If you’re considering Semaglutide for weight loss, you’ve probably read about its amazing benefits. But you’ve likely seen the less-than-great things, too, including what it can do to your face. Knowing how to prevent Ozempic Face is one of our clients’ biggest concerns before they start weight loss medication.
The bad news is that facial changes throughout weight loss may be inevitable, depending on certain factors.
The good news is that even if it’s not preventable, it is fixable! You can prevent Ozempic Face before it happens or reverse it if it already has.
What is Ozempic Face?
First, you need to understand what exactly it means.
“Ozempic Face” refers to facial changes due to rapid weight loss. Some people’s faces appear droopier, saggier, or older.
However, this is a side effect of losing weight; Semaglutide medications don’t directly cause it.
One benefit of carrying extra weight is that it smooths and plumps your face, especially as you age. You’ll lose that benefit when you reduce the fat in your body.
Have you ever seen people who’ve lost a lot of weight and have excess droopy skin on their arms, legs, and stomachs? That’s what happens to your face, only to a lesser extent.
Fortunately, it doesn’t happen to everybody. Knowing what causes it helps you learn how to prevent Ozempic face.
Factors That Cause Ozempic Face
Many people don’t experience noticeable face changes at all as they lose weight. They’ll see a slimmer jawline or more visible cheekbones, but they typically hope to see those.
Others may experience changes beyond what they wanted, making them appear older and less vibrant. These can occur for various reasons, but the three most common are age, how much weight you lose, and how quickly you lose it.
Age
You probably already know that as you age, you stop producing as much collagen and other vital nutrients in your skin. That’s part of why our faces develop wrinkles and lose elasticity, regardless of weight loss.
That lack of elasticity makes it harder for skin to bounce back when it supports excess fat. As you lose the fat, the skin has nowhere to go except down, leaving you with droopy skin.
Amount of Weight Lost
Regardless of age, your body takes time to adjust to changes. Therefore, if you lose a large amount of weight, your skin needs time to recover, even when young.
Because of elasticity, your skin can stretch and retract a fair amount without intervention. So, if you only need to lose 20 pounds, your skin will adjust reasonably quickly, even if you’re older.
However, a lot of extra weight can lead to stretching that won’t heal on its own. Think about it like a Slinky. You can pull it pretty far, and it coils right back up. But if you flatten it too much, you permanently change the shape, and it can’t fix itself.
How Quickly You Lose It
Finally, no matter how much you lose or how old you are, rapid weight loss can cause Ozempic Face.
Again, your body needs time to adjust and heal. So quick weight loss doesn’t give your skin time to regain its shape.
Depending on how much you lose and how young your skin is, it can bounce back with time and patience. But if you’re older or lost significant weight, you may need help getting your youthful glow back.
How to Prevent Ozempic Face
Now that you know why it happens, you can better understand how to prevent Ozempic Face.
Even if you haven’t started taking Semaglutide yet, these suggestions can help you look and stay youthful, vibrant, and healthy through both the aging and weight loss process.
Nutrients and Supplements
A balanced diet can provide most, if not all, of the nutrients your skin needs to create collagen and promote cellular regeneration.
Diets rich in Omega-3 fatty acids are perfect for aging skin. Omega-3 helps your skin stay plumper and more moisturized while reducing inflammation and may help fight some skin conditions. Foods that contain Omega-3 and other healthy fats include fatty fish (such as salmon), avocados, nuts (especially walnuts), and seeds.
These foods also contain large amounts of Vitamin E, a vital antioxidant that helps your body fight free radicals. Lastly, many contain zinc, a nutrient that promotes skin cell growth and supports overall skin health.
Another food that can significantly impact wrinkles and skin hydration is soy due to compounds called isoflavones. These mimic estrogen in the body, which is excellent for older people who no longer produce as much estrogen.
While a healthy diet can provide all of these and more, some people may also benefit from taking supplements. You can also take supplements that replace the proteins and nutrients your body needs but no longer produce enough.
These supplements include:
- Collagen,
- Hyaluronic Acid,
- Vitamin A/retinol
- Vitamins C, D, and E
- Resveratrol
Hydration
We cannot express enough how important staying hydrated is for your skin.
