By Dr. Pennington and Dr. Souyoul
In recent years, GLP-1 medications like Ozempic®, Wegovy®, and Mounjaro® have transformed weight-loss journeys. These treatments can be life-changing for overall health, but their success can also bring surprising cosmetic changes—especially to the face. Recent studies show that patients on GLP-1s lose around 9% of their facial volume, contributing to looser skin, more visible lines, reduced collagen, and diminished radiance.
Why Weight Loss Affects the Face
When we lose weight, it’s not just fat around the midsection that disappears—we lose it everywhere, including the face, which often shows change first. Facial fat pads play a crucial role in maintaining youthful contours, soft transitions, and structural support. As these deeper fat compartments shrink, skin appears looser, fine lines become more noticeable, and volume diminishes in the cheeks, temples, under-eyes, and around the mouth.
This constellation of changes is often called “Ozempic face.” Beyond fat reduction, rapid weight loss can also lead to decreased skin elasticity, changes in muscle tone, increased bone definition, and accentuated folds and shadows. Emerging research suggests GLP-1s may directly affect the skin by reducing collagen production, accelerating glycation (which stiffens and weakens collagen fibers), and diminishing hydration levels. In one study, GLP-1s were found to act directly on skin cells, potentially worsening facial thinning beyond fat loss alone.
Restoring Facial Balance
The good news: modern aesthetic medicine offers effective, science-backed solutions to restore facial structure, vitality, and radiance—without compromising your weight-loss success.
Biostimulatory treatments like Sculptra® and hyaluronic acid fillers are an ideal combination. Recently, Galderma, the makers of Sculptra® and Restylane®, completed a landmark 9-month Phase IV clinical trial—the first study evaluating Sculptra® combined with HA fillers specifically for GLP-1–related volume loss.
Key results included:
- Sustained improvements in skin quality, hydration, and radiance
- Over 88% of participants “loved” how treatment maintained their facial structure
- 9 out of 10 participants would recommend it after GLP-1 weight loss
- Visible improvements lasting up to 9 months
Sculptra® stimulates collagen and gradually improves laxity, while HA fillers restore immediate structure in areas that flatten with weight loss. Together, they offer a synergistic, natural-looking transformation.
Medical-Grade Skincare with Proven GLP-1 Benefits
Targeted skincare is an essential part of preventing and treating GLP-1–related aging. Over-the-counter products simply can’t match the potency or clinical research behind medical-grade formulations.
SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Ultra Serum and A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced Cream have been physician-tested in GLP-1 users, with results showing:
- Visible reversal of laxity in as little as 4 weeks
- Full improvements at 12 weeks
- Enhanced collagen reinforcement
- Reduced glycation
- Improved hydration, smoothness, and radiance
When paired with in-office procedures such as ultrasound lifting, clinical studies show:
- Up to a 44% reduction in facial laxity
- Up to a 34% reduction in visible aging signs within 12 weeks
- Device-Based Skin Tightening
For patients who prefer non-injectable improvements, treatments like Morpheus8 microneedling combined with radiofrequency energy can significantly improve firmness and collagen density with minimal downtime. This approach is especially helpful for facial and neck laxity following GLP-1–related weight loss.
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Surgical Options for More Significant Change
For individuals experiencing more dramatic volume loss or excess skin, surgical rejuvenation provides the most comprehensive and long-lasting correction. Procedures such as a deep plane facelift or neck lift with fat grafting restore natural fullness and address skin laxity, deep hollows, and loss of structural support—all while maintaining natural harmony and radiance. Surgical rejuvenation is particularly effective for advanced “Ozempic face” changes that non-surgical methods cannot fully correct.
Where to Start
Start early—ideally at the beginning of your weight-loss journey—with medical-grade skincare backed by science. Preventive care lays the foundation, and additional treatments can be introduced as your facial anatomy evolves.
Reaching your goal weight is an extraordinary achievement, and your face should reflect that same vitality. With today’s advanced, research-driven options—Sculptra®, hyaluronic acid fillers, GLP-1–tested skincare, and surgical rejuvenation—we can restore balance, volume, and radiance in a way that feels entirely you.
Dr. Lindsey Pennington, Double Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon and Dr. Skylar Souyoul, Board Certified Dermatologist
Now accepting new patients. Pennington Facial Plastics
To explore the options best suited to your goals, schedule a personalized consultation, and together we’ll design a plan that supports your health journey and enhances your natural beauty.