Latest news with #OzempicFace
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Fat jabs gave me Ozempic face with sagging cheeks and thin lips – but I've found solution WITHOUT fillers
LOOKING at my reflection in the mirror, I felt delighted to see my petite size 8 figure once again. But as I glanced up to my face, the gaunt woman staring back at me came as a shock. 10 After having skin cancer treatment in 2019 and becoming a single mum in lockdown, I'd gone from 7st to 13st in four years. So I recently turned to weight loss jabs to regain my former shape. I didn't regret it, but the side effect – ' Ozempic face' – as seen on celebrities like Sharon Osborne, wasn't something I'd bargained on. I was 38 years old, but my sunken cheeks, gaunt eyes and thin lips had aged me overnight. One relative had helpfully pointed out my new 'jowls' at a family gathering, while strangers on X told me I looked like a drug addict or permanently unwell. I would be lying if I said it didn't hurt. When I first gained weight, it didn't bother me at first. Yes, none of my clothes fitted me my 5ft 4ins frame any more, but I was simply grateful to be alive for my daughter Mabel, now seven. My mind was taken up with getting through my separation from her dad and surviving the pandemic. Baking banana bread was more of a priority than working out. But as the trauma of my illness and break-up eased, I realised I wanted to feel like my old self again and ditch the stretchy leggings I had become so attached to. In December 2023, I headed back to the gym four times a week and tried to eat less – but the weight was slow to drop off. Some weeks I didn't lose anything, despite trying so hard. It didn't help that medication I was taking for OCD [Obsessive Compulsive Disorder] was an appetite stimulant. But stopping that wasn't an option. After speaking to an online pharmacist I decided to try the jabs, which cost £179 a month. 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 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. I had a false start with Saxenda, which gave me stomach pains, before settling into using Mounjaro in June 2024. Over a 12-month period, I dropped back down to a size 8, without any of the anticipated stretch marks or loose skin. It felt great to wear my old clothes again. But while I didn't love how my body looked at 13st, I preferred the appearance of my face compared to when I was skinny. DRAMATIC CHANGE It had fullness and shape, my skin glowed and there were barely any wrinkles. I was dismayed by the dramatic change that came with slimming down and knew that no amount of 'miracle' skincare potions would ease the deep lines either side of my mouth, loss of volume in my cheeks, or the dark circles under my eyes. For the first time ever, my skin felt crepey and dull, plus everything below my cheeks had dropped that little bit further south. I considered more jabs to help and spent hours researching cheek fillers, nasolabial fold treatments and those skin rejuvenators that can bring back volume. Some of the before-and-after photos online looked amazing. But realistically, I knew I'd be lucky to walk out of a decent clinic with any change from £1,000. And even then, it would not be a permanent solution. I don't regret the jabs one bit. Now I'm back to a healthy weight, I have more energy and confidence. At the same time, it's not shallow to want to feel good when I look in the mirror. If makeup can help me restore my pride when I see my reflection and make the best of what I've got, it will be a much cheaper fix – and easier for a busy single mum to recreate at home. Follow the six simple steps TOP makeup artist Aimee Adams reveals the tricks she used to transform Rebecca's look – and how others can use them to counter the signs of 'Ozempic face' START WITH THE SKIN Opt for products that contain collagen and hyaluronic acid, to restore brightness and improve the tone. Make-up isn't Botox, but working from as healthy a base as possible will make the best of what you have. Nip+Fab Hyaluronic Fix Extreme4 Jelly Eye Patches are perfect for an instant boost (£19.95 for 20 pairs, Boots). TIME TO SHINE Your base needs to reflect the light away from those grey hollows, so avoid heavy matt foundations and concealers. I like Sculpted by Aimee HydraTint Moisturising Tinted Serum (£20, Boots) and Jane Iredale Smooth Affair Brightening Face Primer (£44, Amazon) to get a dewy feel. KEEP AWAY FROM THE KARDASHIANS