What ‘Ozempic face’ really is and why it happens 

With celebrities like Rosie O’Donnell and Jackée Harry opening up about getting facelifts after taking GLP-1s, attention is growing around how rapid weight loss can affect the face – and why some turn to plastic surgery as a result.

Significant facial changes, including hollow cheeks, sagging skin, wrinkles and a more aged appearance, can happen after quickly losing a lot of weight. As more people use GLP-1s, these changes are becoming more noticeable. Terms like “Ozempic face” are even trending on social media.

What is “Ozempic face” and why is it happening?

While GLP-1s are bringing more visibility to the issue, they aren’t the cause – or the blame. These drastic facial or body changes happen anytime you lose weight rapidly.

When that happens, the body and skin don’t have much time to adjust. Fat stores shrink quickly, including in the face, but the skin’s ability to tighten works on a slower timeline. That mismatch is what can lead to noticeable changes.

“When you lose fat, the skin doesn’t retract at the same rate,” says Dr. Nyama Sillah, a plastic surgeon at Aurora Health Care. “What’s left over can be looser skin, especially in the face where volume loss is more noticeable. We’re seeing it more often now simply because more people are losing weight quickly.”

Ways to minimize facial changes during weight loss

That doesn’t mean you need to lose less weight or stop a prescribed GLP-1 medication. These facial changes don’t affect everyone, and there are steps you can take to reduce the severity.

“If someone loses 40 to 50 pounds, they may not have as dramatic changes as someone who’s lost a much larger amount,” Dr. Sillah says. “Everyone responds to weight loss differently.”

A gradual weight loss approach can help reduce how facial changes appear and support how you feel about your body after losing weight.

“It’s important to lose weight in a steady, controlled way and to make sure your nutrition is optimized,” Dr. Sillah says. “Having a good skin care routine is also beneficial, especially during weight loss when the skin is adjusting.”

While skin care won’t prevent all changes, simple habits like wearing sunscreen, staying hydrated and using products that support skin health can help your skin look its best as it adjusts.

Treatment options if facial changes occur

If you still experience noticeable facial or body changes, doctors have many options that can help.

“People sometimes aren’t prepared for how much their body and appearance can change with rapid weight loss,” Dr. Sillah says. “There’s a lot we can do non-surgically, like fillers and Botox, but if there’s a significant amount of excess skin, sometimes surgery is the best option.”

Whether you choose surgery or not, many people look for ways to address these changes after weight loss.

“I always tell patients, everything we do – whether it’s medication, non-surgical treatments or surgery – is just a tool to help them reach their goals,” Dr. Sillah adds.

Are you trying to watch your weight? Take a free online quiz to learn your healthy weight range.