The popularization of pens based on semaglutide, tirzepatide and equivalent drugs, recommended for the treatment of diabetes and obesity, has brought great advances in the fight against these issues. The phenomenon, however, has caused another impact, this one not so positive: the excessive slimming of the face.
These drugs, which are very effective at controlling blood glucose levels, reducing appetite and increasing satiety, often cause people to lose weight very quickly. During their use, the face, like the body, loses fat at an accelerated rate. There is also a decrease in muscle mass, which affects the body and face equally. The result? The loss of volume in these tissues compromises the support of the skin and ligaments, leading to pronounced thinning and sagging.
How can you achieve the expected result - controlling diabetes and obesity - and at the same time not bring with you a sunken face, a side effect popularly known as Ozempic Face? It is possible, but there is a careful protocol to follow.
Continuous monitoring from the start: the ideal scenario
Prevention, as in many other circumstances, is the best approach to avoiding Ozempic Face. As we already know what the semaglutide and tirzepatide pens usually cause - fat loss, loss of lean mass, reduction in skin thickness, sagging - the right thing to do is to have professional monitoring and plan aesthetic procedures from the start of the treatment against diabetes and obesity. The stages should follow in parallel with the progression of weight loss.
To begin with, collagen biostimulators can be very useful. By promoting the synthesis of this fiber responsible for the density of the dermis, they help to make the skin firmer and, at the same time, more glowing. In other words, the overall appearance is healthier and there are fewer signs of sagging. Complementary applications may be recommended afterwards.
The next step, which takes place when the general slimming begins to become a little more evident - the face has already lost a little weight, but not much - is to use hyaluronic acid-based fillers. Injected into strategic areas, such as the sides of the face and cheekbones, they ensure more support and volume. The great benefit of adopting the technique at this early stage is that the interventions are subtle. The result, once again, is the maintenance of a more harmonious and rested appearance.
Technologies, on the other hand, should be used with caution during weight loss. “The energy of a microfocused ultrasound, for example, can also affect the fat beneath the dermis, depending on the depth and energy used. At a time when volume loss is already accelerating, causing the fat pads to shrink even more can be counterproductive.”, explains Gabriela Capareli.
And when you've already lost weight?
When the person has already undergone treatment with semaglutide or tirzepatide pens and their face has lost a lot of weight, the approach is a little different. “The recommended procedures are the same, but as the face is already thin and haggard, it is usual to use larger quantities of both biostimulants and fillers, as the need to recover volume is great,” says the dermatologist. The cost, of course, also increases when the interventions need to be more extensive.
In this type of case, the before and after of the patient shows more drastic changes, no matter how refined the work of the professional accompanying them is. This is one of the main reasons why it's recommended that the follow-up takes place right from the start of the weight loss process - so that the aesthetic interferences are practically invisible and more natural.
What not to forget
One point that is not related to aesthetic procedures, but which has a total connection with a more or less healthy weight loss - and with less or more weight loss - is taking care with your diet. “The loss of appetite caused by the pens is so great that many patients not only reduce the quantity of food they eat, but also its quality. They start snacking and don't notice the lack of nutrients caused by this poorly organized diet,” warns Gabriela Capareli. Maintaining an adequate level of protein intake is especially important during treatment, warns the specialist. This nutrient is essential for maintaining both the muscles and the structure of the skin and its deficiency will have a negative impact on the body as a whole - beauty of the face included.
