What is ozempic face?

Doctors are warning those who are using diabetic medications to lose weight that there may be unwanted side effects including facial aging. Injectable prescription medicines like Ozempic and Mounjaro, which were developed for people with type 2 diabetes, have gained popularity recently among those who regard them as a quick-fix weight-loss option.

Social media and reports of celebrities using the drugs frequently have contributed to the issue, which has now led to a shortage of prescription medications. However, following reports of users' experiences with accelerated aging, medical professionals have now issued a warning about "Ozempic face," a possible adverse effect of using the medications both as a weight-loss method and without the proper medical supervision.

Jennifer Berger who use Mounjaro to lose weight after pregnancy told The New York Times, the medicine helped to lose 20 pounds in three months, but it also made it impossible for her to recognize her face in the mirror. She told, “my body looked great but my face looked old.”

According to Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank, a dermatologist in New York, Ozempic faces have increased recently. By talking to Ozempic faces individuals it becomes clear the reason is diabetes medication.

According to Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali, a dermatologist in New York, there has been a rise in patients taking these drugs because they are "concerned about facial aging and sagging." Most people in their 40s and 50s are losing considerable amounts of weight and are worried about the resulting facial aging and sagging.

Dr. Oren Tepper, a New York-based plastic surgeon observed that losing weight frequently results in an older appearance because key parts of the face deflate. Losing weight can slow down biological aging but speed up facial aging.

Dermatologists suggested that the only noninvasive method to reverse side effects is by the injection of fillers, which can be expensive and cost thousands of dollars.

According to Dr. Tepper, fillers may not be enough to restore lost volume in the face when a significant amount of weight is lost rapidly. At that point, plastic surgery becomes the only way to restore volume loss.

Doctors have turned to social media sites such as TikTok to provide tips on preventing the signs of aging as interest in diabetic drugs for weight loss on social media keeps rising.

Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen, an endocrinologist said by losing weight gradually, staying hydrated, avoiding smoking, and increasing protein intake users can prevent sagging skin during weight loss.

According to Dr. Joshua Zeichner, a board-certified dermatologist, and director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, weight loss affects your face. The face might appear "much older" in people who lose a lot of weight and often looks gaunt and skeletonized when facial fat is lost.

Common side effects of weight loss medications are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, headache, fatigue, indigestion, dizziness, and digestive disorders.

However, the FDA issues warnings regarding more severe side effects that may occur from using the medication, including the "potential risk of thyroid C-cell tumors," pancreatitis, gallbladder issues, acute kidney injury, increased heart rate, and suicidal behavior or thought.

The side effects are rare if the medicine is being taken at the proper dose and with careful medical supervision, according to Dr. Salas-Whale.