MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

What is Ozempic face? Doctors explain how miracle weight loss drug makes you look OLD

Someone who used Ozempic for weightloss said, 'My body looked great, but my face looked exhausted and old'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A drug, used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, is currently trending on social media for its quick weight loss. The drug sold under the brand names Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, is an antidiabetic medication used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and as an anti-obesity medication for long-term weight management. It was developed by Novo Nordisk in 2012. These drugs made headlines after it was rumored that several celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Elon Musk used them to quick weight. 

With the rising popularity of these weight loss drugs, doctors are worrying that people are taking them without medical supervision, which could lead to a possibility of rare but serious side effects like thyroid cancer, pancreatitis, and kidney failure. Previously, Kyle Richards had caught flack for allegedly using these weight loss methods. However, she remained firm and denied it. The trending topic found its way to TikTok where the users noted more common side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and surprisingly, facial aging. The latter has been dubbed the 'Ozempic face' by TikTokers. 

READ MORE

'I am NOT on Ozempic': Kyle Richards debunks rumors of resorting to drugs and plastic surgery for ripped body

8 easy anti-aging facial exercises which you can do at home

What is Ozempic face?

Ozempic improves glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes, as per FDA. The reason why doctors fear dire consequences is that it has not been tested on people will different issues. Moreover, pancreatitis has been reported in clinical trials. Hence, it is advised that if the user detects pancreatitis, they should immediately discontinue using Ozempic. It is also strictly advised that women should discontinue it at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy due to the long washout period.

Jennifer Berger, who used Mounjaro to lose weight, told The New York Times she used the drug to lose weight following her pregnancy. She claims that even though the drug did wonders, her face started to look old. Berger, 41, said "I remember looking in the mirror, and it was almost like I didn't even recognize myself. My body looked great, but my face looked exhausted and old." Dr Oren Tepper then explains that it is an unavoidable situation that follows weight loss. Tepper tells the outlet, "When it comes to facial aging, fat is typically more friend than foe. Weight loss may turn back your biological age, but it tends to turn your facial clock forward."

On the other hand, Dr Paul Jarrod Frank tells the outlet, "Everybody is either on it or asking how to get on it. We haven't seen a prescription drug with this much cocktail and dinner chatter since Viagra came to the market. He claims he coined the term 'Ozempic face' to describe the condition. He explains, "I see it every day in my office. A 50-year-old patient will come in, and suddenly, she's super-skinny and needs filler, which she never needed before. I look at her and say, 'How long have you been on Ozempic?' And I'm right 100% of the time. It's the drug of choice these days for the 1%." 

Internet on Ozempic face

One user shared a video saying, "Throw back a year ago when I started oz. Check out that face transformation wow #faceofffriday #ozempic #ozempicweightloss #ozempicaustralia #ozempicjourney #ozempicdiabetes." Another user shared a video showing the obvious change in her face and a definite aging, "The first picture is Christmas 2021, 4 months ago. The second picture is today. Same glasses but they have changed on my face somehow #ozempic #weightloss #myjourney #newme"

One more user said, "Those of you that are using the injectable meds Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro for weight loss. You realize if you don't change your lifestyle, you WILL gain all weight,and then some back once you stop injections. It's not a magic shot that makes fat disappear forever." Another person said, "Reading about all these wealthy folks who get skinny by taking Ozempic and then they need major plastic surgery after their face caves in Maybe it's fine not to have everything in reach sometimes?

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online