Whereas working on Ozempic sufferers, Dr. Few began to note a development: The pores and skin high quality of somebody on a GLP-1 was reminding him of an “previous, overused rubber band.” Mark Mofid, MD, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in San Diego and La Jolla, makes an analogous comparability — it’s just like the elastic waistband on a pair of underwear that has stretched out over time.
Dr. Diamond, who specialises in facelift surgical procedures, has observed the SMAS layer is “undoubtedly thinner and weaker” on individuals who have been utilizing GLP-1s for weight reduction. (SMAS is an acronym for subcutaneous musculoaponeurotic system, a layer of connective tissues that helps the face.) Normally, the SMAS thins naturally as you become old, which might contribute to facial growing older, like sagging across the cheeks, in response to a research revealed in Aesthetic Surgical procedure Journal Open Discussion board. And if an Ozempic affected person has plans to change into a facelift affected person, it’s price noting that the SMAS layer can also be important for natural-looking outcomes. “The success of the facelift is de facto primarily based on the energy of the muscle layer,” says Dr. Diamond. “You’re not pulling out the pores and skin and utilizing that to get the raise. The muscle layer being skinny can undoubtedly have an effect on facelift outcomes.”
Dr. Few estimates that about 25 to 30 p.c of his sufferers are presently taking a GLP-1, and finds that their pores and skin “doesn’t maintain its elastic recoil the best way it did.” Primarily based on his expertise, utilizing a GLP-1 “virtually appears to age the standard of the pores and skin, just like the pores and skin takes on an look of an older particular person.” He’s seen the pores and skin look extra worn and lose its means to retain its form across the constructions of the face, which could result in sagging across the jawline, for instance. These are modifications he hasn’t observed in sufferers who’ve misplaced important weight in different methods — like by weight loss plan or gastric bypass surgical procedure — which makes him assume it’s distinctive to GLP-1 utilization.
We requested Novo Nordisk, the makers of Ozempic and Wegovy, about what some plastic surgeons are noticing, they usually despatched the next remark: “At Novo Nordisk, affected person security is a high precedence. We work intently with the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration to constantly monitor the protection profile of our medicines. We aren’t conscious of any research wanting on the impact of semaglutide particularly on facial fats. We advocate that any sufferers experiencing negative effects whereas taking Wegovy or Ozempic contact their healthcare supplier.” Novo Nordisk additionally famous that, “though Wegovy and Ozempic each include semaglutide, they’re totally different merchandise with totally different indications, dosages, prescribing data, titration schedules, and supply varieties. The merchandise usually are not interchangeable and shouldn’t be used outdoors of their authorized indications. Novo Nordisk is dedicated to the accountable use of our medicines. We’re taking a number of steps to make sure accountable use of our semaglutide medicines that are detailed on semaglutide.com.” These authorized indications, they continued, are as follows: “Wegovy 2.4 mg is FDA authorized together with a lowered calorie weight loss plan and elevated bodily exercise to scale back the danger of main cardiovascular occasions corresponding to demise, coronary heart assault, and stroke in adults with recognized coronary heart illness and both weight problems or obese; and to assist adults and youngsters aged ≥ 12 years with weight problems, or some adults with obese with weight-related medical issues, lose extra physique weight and preserve it off. Ozempic is FDA-approved for the therapy of sort 2 diabetes, to enhance blood sugar, together with weight loss plan and train, and cut back the danger of main cardiovascular occasions corresponding to coronary heart assault, stroke, or demise in adults with sort 2 diabetes and recognized coronary heart illness. Ozempic will not be authorized for continual weight administration.”
The place they’re seeing it
You’ve in all probability heard about “Ozempic face,” a time period for the sunken look that may outcome from speedy weight reduction. In her observe, Umbareen Mahmood, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York Metropolis, has observed “accelerated growing older within the face” of sufferers who’ve misplaced a substantial quantity of weight on a GLP-1, noting “elevated effective strains, jowling, periorbital hollowness, and crepiness of the pores and skin.” However pores and skin modifications are additionally displaying up on arms, legs, and stomachs. Dr. Mahmood has seen “marked elevated laxity within the tissue of the breasts, stomach, arms, and medial thighs [the part of the thigh that includes the hips]” on sufferers who’ve taken a GLP-1 to drop some weight. In response, Dr. Mahmood has turned to instruments like Galaflex mesh assist, which is also known as an “inside bra,” when doing a breast raise or raise with implants. “The pores and skin elasticity is weakened and desires extra assist to carry up an implant or preserve a brand new form by itself,” she says.
