Sara-Jayne Makwala King29 April 2025 | 7:52

The weight loss wonder drug with a price - what is ‘Ozempic face’ and why is everyone talking about it?

So-called 'Ozempic face' has become a significant concern for those who lose a lot of weight while taking 'miracle' weight loss drugs drug.

The weight loss wonder drug with a price - what is ‘Ozempic face’ and why is everyone talking about it?

Ozempic. Picture: AFP

Aubrey Masango is joined by Dr Judey Pretorius, founder of Biomedical Emporium.

Listen below

Oprah Winfrey, Sharon Osbourne, Kelly Clarkson.

Just a few of the celebrities who have revealed the secret to their significant weight loss as being down to a category medications called GLP-1 that can produce rapid weight loss.

Brands like Saxenda, Wegovy, Mounjaro and perhaps the best-known, Ozempic.

The weight loss results for those who've taken these so-called 'miracle drugs' have been remarkable.

But it's not just the weight loss that is noticeable. There's also a common side effect which has come to be known as 'Ozempic face':

So what is it?

The term 'Ozempic face' came about when people started noticing that those who had lost a lot of weight using the drug appeared to develop sagging and rapidly ageing facial skin.

Their faces took on a 'hollowed-out' look, and wrinkles became more pronounced.

Pretorius explains that drugs like Ozempic can enable rapid weight loss, as much as 15-20% of a user's body weight in 6 months.

For younger users, she says, the skin can adapt quite well to such rapid weight loss.

The same is not true for those, say, over 35 years old.

"As we age, if you're on the wrong side of 35, then you start losing collagen and elastin fibres in the skin."
Dr Judey Pretorius, Founder - Biomedical Emporium
"If we want to start losing weight rapidly, on top of the amount of collagen and elastin that we lose naturally, then we're going to sit with a different type of problem."
Dr Judey Pretorius, Founder - Biomedical Emporium

Pretorius says the amount of weight and speed at which it is lost can mean that for certain patients the result will be developing 'Ozempic Face'.

"The amount of weight and the speed far outpaces the skin's way to adjust."
Dr Judey Pretorius, Founder - Biomedical Emporium