Revealed: The very unflattering side-effect of Ozempic... and the experts' guide to fixing it

The more we discover about the drug Ozempic, the more excited we get. Licensed here for use by diabetics but sold privately as a weight loss treatment, it’s helped many reach their target size and shape already, with little sense of privation at all.

But there’s a problem. With rapid weight loss comes sag, and lots of it. If you lose the fat but leave the excess skin, parts of the body that were hitherto smooth and taut – the face, the neck, the tummy, even the tops of the knees – will suddenly look wrinkly and old. 

It’s no good feeling confident enough to restock your wardrobe in a smaller size if your ‘Ozempic Face’ makes you want to hide away.

Naturally, the cosmetic industry has come up with a host of remedies. ‘The Post-Ozempic Makeover is very much a thing,’ says Dr Raj Thethi from the Yorkshire Skin Centre, which has seen a surge of requests for skin laxity treatments. 

‘Patients want solutions for the loss of volume in the front of the face, hollowing around the eyes and jowls, as well as loose skin on the body.’

In London, Esther Fieldgrass, owner of the EF Medispa clinics, agrees. ‘There’s been a massive increase in the number of women who have taken Ozempic seeking treatments for loss of facial volume. Requests for under eye tear trough fillers in our clinics have increased 70% in the last year alone.’

It’s important to change your eating habits while taking Ozempic as a large number of users report rapid weight gain after they stop using the drug

Tired, sunken eyes are a giveaway, say aestheticians, but not all fixes involve injectables. NeoGen Power Glow Tightening Treatment (from £500; neogenplasma.co.uk) targets the undereye area with thermal energy to rebuild fibroblast cells which boost collagen. 

A virtually painless treatment taking less than five minutes, with slight flushing of the skin for only an hour afterwards, it’s a favourite with High Net Worth women across the country.

What about the neck? For the re-contouring of post-Ozempic turkey jowls and wobbly jawlines, many cosmetic practitioners are using Sculptra (from £550 consultingroom.com), an injectable collagen enhancer made of Poly-L-Lactic Acid, which is inserted via a cannula into areas that have lost volume. 

Patients can expect some tenderness, swelling and occasional bruising but this subsides after a few days. The ultimate stealth treatment – meaning friends won’t be able to put a finger on what’s making you look so good – Sculptra delivers results subtly after about six weeks, peaking four months after treatment as new collagen networks start to form. 

A course of two treatments spaced six weeks apart is recommended, with results lasting about two years.

Brazilian doctors – who else? – are also pioneering a new Sculptra protocol available at London’s The Taktouk clinic to perk up flat, saggy buttocks (drwassimtaktouk.com). With prices starting at £3,000, it’s not cheap.

Other slack-skinned, post-Ozempic trouble spots include the tops of the knees and arms and the abdomen, which is prone to crinkling especially around the belly button. 

The new Morpheus8 3D Body treatment is an uncomfortable pricey option too (£1,000 per session; inmodemd.co.uk) but claims to remodel and tighten the underlying framework of the skin – enhancing bonds between collagen and elastin fibres – using radio energy waves via 40 gold-plated micro pins. 

For best outcomes, a course of three sessions every four to six weeks is recommended. Results will keep improving for up to 12 to 18 months.

The makeover isn’t just about the cosmetic clinic, however. To stop the pounds from piling back on, trainer Dalton Wong of Twenty-Two Training, who counts actress Jennifer Lawrence among his clients, recommends focusing on strength training in the gym. 

To preserve lean muscle, key exercises such as squats, lunges, dead lifts, and push ups should be prioritised over cardio workouts.

‘Post Ozempic, people’s energy levels are usually lower as they have been eating far less, so I recommend focusing on shorter 30-minute sessions, three to four times per week,’ he says.

Rose Ferguson, celebrity nutritionist, and partner of London’s latest wellbeing club, The Surrenne at Claridges Hotel, adds: ‘Post-Ozempic, it’s crucial to consume a balanced diet rich in whole, nutrient-dense foods. Prioritise lean proteins such as fish, poultry, and plant-based sources like beans and lentils to support muscle mass.’

Finally, it’s important to change your eating habits while taking Ozempic to avoid what doctors are referring to as ‘Ozempic rebound’ as a large number of users report rapid weight gain after they stop using the drug. 

Adopting healthy eating habits is key to extending and preserving the longevity of the Ozempic makeover.

Olivia Falcon is founder of @theeditorslist