Gemma Collins 'horrified' by her new look after using weight loss jabs

Daily Record

21-04-2025

The former TOWIE star, 44, has lost more than 2stones since she started taking the NHS-approved weight loss jabs, but last week she shared her concerns over looking older.
Gemma Collins, despite being ecstatic about dropping dress sizes with the aid of Mounjaro weight loss injections, isn't too pleased about one particular side-effect. The 44-year-old star has shed over two stone thanks to the NHS-backed jabs but recently voiced concerns over her appearance, stating that she's begun to look older since starting the treatment in late last year.
Reflecting on her transformation, she remarked: "I really don't know what's happened to me, I really don't," acknowledging to her legion of 2.2 million Instagram fans that the change seemed abrupt.
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She noticed that the lines around her eyes had intensified and speculated whether it could be related to her slimming down, reports the Mirror.
Pondering the effects of her weight loss journey, she continued, "I don't know if it's since I've been losing weight. I sure haven't got 'Ozempic face' yet, but it would be the dream right now," hoping to retain her natural looks. "I've always had a fuller face, as you know. I do like expression around my eyes. I want to look natural still. But this just isn't right. What has happened? I am 44 but this is taking it to levels that I never, ever imagined it'd get to."
The term 'Ozempic-face' refers to the sunken or emaciated appearance often linked with speedy weight reduction.
A confidante has shared that Gemma, engaged to businessman Rami Hawash, initially made light-hearted comments about her "next level" wrinkles, but was genuinely taken aback by the drastic change in her appearance. Despite continuing with cosmetic treatments, she's also embraced a healthier way of life."
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"She's eating really healthily and has broken some of the bad habits with food," the source revealed. "It was a bit of a shock to her to really see the effect the weight loss has had on her face. She doesn't want to suddenly look older than she is, which is why she's sorting it and being honest about it.
"Gemma's always been really open and honest about her relationship with her body and she's been through some really horrible times with it, but that's all in her past now. The wrinkle tweakments are all part of her wanting to feel and look good. She knows there's no point losing all the weight and just being unhappy, so she'll happily make little changes to keep herself feeling her best."
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In a previous chat with The Sun newspaper, Gemma admitted that she tipped the scales at a size 26 at her heaviest but now aspires to slip into a size 16 by the summertime. Not only that, she hopes to "give birth to twins next year" provided she reaches a healthy weight for conception.
Additionally, she divulged that she had once covertly undergone gastric balloon surgery but ended up imploring physicians to remove it due to severe discomfort, confessing, "It was scary. I should never have done it – I thought I was going to die," Gemma recounted.
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Earlier this year, she revealed her partnership with Yazen, a firm offering a regimen of weight loss injections aimed at halting her cycle of yo-yo dieting. She has been vocal about her battles with weight, confessing that it had driven her to suicidal thoughts and trapped her in a "toxic dieting chain".
"I will finally be free," she declared then. "I will finally be able to live my best life and just be free from all that upset and stress and turmoil that comes with constantly trying to lose excess weight."
Dr Emma Cunningham, an aesthetic doctor and the founder of Dr Emma Clinics, spoke to the Mirror about Gemma's new concerns over facial wrinkles, noting it's a growing trend among patients using weight loss drugs.
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Although these medications don't directly cause wrinkles, the swift reduction of fat, particularly in the face, can result in skin that appears looser and less voluminous.
"Men and women turning to these jabs are often delighted with the weight loss, but then catch sight of their reflection and feel they suddenly look older," Dr Emma explained. "That's because the softness and roundness that fat gives the face is linked to a more youthful appearance. When that disappears, it can create hollow cheeks, gauntness and more pronounced lines. It's not just the face either – the skin on the neck, arms, and tummy can also appear looser, depending on how much weight is lost and how fast."
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Luckily, Dr Emma notes that various treatments can help support the skin in such situations, including gentle fillers, polynucleotides, skin boosters, and radiofrequency treatments.
Dr Emma explained: "A fuller face can often disguise early signs of ageing, so when that volume goes, it can suddenly highlight sagging or wrinkles that were previously less obvious,
"It's not that weight loss causes ageing, but rather that it reveals more of what was already there."
The insider claimed Gemma isn't attempting to reverse time and is well aware of her age, but she refuses to let a few wrinkles detract from her appearance. "She's a diva and she strives for perfection," the insider revealed.
"Rami is completely supportive. She doesn't overdo it with treatments – it's just a bit of upkeep here and there. She's aware she's 44 and isn't trying to pretend she's 24."