With the rise of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound came the widely recognized term “Ozempic Face,” a phrase used to describe the volume loss and skin laxity that can occur in the face after rapid weight loss. But doctors say there’s a new layer to the story. Younger patients, including those in their 20s and 30s, are showing signs of aging much earlier than expected. Instead of subtle shifts, doctors are seeing hollowing, sagging and skin laxity typically associated with middle age. For many young patients, there’s a new focus on reversing changes they didn’t expect to deal with so soon.
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Young faces looking older
Facial fat loss is one of the earliest and most noticeable changes triggered by rapid weight loss. When that fat goes, the face loses structure and support. Skin starts to sag. Cheeks flatten. The under-eyes become hollow. It’s a shift that can make patients look tired or drawn, even if their bodies feel better than ever.
“A lot of these younger clients look much older because they’ve lost facial fat in the areas that keep the face looking full and youthful,” says Louisville, KY plastic surgeon Chet Mays, MD. “You also see more skin laxity because they don’t have the collagen and elastin support needed for snap-back. We’re telling patients to stabilize their weight before surgery and start protein supplementation early.”
The transformation is especially noticeable in patients in their 30s and younger. “What we’re seeing is a gaunt or aged appearance due to the loss of facial fat and skin laxity,” says New York plastic surgeon Andrew Peredo, MD. “A fuller face is a more youthful face, so as people lose weight quickly, they may notice facial deflation. Fillers, skin tightening devices and lasers can help maintain volume and skin quality throughout the journey.”
San Mateo, CA dermatologist Rohini Shantharam, MD, says it’s not just a visible change—she can often feel it. “That quick and sudden weight loss creates laxity that just doesn’t have time to contract,” she says. “Sometimes I can feel it in their skin before I even ask about their medication.”
What happens to skin after weight loss
Weight loss affects more than just fat. It can accelerate visible aging by impacting the deeper layers of the face, including the fascia and muscle structure that provide lift and tension. “I believe that we do not yet have definitive studies on the skin changes I am seeing with the weight loss drugs,” says Richmond, VA plastic surgeon Ruth Hillelson, MD. “The crepiness, thinning, easy bruising and textural changes also accompany the laxity.”
“When people lose weight on semaglutides in addition to natural aging, they see three things happen at an accelerated rate,” explains Denver plastic surgeon Philippe A. Capraro, MD. “First, their skin quality diminishes. Next, they experience a loss or misplacement of fat. And third, they see increased laxity in the structure of the fascia and muscles.”
Treatments that help
To correct those changes, Dr. Capraro recommends a layered approach. “We want to first consider replacing the volume that has sagged or drooped. I recommend fat transfer, Renuva and potentially soft-tissue fillers for final touches. If needed, we will also re-suspend the lax fascia and muscles with a facelift and necklift.”
While surgery is sometimes the most direct solution, many patients are turning to early nonsurgical options to help prevent aging before it sets in. Dr. Peredo supports a regenerative-first mindset. “Exosomes, biostimulatory fillers, energy-based skin tightening, platelet-rich plasma—these are great for maintaining and even restoring youthfulness without overfilling.”
Nutrition is just as important. “Weight loss should be supported with increased protein intake,” says Dr. Mays. “Without this, we’re seeing nutritional depletion that results in dull skin, fine lines and increased complications during surgery.”
There’s also growing concern that GLP-1 drugs may blunt the body’s response to skin-rejuvenating treatments. “We need that inflammatory response to get collagen boost and contraction,” says Dr. Shantharam. “If patients are actively on a medication that suppresses inflammation, their ability to respond to energy-based treatments may be reduced.”
The best strategy combines consistency, prevention and timing. Doctors recommend stabilizing your weight, eating enough protein and integrating treatments early in the weight loss process rather than waiting until signs of aging are obvious. “You don’t want to operate on someone who’s actively changing,” says Dr. Mays. “You want to see them at their new baseline and make sure they’re eating well and supporting their body before moving forward.”