It might work for Kim and co, but contouring will only make you look more gaunt. Opt for a classic pink or peach cream blusher that isn't too oily on the apples of your cheeks instead, to add fullness and a flush of youth. Water-based Delilah In Bloom Radiant Liquid Blush in Tiger Lilly (£23, Next) is perfect, set in place with a blush powder. GO FOR GOLD A smokey eye won't make your eyes pop if they are looking sunken. Choose a golden eyeshadow to counteract it and add brightness, with a soft and smudgable brown eyeliner. Finish with a couple of little lash extensions on the outsides to open things up, curl them and add a coat of Avon Exxtravert Extreme Volume Mascara (£9.50, Avon). Fill out those brows too, with Merit Beauty 1990 Ultra Fine Eyebrow Gel Pencil (£21, Sephora). BE NATURAL A bold liner and lipstick is overkill and will seem fake. Choose a shade similar to your real lip colour if you really want to add volume, like e.l.f Love Triangle Lip Filler Liner in Soft Pink (£4, plus a dewy or glossy finish. If you want more extreme results, try PS Plumping Lip Serum (£3, Primark) – it can sting, but the difference is noticeable. SET AND MATCH Makeup can gather in the lines of your skin unless you set it properly after applying. Sprays are popular, but a powder is longer-lasting and works well with creamier makeup, if used sparingly. You don't want it to become cakey. I'm a fan of English Mineral Makeup Fairy Godmother (£59, I LOVED the way Aimee transformed my face, making me look younger, healthier and less tired. The under eyes were my favourite part – I couldn't believe how she got rid of those dark circles. I've learned that the best approach is not to go heavy, especially with contour, which is a surprise given how obsessed makeup influencers are with this technique. I'm definitely going to ditch it for a peach blusher and also swap my usual matte lipstick for a gloss. This will be so much more affordable than aesthetic treatments – and fun to do.
NDTV
23-05-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Ozempic Face? One Woman Says It Made Her Look 10 Years Younger
The internet is currently filled with personal stories and discussions about Ozempic, a popular medication used for weight loss. Some users have shared positive experiences, noting significant weight reduction and improved appearance. However, others have expressed concerns about side effects and potential health risks. According to The New York Post, one user, Alejandra Salomon, is particularly pleased with her results. She lost 60 pounds using Semaglutide, a drug similar to Ozempic, to prepare for her sister's wedding. Salomon stated that her weight loss made her look better and that she did not need Botox or other cosmetic procedures. Unlike many users in their 40s or older who experience "Ozempic Face", Alejandra Salomon, in her late 20s, had a different experience, with her weight loss making her look 10 years younger. "My weight loss made me look 10 years younger - no Botox needed," she said. "Ozempic face" refers to a side effect seen in some people who lose weight rapidly using Ozempic (semaglutide). As the fat under the skin diminishes, especially in the face, it can lead to sagging skin, a gaunt appearance, or more pronounced wrinkles-making the face look older or sunken. Conversely, some experts warn about the effects of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic. Dr Patrick Byrne, president of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, mentioned that these medications can cause the face to appear older over time. Additionally, a recent study conducted by Oxford University involving over 6,000 people found that individuals who stop using GLP-1 drugs often regain the lost weight within ten months unless they maintain a healthy lifestyle. While some Ozempic faces are appearing older with sunken cheeks, gaunt eyes and sagging neck skin - that doesn't seem to be the case for Saloman, as she's thrilled with how young her face looks. "It looks like I got jawline filler, but really, I lost 60 lbs and got in the best shape of my life," she told NeedToKnow. The 20-something-year-old started taking the weight loss drug "...because my parents thought it would be a good idea to lose 20lbs for my sister's wedding." While some users, like Salomon, feel that these medications have positive effects on their appearance, health professionals advise caution due to possible long-term side effects.
