By J. Peterson for Dailymail.Com
23:37 June 23, 2024, updated 18:56 June 24, 2024
- Use of semaglutide drugs has exploded in recent years
- Countless people struggling with weight have tried this medication.
- However, some are now experiencing unwanted and unflattering side effects.
The use of semaglutide drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss has exploded in the past two years.
Countless people who have had weight problems – including major celebrities – have lost weight thanks to weight loss drugs.
However, some users are now experiencing unwanted and unflattering physical side effects.
The rapid weight loss resulting from these medications causes some users to suffer from “Ozempic face,” which can leave the face gaunt, sunken, and haggard.
Both Ozempic and Wegovy contain semaglutide, which is not a targeted medication and as such does not only cause fat loss around the stomach and thighs, but all over the body, including the face.
It works by mimicking the effects of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which is released by the gut after eating and sends a message to the brain that a person is full.
In addition to “Ozempic face,” the drug also caused deflated curves in some women, nicknamed “Ozempic butt” and “Ozempic chest.”
Speaking to Dailymail.com, Bracha Banayan, nurse practitioner and founder of IV Drips, said the sagging many patients experience is caused by a sudden decrease in calorie intake.
“When you’re not getting enough protein or calories into your body and you’re losing weight quickly, you’ll notice it,” she said.
Banayan pointed out that women aged 45 and older are at risk of losing the most skin elasticity due to sudden weight loss due to their lower estrogen levels, likely caused by menopause or perimenopause.
“You’re going to see more wrinkles with this population,” she explained.
“I think it’s the best drug in the world, but people don’t know how to use it,” she warned. “This medication is not intended to help you lose weight very quickly, but if you do, you will experience the side effects of losing weight very quickly.”
Here, experts spoke to DailyMail.com to share the best tips and treatments to beat the unflattering side effects of Ozempic.
Diet and exercise
When asked what she recommends to combat the cosmetic downsides of Ozempic, Banayan says the key is to follow a high-protein diet and resistance training, while taking a more “moderate” approach. semaglutides.
“In the long run, it’s worth losing weight more slowly so your body adapts more appropriately,” she said.
“Exercising will help you lose weight in a healthy way, so when you lose weight (using Ozempic), your body composition will be better.”
When it comes to eating well and dieting, “protein is your best friend,” she said.
“I always say stop counting calories and start counting protein.” Don’t rely 100% on the medication: it will help, but you need to follow the intermediate steps.
Collagen Fillers and Supplements
Facial plastic surgeon Dr. Kay Durairaj agrees with Banayan that a high-protein diet and strength training are essential to combat Ozempic’s side effects, but also recommends users do their part. better to also increase their collagen production.
“When patients are given a rapid, high-dose regimen (of semaglutide), weight loss can be extreme,” she said, noting that facial volume loss can occur quickly.
“As a facial plastic surgeon, we implement a preventative program in conjunction with managing your weight loss,” she explained.
“I also do a collagen strengthening and facial volume strengthening program. I put my patients on collagen biostimulators, my favorite being Sculptra. »
Dr. Kay, who treats a number of high-profile influencers and models, also uses Hyperdilute Radiesse, which is a biostimulatory filler.
“Both of these products, when you use them slowly, cause a burst of collagen production. This usually takes two to three sessions. It takes 60 days to produce collagen.
Dr. Kay even puts his own patients on oral collagen supplements, which work in concert with his other treatments.
“I have a very good collagen powder that I put in my coffee every day, but I also share it with my patients because it is collagen peptides which are the building blocks that guarantee the production of new collagen,” she declared.
“So the goal is that you start it, and then, over the course of the weight loss process, you build this nice fundamental foundation. It’s not a filler, it’s collagen, which gives a firming, tightening, lifting effect, and it’s really long-term. It really is like building a foundation.
When it comes to Ozempic users who are already suffering from the physical effects of the drug, Dr. Kay said traditional dermal fillers tend to be the best option.
“Certainly, instant gel fillers like hyaluronic dermal fillers are great for enhancing facial volume,” she said.
She also said that microneedling and PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections can work, and in some cases she also performs face and neck lifts on patients with severe skin laxity.
Skin tightening and butt lift
Devin Haman, founder and CEO of Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Center, recommends a few different options for new patients experiencing Ozempic side effects.
The first is CellSound, which uses therapeutic sound waves with an electric field to target fat cells and can be performed on both the face and body.
Not only does it remove fat, but it also firms the skin to give it a more youthful appearance.
CellSound, which costs between $720 and $900 per session, has been used to treat loose skin, cellulite, stretch marks, texture, fine lines and wrinkles.
Brandi Glanville recently received CellSound treatments on her stomach in an effort to get her abs back, while Jon Gosselin turned to CellSound after losing a few pounds on Ozempic.
Mark Rodriguez, CEO of CellSound Aesthetics, added: “CellSound became a celebrity hit because Ozempic took Hollywood by storm and people are losing weight very quickly – but in doing so, their skin is sagging.
“Cellsound can truly take care of this sagging skin so people can look their best. It’s quite miraculous.
Haman also recommends the Sculptra butt lift for patients suffering from the dreaded “Ozempic butt.”
“We are able to treat the buttocks with Sculptra, which helps tighten and shape the area,” Haman said, adding that it has been “very effective.”
Although he offers a range of treatments to correct the effects of Ozempic, Haman says it’s best to develop a treatment plan before the damage is done.
“We like to treat loose skin while our patients are losing weight so it is much more manageable and (yields) better outcomes for patients,” he said.
Body contouring and liposuction
Celebrity surgeon Dr David Matlock says Ozempic has now become a “trendy” weight loss solution and warns it’s not for everyone.
“It’s even popular among those (who are not) clinically obese,” he told Dailymail.com.
“It can be addictive, making it difficult to stop – as is the case with some drugs,” he continued.
“I’ve seen many cases where people who don’t need to lose a lot of weight use Ozempic and end up with serious side effects. We advise these patients to stop treatment and return to their natural appearance.
Because many famous Hollywood faces are now dealing with the unflattering physical effects of rapid weight loss, Dr. Matlock has seen an increase in patients requesting his “Tri-Modality” skin tightening treatment.
“This firms the skin from the inside out due to the lack of elasticity in these medications,” he explained.
The “Tri-Modality” treatment involves three stages, starting with Vaser liposuction, contouring and tightening with Renuvion, and Morpheus8 Body, which fuses microneedling and radiofrequency energy.
Dr. Matlock emphasized that he likes to take a “holistic approach” before prescribing Ozempic to patients and encourages them to set a “realistic weight loss goal” while also making lifestyle changes.
Former Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kim Zolciak, 46, recently underwent Dr. Matlock’s tri-modality after quickly losing “a significant amount of weight,” which she said left her with “bleak skin.” loose on the arms and legs.
Meanwhile, fellow actress Caroline Stanbury, 48, underwent a lower face lift last year, as well as cheek fillers, after her sudden weight loss on Ozempic “took its toll on his body and face.
In January, Sharon Osbourne admitted to the Mail Online that she had lost “too much” weight using the drug.
A source close to the star said: “No one close to Sharon wanted her to get the vaccine, but she went ahead anyway.” She looks so skinny now, so thin and at her age it won’t make her look good.
“No matter what food you offer her, she can’t eat much. She totally and utterly regrets it.