I love my new ‘Ozempic face' – I look 10 years younger AND I've lost 60lbs – I kept weight off with 2 simple tricks

The Sun

18-05-2025

IN the run up to her sister's wedding, Alejandra Salomon wanted to look her best - and her parents were pressuring her to slim down.
But weighing more than 13st and wearing a size 16, she knew she had a long way to go, so she turned to Ozempic.
15
15
15
Alejandra, who is in her late 20s, expected to shed some pounds, and she indeed dropped over 4st (60lbs) in eight months.
But the best part about her transformation had nothing to do with the number on the scales.
While other ' skinny jab ' users have reported developing ' Ozempic face ' - a more gaunt, aged appearance around the cheeks, jawline and eyes - Alejandra says she couldn't be happier with her youthful results.
'My weight loss has made me look 10 years younger – no Botox needed,' she tells Sun Health.
'It looks like I got jawline filler but really I lost 60lbs and got in the best shape of my life.'
The marketing manager, who is based in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, started taking semaglutide, the active ingredient Ozempic, in October 2023.
It works by mimicking hormones that tell the brain the stomach is full, switching off hunger signals so patients eat less and avoid weight gain.
At the time, Alejandra weighed 13st 3lbs and was wearing a size 16 (US 12), which gave her an obese BMI given her height of 5ft 3ins.
She says: 'I started the injections because my parents thought it would be a good idea to lose 20lbs for my sister's wedding.'
But Alejandra, who has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder which causes irregular periods and can make weight loss difficult, dropped triple that amount in eight months, and now weighs 8st 9lbs, wearing a size 6 (US 2).
Nutritionist reveals which stars could be suffering from 'Ozempic face' & why some like Kelly Clarkson get away without
She says: 'It has without a doubt been the best decision for both my health and confidence.
'I've never been happier or healthier.'
Commenting on the ' Ozempic face ' commentary online, Alejandra adds: 'A lot of people refer to 'Ozempic face' as a negative side effect to rapid weight loss.
'It's when your face slims down quickly and people forget that looking different isn't a bad thing.
'It's just one part of your health journey – and you're still you, just with sharper cheekbones.'
'Ozempic face' - the brutal and common side effect that can make users look 20 years older
By Abigail Wilson, Senior Digital Writer
NAUSEA, constipation, breathing problems, a racing heart... the list of Ozempic side effects appears to be growing by the day.
But experts warn there's a new, "incredibly common" issue that "nearly everyone" using such injections will experience.
'Ozempic face' is a term used to describe a change in facial appearance that some people notice after losing weight quickly, often while using Ozempic or similar medications (like Wegovy or Mounjaro).
It isn't specific to 'skinny jabs' - it's more about rapid weight loss, especially in the face, which can lead to: loss of fat volume in the cheeks and under the eyes, sagging or loose skin, and more pronounced wrinkles.
Because the face has less fat, the skin might not bounce back as quickly, leading some people to feel they look older or more tired.
Some experts say it can even age patients by 20 years seemingly overnight.
Sharon Osbourne has discussed hating her "gaunt" appearance, while concerns have been raised over Scott Disick 's "sunken eyes and cheeks".
Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Amy Schumer, Chelsea Handler and Rebel Wilson have also used jabs to slim down.
'Ozempic face' is not medically dangerous, but it can be distressing for some people, especially if the change is sudden or dramatic.
It is a cosmetic side effect, not a health risk.
There is no designated treatment as such, but dermal fillers or skin-tightening treatments can be used.
Hydration, skincare and nutrition also play a key role in keeping skin healthy.
She even previously believed her 'round face' or ' moon face ' was genetic, but after dropping the weight now thinks it was simply inflammation.
For Alejandra, the worst 'side effect' she has experienced has been unwarranted comments from critics.
Despite being told she would regain the weight after coming off of the jabs, nine months later she has maintained her svelte physique and says she has 'found herself again' with newfound confidence.
But while the injections have helped, Alejandra has also exercised and eaten a high protein diet throughout her weight loss journey – particularly the more weight she lost.
She aimed to consume 100g of protein - dubbed by some experts as 'nature's Ozempic' - a day.
Good sources include lean meats, fish, dairy, eggs, nuts, beans and oats, as well as protein powders.
She also took supplements like electrolytes to stay hydrated and a probiotic to "keep things moving".
For exercise, Alejandra focused on muscle-building strength workouts over cardio.
"That's because the more muscle you have, the more fat you burn," she says.
15
15
In a video detailing the process, she adds: 'It started to work right away, but it wasn't just the GLP-1 medication that helped me to lose weight.
'It is not an easy solution and is not a magic trick.
'I started to eat so much protein and switch up my workouts.
'At first [when taking the jab] I was going to the gym and walking on the treadmill, and that helps.
'But you get to a point where you lose so much muscle with GLP that you need to rebuild it – and you can only do that by lifting weights and doing low intensity workouts.
'I continued to do that and I ended up losing 60lbs in eight months.
'I am no longer on medication, and am maintaining my weight!'
And she still enjoys the odd takeaway, such as a grilled chicken sandwich wrapped in lettuce with a side of macaroni cheese from Chick-fil-A, and a beef burrito bowl from Taco Bell.
15
15
15
15
Everything you need to know about fat jabs
Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases.
Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK.
Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market.
Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year.
How do they work?
The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight.
They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists.
They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high.
Can I get them?
NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics.
Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure.
GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss.
Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk.
Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health.
Are there any risks?
Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild.
Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.'
Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia.
Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health.
Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.