With 86,700 tagged videos on TikTok, and celebrity fans including OPRAH , KK and Elon Musk, the world is fascinated with OZEMPIC – the injectable weight loss drug.
Ozempic, one of the most well-known drugs of its type, is actually a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, improving blood sugar to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular incidents. The Ozempic guidelines outline that the drug – which is injected – ‘may help you to lose some weight’ but specifies that it is ‘not for weight loss.’
While Ozempic is used to treat type 2 diabetes, Wegovy – another form of the ingredient semaglutide, under a different name – is used to treat ‘adults with obesity or excess weight who also have weight-related medical problems’, its website reads.
But the problem is this: these drugs are increasingly being framed as a ‘quick fix’ to trigger weight loss, reinforcing undesirable stereotypes around body image. And when taken without medical guidance, users can run into big problems.
Weight loss drugs shouldn’t be messed around with lightly. And one side effect, termed ‘Ozempic face’, is proof of that. But what is it? And what are the dangers of taking semaglutide incorrectly?
Basically, it causes sagging, ageing and lacklustre appearance of the facial skin and structures,’ according to Dr Adil Sheraz, consultant dermatologist and British Skin Foundation spokesperson.
He comments: ‘The face has a layer of fat that essentially stretches the skin. Ozempic results in rapid weight loss and does so very effectively. This, of course, will lead to rapid loss of subcutaneous (under the skin) facial fat.
‘The overlying skin however will not be able to shrink at the same rate, resulting in a sagging, droopy and wrinkled appearance.’
Experts say ‘Ozempic face’ is becoming more common. It may be more of an issue in older individuals, as there is less collagen and elastin in our skin as we age, therefore its ability to adapt reduces.
Be warned, slimming obsessives…
