prejudiced against those who are overweight — ironically, those who consistently display a relatively youthful appearance.
The truth is, overweight adults look younger, and when a person loses weight, they are often sacrificing their youthful appearance.
How Does Ozempic Affect the Face?
Ozempic doesn’t directly affect the face, but weight loss does. Weight loss comes with the risks of sagging skin, wrinkles, and a gaunt appearance.
What Facial Symptoms Can People Taking Ozempic Experience?
When Ozempic is prescribed to support weight management (often in conjunction with lifestyle changes), for some patients, that can mean a decrease in their overall body weight.
While it’s impossible to target weight loss in specific areas of the body, overall lower levels of body fat can lead to a lower volume of subdermal facial fat — resulting in wrinkles and sagging skin.
What Is the Cause of Ozempic Face?
Ozempic face is caused by rapid and extreme weight loss, especially when Ozempic is used (in conjunction with exercise and diet) to support health and weight management in patients.
Fat content contributes to a face’s appearance of fullness and youth, while weight loss generally ages a person’s looks.
You should never start or stop any medications without seeking professional medical advice and supervision. Online articles can provide some information, but they are no substitute for medically approved treatments.
Increased Cravings
Ozempic is linked to appetite suppression. If you stop taking it, you may find you have more frequent and intense food cravings.
Blood Sugar Spikes
Ozempic is intended to increase blood sugar disposal and promote better glycemic control. Coming off Ozempic can result in erratic fluctuations in blood sugar — such as blood sugar spikes.
Blood sugar spikes — ie, when the glucose in your bloodstream has built up, leading to an increase in blood sugar levels — can cause inflammation and crashes. If you have type 2 diabetes then you’ll know all about the consequences of blood sugar spikes!
While sugar spikes — within reason — are normal, for those with type 2 diabetes, these can lead to more complicated issues, which is why it’s so important to keep your blood sugar levels stable and consistent.
An Absence of Side Effects
Side effects should ease shortly after you stop taking Ozempic. That includes positive and negative effects of the drug.
The primary factors when it comes to weight management are caloric input and caloric output. If you monitor both of these variables, you can avoid losing weight at a rate that is undesirable to you — as a general rule of thumb, losing about 2 lbs a week is considered both safe and sustainable.
Alongside this, there are several other ways that you can slow down the rate of weight loss you are experiencing.
Reducing the Dosage
Talk to your medical team about the possibility of reducing your Ozempic dose — this may help with appetite issues. Be sure to never change your dosage without medical supervision, as this could lead to unwanted side effects.
Changing to a Different Medication
Your medical team may be able to prescribe a medication that suits your health objectives better than semaglutide drugs do. It’s possible that this will help you slow down the rate of your weight loss.
Drinking Enough Water Every Day
Hydration is good for your skin, kidneys, other organs, and general bodily functions. Be sure not to dehydrate or over-hydrate. Everybody has different daily ideal volumes of water they should be consuming.
Checking hydration recommendations against your BMI is a good way to work out exactly how much water you should be drinking in a day.
Improving Nutrient Intake
Be sure that you are eating a balanced diet of protein, carbohydrates, fats, and essential minerals and oils. Supporting your body with all the energy and nutrients it needs is crucial to good health.
Using Dermatological Fillers
Ozempic face is, at its core, an aesthetic complaint. The experts at medically treating those kinds of complaints are plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and beauticians.
Fillers are a commonly suggested solution to wrinkles and sagging skin.
Embracing Natural Changes
Ultimately, your relationship to your physical appearance is deeply personal and frequently very complex. It’s easy to imagine that changing your appearance will improve your self-esteem, but this is often not the case. It’s crucial that you identify and address the core issues that are causing you distress regarding your appearance.
Ask yourself: are the features of my appearance something that upset me, or something that society has deemed not good enough?
This little thought experiment might help you begin to untangle some of the underlying feelings you have with your appearance.
On the other hand, your body is yours and yours alone. If you decide it really is crucial to your wellbeing (physical or mental) that you adjust it, don’t let anyone stand in your way.
Furthermore, as you begin your weight management journey, be sure to embrace any changes in your body! It’s vital to recognise that as you age, your skin’s elasticity and firmness also changes, which can affect your appearance. This is especially true when you lose weight.
Be prepared for the realities — sagging skin and all!
Key Takeaways
Ozempic face is a side effect of rapid weight loss, manifesting as loose skin and a wrinkled, gaunt appearance, whether or not you’re using the drug to assist with weight management.
Managing your weight, changing your dosage, or coming off Ozempic may possibly help you avoid rapid weight loss.
Regardless of treatments, rapid weight loss will often result in Ozempic face.
Ozempic Face FAQs
What does Ozempic face look like?
According to Dr. Michele Koo, “Significant weight loss (often 35 or more pounds) in a short time period (usually 6 months or less) depletes the skin and body of essential nutrients and can disrupt the endocrine and GI system homeostasis.”
In other words, weight loss can lead to a drop in your skin’s elasticity and subdermal collagen. So, when you lose a lot of weight fast, your skin thins and loosens — mimicking the visual effects of aging. Some patients take vitamins and supplements, like collagen and biotin, to help manage the changes in elasticity.
Ozempic face looks like excess — or loose — skin on your face and neck. This is the result of rapid weight loss, mimicking the appearance of aging.
What is Ozempic popular for?
Recently, Ozempic has become popular thanks to its weight loss benefits. This is due to the fact that the drug suppresses hunger signals, which can lead to decreased appetite and therefore put you into a calorie deficit. This has been popularized by certain celebrities and social media influencers, leading to an increased demand for the drug.
What is Ozempic prescribed for?
Semaglutide is prescribed by medical teams in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and to assist with long-term weight management in the treatment of obesity. Those with high risk of cardiovascular events — ie, adults with high cholesterol, triglycerides, or high risk of heart attack or stroke — may also be prescribed Ozempic.
The drug is able to control type 2 diabetes by stimulating the production of insulin, supporting improved glycemic control, and lowering your A1C levels.
What is the biggest side effect of Ozempic?
The biggest side effect of Ozempic is not Ozempic face. Adverse reactions associated with Ozempic use are:
- A risk of thyroid C-cell tumors
- Pancreatitis
- Kidney injury
- Gallbladder disease.
Before beginning Ozempic or any other semaglutide, be sure to discuss the side effects with your health provider, especially if you have either a personal or family history of thyroid cancer or pancreatitis.
Sources
- https://www.ozempic.com
- https://www.wegovy.com
- https://www.rybelsus.com
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
- https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/
- https://www.forbes.com/
- https://journals.sagepub.com/
- https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/beauty/2310019/Fat-faces-age-better
- https://www.nytimes.com/
- https://www.everydayhealth.com/
- https://www.theatlantic.com/
- https://www.researchgate.net/
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