Rapid weight loss can change the way your face looks, bringing wrinkles, sagging skin and a gaunt appearance

When you start taking Ozempic®, you may feel hopeful about the results to come. But it’s always important to know about all the possible side effects, including a harmless but sometimes unwelcome effect sometimes called “Ozempic face.”

What is ‘Ozempic face’?

“The term ‘Ozempic face’ refers to the changes in the face that can happen with rapid weight loss,” explains endocrinologist Vinni Makin, MD. “It’s characterized by gauntness, sunken cheeks, new wrinkles and loose skin on the face and neck.”

‘Ozempic face’ isn’t a side effect of the medication itself. Rather, it’s a side effect of the rapid weight loss the medication can bring.

This term first became popular on social media after a celebrity dermatologist used the term to refer to the way that Ozempic (generic name: semaglutide) affected some of his patients. But it’s not a medical term, and it’s probably not one you’ll hear your healthcare provider use. It’s also not limited to taking Ozempic.

“Facial changes can also occur after having bariatric surgery or adopting lifestyle changes that cause very rapid weight loss,” Dr. Makin points out. “But they’re often associated with weight loss medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide, which can lead people to very quickly achieve weight targets that they haven’t been at in many years.”

How Ozempic can affect the face

Losing facial fat can change the way your face looks, of course. But instead of just looking thinner, you may be surprised to find that you look older, too. Here’s how rapid weight loss, like from taking Ozempic, can affect your face:

  • Decreases facial fat.Subcutaneous fat, which is just under your skin, is an important component of your facial structure, helping you look plump and filled-in. But rapid weight loss causes you to lose subcutaneous fat from your face and neck, which causes facial hollowing and sagging skin.
  • Speeds up signs of aging.We all lose subcutaneous fat in the face as we get older. “But rapid weight loss can cause these processes to occur more rapidly, which can mimic the natural aging process,” Dr. Makin explains.
  • Causes skin to become less elastic.Rapid weight loss lowers your levels of two proteins in the skin: elastin, which helps keep skin stretchy, and collagen, which provides support and structure.

The faster you lose weight, the more likely you are to experience Ozempic face.

“It’s a very common side effect because people often maximize their dose to try to achieve target weight goals quickly,” Dr. Makin notes. “But the faster your weight loss, the more likely that your face will show signs of the weight loss.”

She adds that older adults are also more likely to experience Ozempic face because they have lower subcutaneous fat reserves even before starting weight loss treatment.

Examples of what it can look like

When rapid weight loss affects your face, you may see signs of aging in your face that seem to come out of nowhere. Some hallmarks include:

  • Wrinkles.As your skin loses collagen, wrinkles and fine lines start to appear.
  • Sunken eyes. Weight loss can diminish the fat pads around your eyes, making them look like they’re set deeper into your face.
  • Thin lips.Fat helps give your face volume, so losing weight can also impact the plumpness of your pucker.
  • Sagging skin.Just as weight loss can cause sagging skin in the stomach and arms, the same can happen in your face. “Rapid weight loss can bring the appearance of loose skin in the face and neck,” Dr. Makin explains. This can cause drooping skin on your cheeks and jaw (aka jowls).
  • More prominent bone structure. Without as much facial fat to pad them, your cheekbones and/or jawline may seem more obvious.

How to avoid Ozempic face

To try to prevent facial changes associated with rapid weight loss, consider a more gradual approach instead.

“Focus on slower weight loss — about one to two pounds per week,” Dr. Makin recommends. “You can also minimize these side effects by using your medication in combination with a healthy diet and exercise regimen.”

She shares more tips for keeping your skin healthy while taking weight loss medication (and all the time!):

Does Ozempic face go away?

Ozempic face won’t fade with time. If you regain the weight you lost, your face may start looking fuller again, too. But if you maintain your weight loss, its effects on your face will likely stick around, too.

But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to be done about it.

“Cosmetic fillers or skin tightening procedures can help minimize the appearance of wrinkles or sagging skin,” Dr. Makin says. Options include:

All that said, so-called ‘Ozempic face’ doesn’t bring any negative health effects, and it doesn’t need treatment unless you want treatment.

Final thoughts

Don’t let your fear of possible facial changes keep you from taking a medication that could help you achieve a healthy weight.

If you’re starting a medication like Ozempic, Wegovy™ or Mounjaro®, be sure to tell your provider your concerns about how rapid weight loss may affect your face. They can help you create a personalized plan to try to maintain a slow and steady weight loss that’s less likely to speed up signs of aging in your face.