Board-certified Miami plastic surgeon Dr. Rodríguez-Feliz explains why Ozempic causes facial sagging and techniques he employs to tighten and smooth lax skin after weight loss.

Calorie counting and exercise have been the mainstays of weight loss for years. Obese patients struggling with weight gain may also undergo bariatric surgery, a procedure with risks and downtime. Recently, a novel drug hit the marking promising to help overweight individuals lose fat and keep it off with a simple weekly injection.

While semaglutide (sold under the brand name Ozempic) has helped countless people reach a lower weight on the scale, it often comes with an unintended side effect: sagging face and neck skin. The media has dubbed this phenomenon "Ozempic face."

Trending Injectable Medical Weight-Loss Treatments

Miami tops the charts in online searches for Ozempic per survey data.

If you have noticed a sudden uptick in ads and news stories promoting weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, you have not imagined it. According to the American Med Spa Association, over 4,000 campaigns for Ozempic-style drugs are currently running on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram.

Why all the fuss? Ozempic, first approved for diabetes in 2017, garnered buzz since it appeared to help users lose fat. With one in three adults overweight, it is no surprise that semaglutide injections became an overnight sensation. Fast-forward to today and fifteen percent of Americans surveyed have tried Ozempic for weight loss, while 47 percent know someone who has.

What is Ozempic? How does it work?

The main ingredient in Ozempic, semaglutide, is a GLP-1 Receptor Agonist (GLP-1 RA) that reportedly curbs appetite, allowing users to consume fewer calories. It also slows digestion, prolonging fullness after eating. Along with diet and exercise, the drug makes it easier to limit portion sizes and resist overeating—all without the uncomfortable hunger pangs. Patients can administer it orally or as a once-weekly injection.

How Does Semaglutide Affect the Face

Losing weight can be rewarding but may come with an unfortunate side effect.

Semaglutide quickly gained popularity among those looking to drop pounds. While this purported wonder drug has helped many patients shed weight, there is a downside. As anyone who underwent lap-band surgery in the early 2000s can tell you, rapid, drastic weight loss often leads to a sagging, gaunt face.

The trouble is patients taking semaglutide cannot control what body areas slim down. The abdomen and thighs may narrow, but the face and neck can also lose fat. Fat pads support the skin and give the face a youthful appearance. Losing weight in the face and neck potentially makes a person look tired, older, and wrinkled—especially after age 30 when collagen and elastin production slow. When the skin does not shrink to conform to the new facial contours, laxity is sure to follow.

Treating Ozempic Face with a Facelift

Facelift surgery (rhytidectomy) rejuvenates the face and neck by carefully tightening the skin and underlying structures. The procedure addresses sagging jowls, a double chin, and deep nasolabial folds around the mouth. The process starts by making tiny incisions, usually hidden near the ears, then gently lifting and smoothing the tissues to restore a youthful, firmer appearance.

While most facelift patients are female, the procedure is popular among men in their 40s to 60s looking to regain a younger, fresher perspective. Males account for an estimated five percent of all facelift surgeries annually, according to the 2020-2021 Aesthetic Plastic Surgery National Databank.

Additional Ways to Combat Facial Sagging

Dermal Fillers
Blepharoplasty
Neck Lift Surgery
Facial Fat Grafting
Radiofrequency Skin Tightening

You don’t have to live with sagging facial skin after weight loss.

If rapid weight loss from semaglutide has left your face or neck droopy, there is a solution.

Facial plastic surgeons specialize in revitalizing the face and neck. They can recommend surgical or non-surgical procedures customized to your exact concerns. A bespoke skin rejuvenation treatment can do wonders to tighten and uplift sagging facial after weight loss, allowing you to look and feel your best. Discover the available options by consulting with a board-certified facial plastic surgeon such as Dr. Jose Rodríguez-Feliz today.

By Jose Rodríguez-Feliz

Nov 20, 2023

Addressing Ozempic Facial Side Effects Plastic Surgeon Dr. Jose Rodríguez-Feliz