When your skin’s cells are adequately hydrated, your skin looks fuller, smoother, and brighter. Hydration also adds to your skin’s vital barrier and aids in transporting nutrients throughout the body.
Of course, the best way to stay hydrated is to drink plenty of water and keep hydration-reducing foods and drinks to a minimum. These include salty and processed foods, alcohol, and sugary sodas and treats.
Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables also adds to your daily water intake.
Skincare
A good skincare regimen can help you prevent aging and weight loss changes, especially when combined with a healthy diet.
Skincare differs for everybody, but it should include washing your face twice daily, moisturizing your skin with appropriate quality lotions and serums, and wearing sunscreen.
Younger people can use universal moisturizers that support the skin’s natural barrier. You’ll want to use more specific products that provide hyaluronic acid, collagen, and other revitalizing ingredients as you age. Skin-tightening creams are especially helpful to help prevent Ozempic Face.
If you’re unsure what skincare products you should use, talk to your aesthetician. We can make recommendations based on your age, skin type, and specific needs.
Facial Exercises and Massage
You may be surprised that facial exercise can be as beneficial for your face as regular exercise is for your body.
Your face’s muscles weaken as you age, affecting your skin’s appearance.
However, facial exercises—especially for your cheeks and jawline—and facial massage can improve these muscles and help you regain some firmness in your face, jowls, and neck.
The earlier you begin these exercises, the better. Stronger muscles will help you regain the contours of your face quicker after weight loss.
How to Reverse Ozempic Face
So, what do you do if it’s too late to stop facial changes from weight loss?
Don’t panic; you can still do plenty to feel good about yourself when you look in the mirror.
Above all else, remember that weight loss is a process, and Ozempic Face may not last forever even if you don’t do anything. But if you don’t want to wait for it to resolve on its own, consider these options.
Skin Treatments and Fillers
If preventative measures and skincare products don’t restore your skin’s youthful glow, the next step is to consider non-invasive cosmetic procedures.
First, start with a HydraFacial. This 3-in-1 procedure cleanses your skin, extracts debris, and provides a massive boost of hydration and skin-rejuvenating nutrients. It may not be enough to reverse Ozempic Face, but it can make your skin look healthier and more vibrant. And skin-plumping ingredients, such as collagen and hyaluronic acid, help your skin return to its natural shape more quickly.
More powerful and immediately effective treatments include laser procedures, such as skin-tightening and sublative resurfacing. These use infrared light with radiofrequency energy to encourage cellular turnover and collagen and elastin production. As your skin heals, it will become smoother and firmer.
Another great option is microchanneling. This relatively painless procedure has the same effect of promoting collagen and elastin production by causing micro-damage to the skin.
For sagging skin around the cheeks, eyes, mouth, and jowl, consider a combination of dermal fillers and Botox. These popular injections smooth and plump skin for a more youthful appearance.
Treatments like these can effectively reduce or eliminate loose skin after weight loss. Best of all, they are relatively pain-free, don’t require much or any downtime, and are much more affordable than cosmetic surgery.
However, if your weight loss is significant, you may need more than spa treatments.
Cosmetic Surgery
As a last resort, some people require cosmetic surgery to improve sagging skin.
A surgical facelift will return your facial muscles and fat pads to their original spot while removing excess loose skin.
This is the best and most effective option for people who have lost significant weight or are older. Although it may be costly and take longer to recover, it will provide the most dramatic results.
Don’t Let Ozempic Face Stop You From Losing Weight
Weight loss truly is a journey, and your body needs time and patience to adapt to those changes.
However, if you’re losing weight for your health, you know that the benefits outweigh the challenges. (Pun not intended!)
That doesn’t make Ozempic Face any less intimidating, though. Your face is the first thing people see, and you deserve to feel confident and attractive, especially during and after the struggle for weight loss.
Fortunately, knowing how to prevent Ozempic Face and what you can do to reverse it will make that part of the process easier. Remember to eat a well-balanced, nutrient-dense diet, stay hydrated, and care for your skin.
If prevention doesn’t work, skincare treatments and cosmetic surgery will.
Your health and your confidence are worth it!