Forbes
13-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
How To Treat The Side Effect Of Ozempic Face
Ozempic face is a common side effect, acording to experts. More people are turning to GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic for rapid weight loss. But it doesn't come without its side effects. Roughly 60 percent of facial plastic surgeons are seeing an increase of patients with "Ozempic face" as a side effect of the Semaglutide drug, according to a survey from the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Ozempic has helped so many people, as has Mounjaro and Tirzepatide, both approved by the Food and Drug Administration. But with rapid weight loss comes a depletion of facial volume and descent of tissues. The term 'Ozempic face' is used to describe facial sagging and a gaunt, sunken-in look, due to facial fat loss, which follows drastic weight loss. ''Ozempic face' is the rapid deflation of the facial structure attributed to weight loss,' said Dr. Lyle Leipziger, the chief of plastic surgery at North Shore University Hospital and the Long Island Jewish Medical Center. 'Any rapid weight loss may significantly decrease facial volume, which may result in significant sagging of the facial tissues leading to a prematurely aged look.' In his own personal practice, Dr. Leipziger has seen a 30 percent increase over the past year in patients suffering from rapid weight loss, which results in facial volume loss and tissue sagging. While each case is individual, rapid weight loss, especially later in life (those aged over 50) may cause even more significant facial aging. 'Some of these patients are losing weight quickly, predisposing them to 'Ozempic face' in increasing numbers,' he said. Dr. Leipziger suggests slowing down your weight loss process to avoid rapid skin sagging. 'People that undergo rapid weight loss may be happy when they get on the scale and buy new smaller clothes, but when they look in the mirror, they may discover their face aging prematurely,' said Dr. Leipziger. 'Patients that are newly on Ozempic and want to limit facial volume loss should have a discussion with their doctor prescribing Ozempic on how to lose the weight in a slow, but progressive pattern.' Dr. Lyle Leipziger Losing weight slowly helps maximize facial skin rebound and minimize facial sagging. If an Ozempic patient is losing weight slowly, the mild loss of facial volume can be improved with proper placement of fillers, over time. 'In this way, you are volumizing the areas of facial depletion as they are happening,' said Dr. Leipziger, who likes to use hyaluronic acid-based filler, like Juvéderm or Restylane products on the face. 'This helps maintain a youthful look while the slow weight loss is occurring. A dedicated plan should be followed to maximize the aesthetic results.' Dr. Leipziger recommends Radiofrequency Microneedling, a cosmetic procedure that uses tiny needles and radiofrequency waves to rejuvenate the facial skin, with the procedure prompting the growth of new, healthy skin. As a minimally invasive procedure, the fine needles create micro-wounds in the skin, which triggers the production of collagen, elastin and capillaries. It helps target fine lines, wrinkles and facial sagging. 'It may help with skin tightening,' he said. He also recommends this procedure combined with ultrasound therapy, better known as Sofwave. 'These combined therapies may produce a multimodality approach to improve mild volume loss and soft tissue sagging,' he said. 17 April 2025, Hamburg: A customs investigator holds a package of Ozempic (weight loss syringe) during the presentation of seized doping agents, drugs and assets such as cash and gold in a hall on the premises of the Hamburg Customs Investigation Office. Hamburg customs have broken up an illegal doping agent and drug distribution operation. Assets amounting to 189,000 euros in cash and gold worth 50,000 euros were seized. Photo: Marcus Brandt/dpa (Photo by Marcus Brandt/picture alliance via Getty Images) Over the past year, he has seen a dramatic increase in facelifts, due to rapid weight loss leading to facial volume depletion of the face and neck. 'Significant sagging of the jawline, neck and lower face as well as deepening of the nasal labial folds and midface, are all indications that a facelift may be required to restore a youthful appearance,' he said. 'In my view, a key part of the modern facelift is the judicious restoration of volume with fat transfer, while also elevating, tightening, and repositioning the sagging facial skin. This results in a natural, refreshed, and rejuvenated appearance.' 