What Is Ozempic Face? 4 Doctors Explain the Buzzword—And the Misconceptions Behind It

It seems like everyone’s buzzing about all things Ozempic—including what some people are calling ‘Ozempic Face,’ a leaner, more gaunt-looking appearance often attributed to the aftermath of taking the medication. But what is Ozempic Face, really, and how does it differ from how a person’s face looks after any kind of weight loss?

• Dr. Peter Lee, MD, FACS, is the founder, CEO and chief surgeon of WAVE Plastic Surgery Center and a top board-certified plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic surgeon in Los Angeles. Dr. Peter Lee is a board-certified Diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
• Dr. Konstantin Vasyukevich is a double-board certified plastic surgeon and a renowned facelift expert. He performs more than 1,000 facial cosmetic procedures annually, making him one of the busiest facial plastic surgeons in New York City.
• Dr. Nigar N. Ahmedli, MD is double-board certified facial plastic surgeon. She is an expert in the use of injectable fillers and neurotoxins, face procedures, primary and revision rhinoplasty, as well as congenital, post-traumatic and Mohs reconstructive procedures. Dr. Ahmedli sees patients at Montefiore Einstein Advanced Care in Westchester, New York as well as 497 Greenwich St in Tribeca.
• Dr. Mark M. Hamilton, MD is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon based in Indiana, and the Chair, Public Information Committee for the American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.

To explain that, first, we’ve got to start with what Ozempic is. As Dr. Peter Lee shares, “Ozempic is a medication that has been approved by the FDA as a treatment for Type II diabetes. It causes an increase in glucagon-like-peptide-1, which slows down the digestive system so patients experience early satiety, which leads them to consume fewer calories. Because this effect can cause rapid weight loss in patients, the off-label use of Ozempic for weight loss has become extremely popular in the United States, and, with that, this phenomenon of ‘Ozempic Face’ has been widely noted.” [Editor’s note: To read more about Ozempic and how it works, here’s a thorough guide.]

Dr. Konstantin Vasyukevich wants to clarify upfront that although it’s called ‘Ozempic Face,’ Ozempic itself isn’t directly responsible for the resulting aesthetic changes. Rather, it’s a contributing factor, as the drug can lead to significant weight loss, which is the real culprit behind Ozempic Face. “When you lose weight quickly, your body doesn't have enough time to adjust. This includes the loss of facial fat, which provides volume and structure to your face,” he explains.

Dr. Lee agrees, adding that this phenomenon is by no means unique to patients taking Ozempic. “It can occur in any patient who experiences significant weight loss over a short period of time.”

“Facial fat changes are more noticeable once patients lose about 25 to 30 pounds, but it varies for each patient, based on their height, starting weight and facial fat content composition,” says Dr. Nigar N. Ahmedli.

According to Dr. Ahmedli, you’ll see an overall hollowing of the face. She continues: “A youthful face carries a certain amount of fat that is mainly found along the eyes, the cheek area and the temples. With rapid weight loss, as well as normal aging, this fat decreases. This decrease in fat creates hollowness in these areas, creating a more skeletal and aged appearance.”

“There are many factors that will have an effect on how likely someone is to develop Ozempic face when taking one of these medications,” says Dr. Mark Hamilton. “For example, those who are older and losing facial fullness anyway because of aging are more likely to see the side effects of Ozempic face, as are people with less skin elasticity, either because of lifestyle (sun tanners and smokers), genetics or skin type. Fair-skinned patients generally have thinner, less elastic skin, and will likely be more susceptible, while people of color tend to have better elasticity in their skin and may be more resistant to showing signs of Ozempic face.”

Ozempic Face is an inevitable consequence of rapid, significant weight loss, but there are some things you can do to potentially minimize the effects, which include:

• Reducing the total amount of weight loss
• Slowing the rate at which the weight is lost
• Keeping the body well-hydrated during weight loss
• Increasing protein intake while losing weight

All of the experts interviewed agree that the two most common options for treating signs of Ozempic Face are typically fillers and fat grafting. For fillers, Dr. Ahmedli recommends Sculptra (poly-L-lactic acid), which is a biostimulatory injectable filler that leads to collagen production, which results in a plumping effect that can last for up to three years. “Sculptra is ideal for the cheek area and temples, and most patients require multiple sessions, spaced eight weeks apart.”

Fat transfers or fat grafting is a longer-term solution that is usually done under local anesthesia and sedation. “This entails the harvesting of fat from one part of the body, frequently the abdomen or flanks, and the reintroduction of the harvested fat to another part of the body, typically areas of the face, including the tear troughs, temples, nasolabial folds, cheeks, chin and forehead,” explains Lee.

“Moisturizers with hyaluronic acid and retinol can improve skin hydration and texture,” says Dr. Vasyukevich. However, topical treatments and skincare products alone won't restore lost volume, so it’s best to level set your expectations.

Another option you could consider is an energy-based skin-tightening treatment, such as Ulthera. “In younger patients who have experienced significant weight loss from the use of Ozempic, a fat transfer combined with Ulthera may be sufficient to address the loss of volume in the face. However, older patients may have more loose skin, such that excisional surgeries might be required to achieve the optimal aesthetic result. The most common of these surgeries are browlifts (usually performed endoscopically), upper and/or lower blepharoplasties, facelifts and necklifts,” adds Dr. Lee.

“The cost of procedures can vary widely depending on the surgeon, region of the country and what is needed for the patient,” states Dr. Hamilton. Here are some ballpark figures for the options we’ve covered in this article:

• Hyaluronic Acid Fillers: $500 to $1,500 per syringe (usually multiple syringes are needed)
• Biostimulatory Fillers: $1,500 to $5,000 per session
• Ultherapy: range between $1,200-$3,500 per session
• Fat Transfers: between $5,000 to $12,000
• Face/Necklift Surgeries: from $10,000 to over $75,000 (includes a surgeon’s fee, operating room and anesthesia costs)

Again, these costs will vary vastly, depending on where you live, the surgeon's credentials and the overall treatment plan.

As you can see, treating Ozempic Face is an incredibly expensive ordeal, which is why Dr. Hamilton emphasizes the importance of sticking to changes in your diet and lifestyle to maintain your weight after the initial loss.

“Once you’ve achieved your weight loss target, you want to minimize the rebound weight gain that can occur when patients discontinue Ozempic and similar medications,” says Dr. Ahmedli. “One thing that will help is to gradually taper the dose of Ozempic once you hit that target, rather than abruptly discontinuing the medication.”