Want To Avoid ‘Ozempic Face’ From The New Weight Loss Pills? 4 Of The Best Treatments To Have First

If you’ve always been curious about GLP1 weight loss drugs but the concept of self-injecting with needles has put you off so far, you might now be reconsidering, with the roll out of pill-based versions (backed by the NHS, no less). But here’s your quick reminder that super speedy weight loss can also have an effect on your face (leading to a more gaunt, sagging appearance). We’re not ones to fuel ‘Ozempic Face’ panic, but it’s definitely true that prevention (aka supporting your skin’s collagen production and finding ways to maintain volume) is easier than cure (trying to restore or lift skin after the fact). So if you are considering starting a weight loss journey, here’s what you need to know and the best expert-backed GLP1 tweakments you might want to try having first…

A quick refresher: What are GLP1s? 

GLP1s are a class of drugs originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, which work by regulating blood sugar levels and slowing digestion. Their knock on effect includes a reduced appetite, which is why they have become so popular for weight loss. According to reports, there are currently around two million people using weight-loss drugs privately in the UK.

Now with the arrival of new oral versions – plus the NHS set to recommend and expand access to these medicines – that number is expected to skyrocket. Some estimates suggest as many as seven to eight million people could be taking weight-loss medication within the next year.

What effect can rapid weight loss have on our faces?

Effective weight loss can be life changing, but it also has side effects, and, if you’ve heard about GLP1s, you’ve probably also heard about ‘Ozempic Face’ – the term coined to describe the gaunt, saggy or aged look that happens after you rapidly start losing weight.

Importantly, this change in facial appearance can happen with any kind of significant weight loss – it’s not the medication itself that is to blame. After all, when you lose a large amount of fat, some of that is inevitably going to come from your face.

Unfortunately, that’s also the type of fat you don’t necessarily want to lose, as it is one of the things that makes a face look more youthful. Lose a lot of it quickly and suddenly you can notice hollowing around the temples and cheeks, more obvious lines around the mouth, less definition in the mid-face and – perhaps most frustratingly – skin that looks looser than it did before.

4 tweakments to consider before starting your GLP1 journey 

If you’ve already seeing weight loss-related changes to your face – and they bother you – booking a consultation with a great practitioner should be your first port of call, as they can suggest the right, personalised tweakment that can help. For example, perhaps some dermal filler to restore lost facial volume or threads to tighten sagging skin.

However, if you haven’t yet taken the GLP1 (or broader weight loss) plunge – and you  want to – it’s still worth booking in for that consultation now, because when it comes to facial ageing and weight loss, the old saying really does apply: prevention is better – and usually easier – than correction. That’s why experts are increasingly advocating for a preventive approach to GLP1-related weight loss in the face, with the idea being to improve skin quality, collagen production and structural support, so that your complexion has the best possible chance of adapting as the weight comes off.

Here are four of our favourite tweakments to help you do just that…

1. Juläine

Juläine is a poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) injectable that works by stimulating the skin to produce more of its own collagen and it’s become a very popular solution among practitioners for treating the side effects of GLP1-related weight loss. That’s because collagen is part of the framework that gives skin its thickness, strength and resilience, and if the skin itself is already quite thin, less elastic or less well supported, the change in underlying volume caused by weight loss can become much more visible (leading to that signature gaunt, saggy appearance). By using Juläine preventatively (and post-weight loss too), you can help improve the quality and structural support of your skin so fat loss isn’t so ageing in your face, without leading to a ‘full’ or overly ‘filled appearance that can happen when being overzealous with filler.

Find out more about Juliane

2. Sculptra 

Alice Re-Tries Sculptra! Here Are Her Initial Thoughts

What’s particularly exciting about Sculptra is that Galderma – the company behind it – has recently suggested that the poly-L-latic acid injectable doesn’t just nudge your skin into producing new collagen over time (with all the skin-boosting benefits that come with that). Researchers are also interested in its effect on a thin layer of fat that sits within the skin itself – called dermal white adipose tissue, or dWAT. It’s not the same as the deep fat that gives our faces volume and shape, but it seems to have a vital role in keeping the skin healthy and structurally supported, and it seems to be stripped out by weight loss with GLP1s.

Research by Professor Alan Widgerow, Galderma’s Chief Scientific Officer suggests that PLLA, the collagen-stimulating element in Sculptra, may encourage the formation/ function of these fat cells – which could be helpful for people whose lost tons of weight on GLP1s. It’s too early to say whether Sculptra can ‘replace’ or ‘protect’ dWAT during GLP1 use, but if it’s helping the skin rebuild some of its own vital support, that sounds very helpful. Don’t forget too that the injectable can also be used on your body to help with the side effects of a slimmed-down frame, with particularly good results on sagging skin on your arms, décolletage and bum!

3. Radiesse

Radiesse is another collagen-stimulating injectable – this time made from calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) – and it has the distinct advantage of providing immediate volume alongside its biostimulating benefits. That means it can help replace some of the volume that has been lost in your face during fat loss, while also improving its structure and firmness over time. When it’s diluted or hyperdiluted, practitioners love using it to improve skin quality, laxity and overall tissue support too, meaning it’s a pretty customisable treatment for your exact skin needs.

There is even early research specifically looking at the use of diluted Radiesse in people taking GLP-1 medication. In the albeit very small study, four patients had two treatments with hyperdiluted CaHA in the lower face and were followed for six months. Despite losing an average of around 9% of their body weight, measurements of facial volume remained stable or improved, which certainly suggests it’s a treatment worth considering.

Find out more about Radiesse

4. Vol.u.lift GLP-1 4D Skin Rebound Complex, £105

Of course, the irony is that a lot of the most recommended GLP1 tweakments are injectables, which might not suit someone looking for a totally needle-free approach to weight loss via the new pills. Luckily, if you do want to keep needles at arm’s length, Vol.U.Lift (alongside other so called GLP1 skincare routines) could help.

This plastic surgeon-designed treatment was one of the first products to actively market itself as GLP1-related skincare, and the award-winning aesthetic nurse prescriber Anna Baker, who Alice recently heard speaking at a Wigmore Medical event, mentioned that she actually includes Vol.U.Lift in all her weight-loss protocols. That’s because it is specifically designed to plump and restore lost facial volume (especially around your cheeks, jawline and folds), as well as improving overall skin texture, firmness and hydration. Research suggests it’s pretty fast-working, too, with visible results in as little as 4 weeks.

Haven’t quite found what you are looking for? Did you know that all the products in the shop have been handpicked by the TTG team to provide solutions for all your skin needs? Visit the skincare shop to get recommendations specific to your own goals.