'I approach facial plastic surgery with the goal of providing each patient with a completely personalized plan, designed to reveal their own natural, youthful self,' said Leipziger. 'A well-done face and neck lift with fat grafting remains the gold standard of facial rejuvenation procedures. No other operation can produce the equivalent of lifting, filling, tightening and anti-aging effects.' Dr. Bianca Molina is a board-certified plastic surgeon based in New York City, specializing in aesthetic and cosmetic procedures, including facelifts, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, brow lifts, and facial fat grafting, among others. NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 2: Bianca Molina attends The New York Women's Foundation (NYWF) Celebration Party Hosted By Jean Shafiroff at Private Residence on April 2, 2025 in New York. (Photo by Michael Ostuni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images) 'Ozempic face is a hot topic,' said Molina. 'I see this in younger patients who are looking older than they should. We know from general beauty standards that we need volume in the face. This is lost with your drastic weight loss and rapid weight loss, even weight loss surgery.' Dr. Molina sees fat grafting to the mid-face, mid-cheek or cheekbone region. 'It helps smooth out and add some youthful volume,' she said. The fat is taken from the abdomen, the lower abdomen, or the inner thigh. 'For patients who have severe skin laxity or jowling, they are facelift candidates or surgical candidates.' She also recommends lasers that resurface your skin, tighten the skin, and shrink the under-eye bags. 'There are varying levels of which you can get aggressive results with a laser,' she said. For lower face, like jawline, chin and neck sagging, she recommends radiofrequency microneedling for a few sessions. 'It can get some measurable skin tightening.' She also recommends radiofrequency-assisted devices like Renuvion or J-Plasma, which tighten the skin. 'Sometimes, your skin doesn't bounce back,' said Dr. Molina. 'It really starts even in your 30s, so skin elasticity overall and skin quality is really hard to get back.' BRIDGEHAMPTON, NEW YORK - JULY 10: Dr. Kenneth Mark speaks at the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation Celebrates 17th Annual The Hamptons Happening at Private Residence on July 10, 2021 in Bridgehampton, New York. (Photo by Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images) Cosmetic dermatology expert, Dr. Kenneth Mark, has also seen the rise of Ozempic face. Mark, who leads multiple cosmetic dermatology practices located in Southampton, East Hampton, New York City and Aspen, suggests nonsurgical solutions includes taking oral collagen, which increases the collagen in the dermis. Bags around the eyes are often an issue, but when it comes to fillers around the eyes, he suggests treading with caution. 'Bags around eyes are tricky and one needs to be very careful not to add volume with the wrong filler or too much filler,' said Dr. Mark. He mentions that Ultherapy has been FDA-cleared to 'lift' the face and neck since 2012, and the results can last up to five years, lifting the neck, jowls and face. A layering technique, which he first published in 2001, uses various fillers in different depths and over time in different parts of the face to produce the most natural results. 'Now, with varying amounts of hyaluronic acid and different cross-linking of it, I literally approach patients as a 'work of art in progress,'' he said. Dr. Mark uses Voluma, a type of filler that helps add volume to the face, to enhance the cheekbones for a lateral lift. 'It gives that makeup artist contoured look,' he said. 'It alsoit lifts the jowl up and out and it tightens the lower eyelid, especially laterally. It also diminishes the nasolabial smile lines by about 35 percent.' He then adds Volux filler to the jawline to help frame the face. 'The bonus of jawline filler is that it adds definition to the jawline, and it also lifts the neck, including the skin under the jaw and under the chin,' said Dr. Mark. 'Like most things, the key is moderation and perspective,' said Dr. Mark. 'Patients need to keep in mind that as we all age, we atrophy; we lose bone, muscle, fat and collagen,' he said. 'Some weight loss can be youthful looking, but there is a fine line between looking better and looking hollow, sunken, and even older,' he adds. 'I am not an expert in prescribing it, but that's my aesthetic expert analysis.'
