What Ozempic really does to your face: All the tell-tale signs of using skinny jabs, from bigger lips to sunken eyes
The Ozempic boom has seen a drug widely used to treat diabetes and manage obesity in adults transform into 'miracle' weight loss jab that's coveted by anyone with a few extra kilos to shed.
Ozempic and other alternatives like Mounjaro and Wegovy are all different brand names for the drug semaglutide that mimics the the actions of GLP-1 - a hormone in the brain that regulates appetite and feelings of fullness.
Weekly doses of these blockbuster weight loss medicines can help people shed 15 to 20 per cent of their body weight on average - but it can also pile on the years and make you look older than you are, experts say.
The rapid and drastic weight loss triggered by these medicines has left people 'freaking out' about developing so-called 'Ozempic face', celebrity nutritionist Rose Ferguson told Femail.
The 49-year-old former model, who is close friends with Kate Moss and boasts 116,000 followers on Instagram, reported a rise in the number of her clients who are worried about their face transfroming from these injections.
Semaglutide, which is not a targeted drug, does not just cause loss around the stomach and thighs, but the entire body - including the face.
This means that, although it has helped millions around the world achieve their weight loss goals, the 'skinny shot' can also famously make users look extremely gaunt over time - a phenomenon critics have unflatteringly labelled 'Ozempic face'.
But how exactly does Ozempic manifest? Dermatologists, aestheticians and cosmetic surgeons break down the tell-tale signs to watch for, as more information about the drug's side effects become known.
More visible wrinkles
People using skinny jabs like Ozempic might notice a greater number of wrinkles all over their visage - including on the forehead - as these 'miracle' weight loss treatments cause a loss of volume in the face.
According to New York-based cosmetic dermatologist Dr Michele Green, 'this volume loss can also worsen the appearance of existing fine lines, wrinkles, and skin laxity' and, therefore, contribute to a more 'aged' look with continued use.
Eyes sink
Experts also pointed out how Ozempic can make your eyes look more sunken as a result of rapid weight loss - with people reporting anywher
Speaking to DailyMail.com, US-based plastic surgeon pointed out a 'hollowing under the eyes' and 'more wrinkles' and fine lines around them as the weight loss drug begins to show results.
Noting how the face of Robbie Williams, who admitted to taking 'something like Ozempic' to shed pounds and manage his 'type-2 self-loathing', she added: 'With Robbie, you can see the direct results of weight loss.'
Cheeks sag
When you lose weight over an extended period of time, it allows the skin to contract and shrink with the body - but drugs like Ozempic significantly accelerate the process.
And while this weight loss reduces facial or subcutaneous fat - as well as making the body leaner - it also leads to loose skin because it hasn't had enough time to retract.
This leads to cheeks that sag or droop, and is one of the main characteristics of 'Ozempic face'.
'By depleting the subcutaneous fat, the skin appears thinner, with more wrinkling and often lipstick lines,' New York-based plastic surgeon Dr Barry Weintraub told this website.
Lips get bigger
While the most common symptoms of this condtion include drooping around the cheeks, sunken eyes, and an increased number of wrinkles, a plumper, more pronounced pout can also occur in people who have injectable fillers.
Speaking to MailOnline, aesthetician Kayti Brooks said that 'Ozempic face' makes lip fillers look more pronounced.
The expert - who runs Grey Door Aesthetics in Hove - said: 'Losing weight at the phenomenal rate Ozempic allows will lose the fat all over the body including the face - but overfilled lips will not shrink.
'Any filler won't have the support structure of the skin. The filler will stay and the lips stay big or bigger! With the skin laxity disappearing the client may feel the need to plump up with filler.
'This is hugely ageing and so obvious what procedures have been carried out.'
Folds at the corner of the mouth
Dr Green told DailyMail.com that 'Ozempic mouth' is something she is seeing among many of her clients taking the blockbuster weight loss medication.
She said: 'Many users of Ozempic who I know report noticeable volume loss in the face, which can result in the formation of fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, and jowls around the mouth.
The condition is considered part of a broader phenomenon dubbed 'Ozempic face' where rapid weight loss causes sagging in the cheeks and around the mouth.
Dr Green noted that the appearance of an aged mouth is especially apparent on people who rapidly lose weight from higher doses of the GLP-1 drug.
It is characterised by deep folds at the corners of the mouth, increased vertical wrinkles on the lips, sagging skin around the borders of the lips and and drooping skin around the chin.
Dr Green has noticed a number of celebrities suffering from Ozempic mouth as the result of taking weight loss drugs, with some of her standout examples being Sharon Osbourne, Rebel Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg.
Tooth decay
The latest side effect linked to the use of skinny jabs is tooth decay, with experts noting a rise in the number of patients complaining of 'Ozempic teeth'.
The unofficial umbrella term refers to dental problems such as tooth decay and gum disease linked to these weight loss drugs that are now used by millions across the world.
'While there is no direct scientific evidence yet, in clinical settings semaglutide drugs like Ozempic are starting to show correlation with damaged teeth,' Dr Sandip Sachar, a dentist, told The Standard.
Experts told the outlet there could be a couple of different reasons for this.
First, GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic can lead to less saliva being produced and, consequently, hinder the mouth's self-cleansing abilities.
The second reason is linked to acid reflux, a common side-effect of these jabs. An increase in the amount of acid 'can erode your teeth,' Dr Daniel Atkinson, clinical lead at Treated.com, told the paper.
Finally, Ozempic's appetite-suppression qualities can make it difficult for the body to get the nutrients it requires to maintain healthy teeth.
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