Semaglutide and Mounjaro medications can help people shed pounds quickly, but it’s important to note that rapid weight loss can also cause saggy skin in curvy areas of your body.

Written by Anteneh Roba MD, ABOM, ABAARM, FAARM

 One of the most common questions I get at Zinnia Aesthetics & Anti-Aging in regards to our Semaglutide and Mounjaro treatments for weight loss is how to prevent “ Ozempic Body and Face” which can happen with rapid weight loss. These medications act as an appetite suppressant and can trigger weight loss but as the pounds shed, some patients are noticing a loss of volume and skin elasticity in some parts of their bodies, mostly the face and the behind. “Ozempic face.” The term, coined by Paul Jarrod Frank, MD, a New York City dermatologist, refers to a side effect of the drug, and of rapid weight loss in general: facial aging, including gauntness and skin sagging. So let’s get straight into it and learn why this occurs and what can be done.  Both medications Semaglutide and Mounjaro change the way in which the client processes hunger. Meaning that they change the metabolism. When we lose weight or gain weight naturally, we give our skin time to stretch to accommodate the weight loss or gain. If you lose weight however too quickly, your skin might remain at its looser state, rather than instantly returning to its pre-weight gain state, particularly if you have been overweight for a long time.

Significant weight loss (usually about 35 or more pounds) in six months or less will deplete both the skin and body of essential nutrients and as the skin thins, collagen and elastin metabolism are disrupted. Loss of volume, or fat, in the cheeks, also follows rapid significant weight loss. Factors such as your age, (or if you smoke or have chronic medical conditions,) your original weight, and how long you have been overweight will affect the potential of saggy, “gaunt” skin as a result.

How to treat it: At Zinnia Aesthetics & Anti-Aging we offer different skin tightening treatments like:

•     ThermiTight, and RF Treatments. Deep-acting radiofrequency stimulates collagen contraction, collagen/elastin synthesis, circulation enhancement, and fat release from hypodermal fat cells, leading to tighter, more lifted, more elastic, smoother skin.

•     Dermal fillers( such as Bellafil, Radiesse, and Juvaderm Voluma ) are one of the most effective and instant, but temporary fixes for loss of volume as a result of facial weight loss.

•     Fat Transfer-This procedure involves removing fat from the inner thighs, flanks, or abdomen,  and re-injecting it into the cheeks, under the eyes, around the lips, and in or around the chin, mouth, or temple areas. The advantage of fat transfer is that, unlike fillers that are synthetic products and last 1-5 years depending on the filler type, fat transfer is natural, and after an initial 20-30% loss of fat the remaining 70-80% of the fat will survive for years.

•     I do suggest giving your body (and face) some time to adjust after the weight loss.  Non-surgical options that I highly encourage include a healthy diet, proper hydration, not smoking, and SPF! Exercising such as weights and resistance training.

If you are concerned about  “ Ozempic Butt or Face” after rapid weight loss with Ozempic, Wegovy, or generic semaglutide, schedule a consultation at Zinnia Aesthetics & Anti Aging, we will help you determine the right treatment for you.