What is 'Ozempic face'? An expert told us everything.

A question for you: Have you noticed anything different about the faces getting around Hollywood?

Because they've all started to look eerily similar...a little hollow and gaunt.

Welcome to 'Ozempic face' — the weight loss injection side effect that's becoming increasingly common.

Take Sharon Osbourne, for example. After admitting to using weight loss medications, she warned others against the side effects of the drug. 

In an interview with the Daily Mail, she said, "I'm too gaunt and I can’t put any weight on. I want to, because I feel I'm too skinny. ... I can't afford to lose any more."

Robbie Williams also recently shocked fans with his slimmed-down features, admitting he shed weight with the help of weight loss medication. 

In an interview with The Times, he said: "Babe, I’m on Ozempic. Well, something like Ozempic," he revealed. "It's like a Christmas miracle."  

In recent times, rumours have also been circulating about celebrities such as Jessica Simpson. In an interview with Bustle, Simpson said: "Oh Lord. I mean, it is not (Ozempic)," referring to her recent weight loss. "It's willpower."

There's also Scott Disick. In a recent episode of The Kardashians, fans spotted Mounjaro (a brand of weight loss drugs) in Disick's fridge, with social media blowing up about whether this has a connection to his weight loss and changing face. 

As yet, neither Simpson nor Disick have admitted they are on the medication.

But it's not just A-lister faces that seem to be changing. Cosmetic doctors in Australia have noticed a significant rise in patients with the same characteristics—essentially, a glaring side effect of rapid or regular weight loss. 

When asked if she's observed the effects in her clinic, cosmetic doctor Dr Yalda Jamali from Epios Cosmetic Clinic in Sydney says, "Yes I have. It is very surprising to see how common Ozempic use is in Australia. It is usually the first unwanted side effect from using this drug."

So, what exactly is 'Ozempic face' and can the effects be reversed? Here, we spoke to Dr Jamali and asked her everything we need to know.

What is 'Ozempic face'? 

As you can probably guess, the term 'Ozempic face' refers to the effect that rapid weight loss has on the face. 

Watch: Speaking of side effects, here are just some of the effects after one year without drinking alcohol. Post continues after video.  

As Dr Jamali tells us, "Patients on Ozempic medication (a weight loss medication) can experience very rapid weight loss all over and unfortunately the face isn't spared." 

"Depending on what you looked like before you started Ozempic and how much weight you end up losing, you could end up with extreme hollowing and sagging to the face."

What kind of changes can rapid weight loss have on the skin?

When it comes to ageing, it turns out that fat is actually your friend. 

"The most important change with rapid weight loss is reduction of facial fat pads," explains Dr Jamali. "The facial layers include your bones, deep fat pads, muscles and ligaments, superficial fat pads and then the skin. Everything is linked and interconnected. When one changes it has an impact on the rest of the structures.

"Weight loss impacts both deep and superficial fat pads. With less volume in the face, the skin is also likely to be showing signs of increased skin laxity and noticeable sagging. Having a fuller face is definitely more youthful."

Of course, fat depletion in the face is a very normal thing that happens with age — especially as you enter your 30s, 40s and beyond.

"As we age, our fat pads reduce significantly, giving rise to many features of ageing that we try to combat, such as nasolabial folds, reductions in cheek apples and marionette lines."

Generally, when people lose body weight, they experience weight loss in the face too. This is seen with any type of rapid weight loss, including gastric surgery, extreme dieting or—you guessed it—the use of weight loss drugs.

"The weight loss from Ozempic isn't just from 'eating less'," says Dr Jamali. "The drug has a few different ways in which it causes drastic weight loss."

She explains that weight loss drugs work by mimicking a natural hormone, stimulating the release of insulin in response to meals. 

"Ozempic also reduces the production of glucagon, a hormone that typically raises blood sugar levels by prompting the liver to release glucose. Additionally, it slows down the rate at which food empties from the stomach into the intestine, reducing the spikes in blood sugar after meals. Apart from blood sugar regulation, Ozempic may also reduce appetite, adding to its weight loss properties." 

The reason this is important, Dr Jamali says, is because you may not be able to control how quickly you lose weight.

Meaning? Slower weight loss is more beneficial if you're looking to retain the health and 'youthfulness' of your skin.

"Losing weight gradually will allow your skin to adjust to the changes, maintaining the elasticity and reducing the risk of sagging. The gradual process will also reduce the likelihood of stretch marks and potential premature wrinkling," Dr Jamali adds. 

"Let's not forget the most important aspect: slow weight loss supports overall skin health by promoting proper hydration, balanced nutrition, and sufficient collagen production, ensuring the skin remains supple and healthy throughout the journey."

What procedures can fix 'Ozempic face'?

In her clinic, Dr Jamali says that more and more patients are requesting treatments to negate these side effects. 

"I am seeing more younger patients in clinic that are wanting to address volume loss at an earlier age. These are women in their 20s and 30s and typically I wouldn’t have to address this type of concern until the age of 40s," she says.

Enter: The uptick in anti-wrinkle injections and fillers in a far younger demographic.

"I am also seeing a lot of patients who are treating their skin with bio-stimulatory treatments to tighten the skin at a younger age, due to the use of Ozempic."

For the uninitiated, bio-stimulatory treatments are different to fillers—they are injectables and devices (they're often referred to as 'skin boosters') used to stimulate collagen production and add hydration into the skin. 

As Dr Jamali explains, the treatment of a sunken face because of rapid weight loss involves a two-pronged approach.

Firstly, the fat volume loss needs to be replaced. "This can be done with in clinic treatments non-surgically or surgically." 

"Secondly, the increased skin laxity can be addressed with a combination of good diet and lifestyle (which may be difficult fit they are still on Ozempic with a reduced appetite), bio-stimulatory in-clinic treatments such as Morpheus 8/boosters/PRP and at-home skincare routine that includes vitamin A derivatives, peptides, sunscreen use and maybe even oral supplements such as ingestible collagen."

Read: There's no quick fix.

It's also important to note that weight loss can slow when you stop using weight loss drugs, and gaining the weight back can have unwanted side effects on the skin. 

"Once the patient has reached optimal weight loss goal they would need to adapt lifestyle changes to prevent rapid weight gain to prevent further damage to their body and skin," said Dr Jamali.

What are your thoughts on 'Ozempic face'? Share them with us in the comment section below.

Feature image: Instagram (@jessicasimpson; @robbiewilliams; @letthelordbewithyou)/Getty/Canva.