Ozempic (Semaglutide) is a powerful weight loss solution delivered as a weekly injection. As a GLP-1 receptor agonist, it works by mimicking the body’s natural appetite-suppressing hormones that get released after meals. Medical weight loss treatments like Ozempic have revolutionized the wellness field, allowing thousands of individuals to achieve their desired body contouring goals and reduce the risk of obesity-related ailments like sleep apnea, hypertension, and diabetes.
Despite its success, a well-known side effect of using Semaglutide is volume loss, a condition many in the industry refer to as “Ozempic face.” It is characterized by skin laxity, hollow-looking contours, and a prematurely aged look. In this blog, Dr. Steven E. Copit, a board-certified cosmetic expert near Vail Valley, Aspen, and Breckenridge, explores a range of solutions for restoring facial volume after significant weight loss.
How Does Semaglutide Work?
Semaglutide injections allow for an overall reduction in body fat, including subcutaneous fat in the face. The medication slows the passage of food through the gut so that patients feel fuller faster, suppresses the appetite, reduces food cravings, enhances insulin sensitivity, and results in a caloric deficit that supports rapid weight loss.
The Effects of Semaglutide on the Face
Because the body is unable to selectively retain fat in the facial region while losing it everywhere else, Ozempic injections often result in volume loss, especially in the jawline, temples, cheeks, and eye region. Common symptoms of “Ozempic face” include the following:
- Gaunt, hollow-looking contours
- More prominent nasolabial folds and marionette lines
- More pronounced orbital rims
- Sharper, pointier cheekbones
- Skin laxity
- Skin texture abnormalities
- Loss of volume and definition
- An aged or exhausted appearance
These signs of “Ozempic face” can cause self-consciousness and distress for patients who should be celebrating their dramatic weight loss results. Additionally, in those over 40, volume loss may be even more pronounced, as it is likely combined with an age-related decline of collagen and elastin, vital proteins that support a youthful facial structure and supple, firm skin.
Non-Surgical Options for Combating Ozempic Face
Aesthetic providers typically begin with non-invasive options for restoring facial volume after Semaglutide injections. Minimally invasive treatments come with no discomfort or downtime, making them a quick and convenient way to improve facial balance and integrity after rapid weight loss.
Common non-surgical treatments include the following:
- Dermal Fillers – Dermal fillers, typically formulated with hyaluronic acid (HA,) offer an immediate volume increase and can be instrumental in contouring the cheeks, jawline, temples, under-eye region, and lips. They can also enhance symmetry, balance, and harmony among the features.
- Biostimulators – Biostimulators like Radiesse and Sculptra work by restoring the body’s reserves of collagen, boosting facial volume from the inside out. These innovative injectables offer unparalleled structural support to the face, filling out hollow-looking areas and restoring a youthful, vibrant glow.
- Microneedling – Microneedling is also a great option for restoring facial volume through increased collagen production. During your session, a series of ultra-fine needles penetrate the skin, triggering the body’s innate self-healing mechanism of producing more collagen. This leads to firmer skin and a brighter complexion.
Exploring Fat Grafting for Volume Restoration After Semaglutide
While more invasive than the non-surgical options previously mentioned, facial fat grafting can dramatically improve facial volume, restoring a youthful, attractive countenance. During the procedure, fat cells are extracted from an area of excess, such as the belly, thighs, hips, or flanks. Once they have been purified and sterilized, they are then artfully injected into areas of depletion, offsetting the volume loss connected with weight loss medications.
What Is the Takeaway?
While today there are more innovative solutions for achieving rapid weight loss than ever before, side effects from medications deserve careful consideration from both doctors and patients. Medications like Ozempic can leave patients with loose skin and a gaunt, hollow-looking facial appearance, detracting from their newly found confidence after slimming down.
To combat “Ozempic face,” aesthetic providers offer a range of restorative treatments, including dermal fillers, biostimulators, microneedling, and facial fat grafting, all of which can restore vital volume in the face, allowing patients to better enjoy the aesthetic and medical benefits of their weight loss success.
Questions About Restoring Facial Volume Loss After Medical Weight Loss? Reach Out to Mangat Copit Plastic Surgery and Skin Care Today!
Based near Vail Valley, Aspen, and Breckenridge, Dr. Steven E. Copit and his trusted team of beauty experts are standing by to assist you in accomplishing your unique goals for your appearance.
If you have experienced rapid weight loss and are now dealing with facial volume loss as a result, you deserve expert support and personalized treatments that will restore your appearance and confidence.
Losing weight is a major accomplishment that shouldn’t be overshadowed by its side effects. Call Mangat Copit Plastic Surgery and Skin Care today at 970.414.4322 to book a private consultation and learn more about our customized solutions for “Ozempic face.”