Written by the GLP1 Era editorial team — we compile real routines and products tried by our community of GLP-1 users. This is a personal-experience account, not medical advice.
Somewhere after losing a significant chunk of my body weight on a GLP-1 medication, I started noticing my face in photos looked… older. Hollower cheeks, more visible lines, skin that seemed to sag a little more than before. That’s “Ozempic face,” and once I understood what was actually causing it, I put together a small routine to deal with it — starting with a daily collagen peptide supplement that’s still part of my morning routine today.
What I Learned About Why This Happens
Ozempic face isn’t caused by the medication directly — it’s caused by how fast the fat comes off. GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide can drive faster fat loss than diet and exercise alone, and when that happens quickly, skin doesn’t always have time to keep up. The result is the sagging, hollowed look a lot of us have noticed.
Changes I Actually Noticed
- Hollowing under my eyes that wasn’t there before
- Deeper lines running from my nose to my mouth
- An overall loss of fullness in my face
- Skin that felt thinner and looked a bit more crepey in texture
Factors I Learned Play a Role
- How fast the weight comes off — faster loss seems to mean more noticeable changes
- Total amount of weight lost — bigger losses affect facial volume more
- Genetics — some people’s skin is just naturally more elastic
- Baseline collagen levels, since collagen is what gives skin its firmness
From what I’ve read, people over 40 who lose more than 15-20% of their body weight seem most likely to notice significant changes — which tracked with my own experience.
What I’ve Tried to Treat It
Collagen peptides: This was my first move — a hydrolyzed collagen peptide supplement, since smaller molecules are easier for the body to absorb. I aim for the 10-15g range most commonly referenced in studies, taken daily.
Topical retinoids: I added a low-concentration retinol at night, since retinoids are known to stimulate collagen production in skin. It took a few months of consistent use before I noticed anything.
Korean skincare actives: Centella asiatica, snail mucin, and peptide serums are all things I’ve incorporated — brands like Anua, Beauty of Joseon, and SKIN1004 have been accessible starting points for me.
Resistance training: Building muscle elsewhere in my body seemed to help offset some of the gauntness — two to three full-body sessions a week has been my rough target.
Medical and aesthetic options: I haven’t personally gone this route, but microneedling and thread lifts are things I’ve discussed with a dermatologist for more pronounced sagging — worth a conversation if lifestyle approaches aren’t enough on their own.
How Long Before I Saw Any Difference
Collagen took roughly 8-12 weeks of consistent use before I noticed anything in the mirror. Retinoids took even longer for me — closer to 3-6 months. Medical interventions can move faster, but obviously come with their own considerations and cost.
Questions People Ask Me
Is this permanent? Not necessarily — skin has some natural elasticity, and with consistent collagen, skincare, and resistance training, a lot of people (myself included) see real improvement over time. Significant loose skin in older adults after major weight loss may need medical help to fully address, though.
Does everyone get it? No — plenty of people on these medications notice little to no visible change. It seems to hit harder for older users and those losing weight quickly or in large amounts.
Can I prevent it entirely? I don’t think you can fully prevent it if you’re losing weight quickly, but starting a collagen and skincare routine early seems to help reduce how noticeable it gets.
Does Mounjaro cause this too? Yes — same underlying mechanism (fast fat loss outpacing skin elasticity) applies to Mounjaro and Zepbound as well.
Is this the same as “Wegovy face“? Yes — Wegovy is just a higher-dose semaglutide formulation, same active ingredient as Ozempic, so the facial changes work the same way.
This is my personal experience and what worked for me, not medical advice. A dermatologist can help you figure out what’s right for your specific skin and situation.