Research

Hormonal

Prescription medication-driven weight loss (mdWL) using GLP-1 agonists causes facial aesthetic changes including skin laxity, hollowed cheeks, and pronounced wrinkles, primarily affecting superficial and deep fat pads rather than bone or muscle.

If you are losing weight rapidly with prescription medications like Ozempic or Wegovy, expect changes in your face, such as sagging skin or hollow cheeks, due to fat loss in specific facial layers. This is a common side effect of the medication's mechanism, not a sign of poor health. To manage this, consult an aesthetic provider about timing treatments (like fillers or skin tightening) to coincide with your weight stabilization, rather than during active rapid loss. Avoid terms like 'Ozempic face' and focus on 'mdWL' management to reduce stigma.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Panelists believed that the skin layers most strongly affected by mdWL are the superficial and deep fat pads... Panelists reported that patients who have not yet begun their aesthetic journey after major RWL (e.g., 20+ lbs/10 + kg) complain most of skin that feels loose or saggy, hollowed- out cheeks, sunken areas beneath the eyes, and more pronounced lines that run between the nose and mouth.
Andreas Nikolis et al. · Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology · 2025

Why this rating

Based on expert consensus (Delphi study) and patient interviews, not randomized controlled trials of the aesthetic outcomes themselves.

Source

Consensus Statements on Managing Aesthetic Needs in Prescription Medication‐Driven Weight Loss Patients: An International, Multidisciplinary Delphi Study

Andreas Nikolis et al. · Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology · 2025

DOI 10.1111/jocd.70094

clinical_guideline · n=10Cited 12×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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