You lose weight and your figure looks better, but your face may start to look older. Your cheeks lose volume, your temples become more sunken, wrinkles and furrows suddenly catch the eye, and the contours of your face lose their former proportions. So you may well reach your dream weight, yet when you look in the mirror, you’ll feel as though your face has lost something you never wanted to lose.
That is precisely why the results after losing weight can be so surprising. The problem is not the weight loss itself, but loss of facial tissue volume, which can alter its natural proportions, contours and the way the skin is supported. The faster or greater the weight loss, the more noticeable the change may be.
"Ozempic face" This is a colloquial term for the appearance of the face that can occur following significant weight loss. The term gained popularity with the use of weight-loss aids, although similar changes can occur regardless of how one goes about losing weight.
Ozempic Face – what does this term mean?
Ozempic face It is not the name of a medical condition or a medical diagnosis. The term is used to describe changes in facial appearance that may occur following rapid weight loss.
Most commonly, these involve a reduction in the volume of the cheeks and temples, increased prominence of the area under the eyes, deepening of the nasolabial folds, and changes to the contour of the lower face. The face may become slimmer, but at the same time appear more tired or gaunt.
It is worth distinguishing these changes from the natural ageing process. As we age, changes in facial volume and tissue remodelling also occur, but rapid weight loss can cause some of these changes to become visible within a short space of time.
How does the face change after losing weight?
The most noticeable change is usually loss of facial volume. The fatty tissue found in various areas of the face influences its shape, proportions and natural support. When the amount of this tissue decreases rapidly, the appearance of individual areas also changes.
The cheeks may become more sunken, the temples more pronounced, and the area under the eyes may appear more gaunt. With greater volume loss, the contour of the jaw and lower face also changes.
Previously barely visible wrinkles and wrinkles may become more noticeable. This applies, amongst other things, to nasolabial folds and marionette lines. In some cases, the change in facial proportions also makes the cheekbones more prominent.
The extent of these changes varies from person to person. Factors such as age, facial structure, genetics, initial body fat levels, and the rate and extent of weight loss all play a role.
Loss of facial volume following weight loss
Facial adipose tissue It is not merely a store of energy. Its distribution affects the shape and proportions of the face, as well as the way the tissues above it are arranged.
Once some of this volume is lost, the face may appear slimmer and the features more defined. If the change is significant, the cheeks may become less full and the temples more sunken. As a result, the face may appear slimmer, but also less youthful.
Not every loss of volume It needs to be restored. A naturally slim face can still look balanced even after weight loss. The problem arises when the change in proportions is noticeable to the person concerned and causes them to be dissatisfied with their appearance.
In such situations, it may be helpful to seek the advice of a specialist, who can determine whether the main problem is a loss of volume, a reduction in skin firmness or a change in skin quality.
Why might your face look older after losing weight?
The appearance of the face is influenced not only by the amount of body fat, but also by the condition of the skin. As we age, the content gradually decreases collagen and elastin, and the skin loses some of its elasticity. Its appearance is also affected by UV radiation, lifestyle and the natural ageing process.
If these changes are compounded by a rapid loss of volume, the skin must adapt to the new conditions. In people whose skin has reduced elasticity, this may result in more noticeable sagging, wrinkles and furrows.
Therefore Your face may look older after losing weight, even though it does not contribute to the acceleration of biological ageing. The main changes involve a reduction in tissue volume and support, which can make pre-existing signs of ageing more visible.
Loss of volume and skin laxity
Loss of volume and sagging skin are not the same problem, although they may occur simultaneously following weight loss.
If sunken cheeks or temples are the predominant feature, this is primarily due to a reduction in tissue volume. If, on the other hand, the skin becomes looser and less taut, its elasticity and ability to adapt to the altered support are of greater importance.
An accurate diagnosis is important when planning the next steps. Procedures used to improve skin quality and firmness do not have the same effect as methods used to restore volume.
In the case of changes relating to skin quality, the following may be considered, amongst other things radiofrequency, selected laser procedures or tissue biostimulators, depending on the indications.
How can I improve the appearance of my face after losing weight?
There is no single method that suits everyone who has noticed unfavourable changes in their facial appearance following weight loss. The course of action should depend, first and foremost, on what has changed the most.
If the problem is a loss of skin firmness and quality, treatments that stimulate skin remodelling may be considered. Depending on the specific indications, the technologies used include, amongst others, radiofrequency, laser therapy and preparations that stimulate processes within the skin.
If, on the other hand, volume loss is the predominant issue, the doctor may consider methods that allow for its partial restoration. One option is facial volumetrics, the aim of which is to restore the correct proportions and natural tissue support.
In some cases, the following may also be helpful injection treatments using carefully selected products. However, the aim is not to maximise volume, but to maintain the proportions and natural appearance of the face.
Treatments to improve the appearance of the face after losing weight
The choice of treatment should be based on the type of changes, their severity and the individual’s facial structure. A person with a marked loss of volume in the cheeks may require a different approach to someone whose main concern is sagging skin.
Where skin elasticity is reduced, treatments that stimulate processes related to collagen production and tissue remodelling can be used. Depending on the indications, the following are used, amongst others: radiofrequency and selected types laser therapy.
If the condition of your skin deteriorates, you may also wish to consider mesotherapy or polynucleotides, depending on the skin’s needs and the indications for the treatment.
If the main change is a loss of volume, methods that restore the face’s proper proportions may be used. Facial volumetrics allows you to shape selected areas whilst taking individual proportions into account.
It is worth bearing in mind that these methods are not interchangeable. A treatment to improve skin firmness will not automatically replace volume restoration, just as restoring volume will not solve the problem of significant sagging.
When is it advisable to seek advice on changes?
If face after losing weight If your appearance has changed noticeably, it is worth first identifying the cause of these changes. This is particularly important if you have sunken cheeks, a noticeable loss of volume, deeper furrows or visible sagging of the skin.
A consultation allows us to assess the proportions of the face, the condition of the skin and the extent of volume loss. On this basis, we can determine whether the priority is to improve skin firmness, improve skin condition or partially restore volume.
Not every change in appearance requires treatment. Sometimes, monitoring and appropriate care are sufficient, particularly if body weight is still fluctuating.
What should you do when weight loss has changed your face?
You may reach your target weight and still not be happy with what you see in the mirror. Loss of volume in the cheeks, sunken temples, more pronounced furrows or sagging skin can make the face look older and more tired. And that’s when the question arises: what can be done to maintain the results of weight loss whilst restoring the face’s proportions and giving it a fresher appearance?
It is not always necessary to add volume in the same places. The key is to determine, What has actually changed in my face since I lost weight? – whether the problem is a loss of volume, sagging skin or a deterioration in skin quality. Only on this basis can the doctor recommend an appropriate course of action.
Don’t wait until an unwanted change to your face becomes your new look. If, following weight loss, you notice a marked loss of volume, wrinkles or sagging skin, book a consultation at Wellclinic. The doctor will assess the proportions of your face, the condition of your skin and the extent of any changes, and will then discuss the options for improving your appearance. We carry out aesthetic medicine treatments at clinics in Warsaw, Gdańsk and Cracow.
Sources:
- PubMed „GLP-1-Induced Weight Loss and the Face: Anatomical Mechanisms and Rationale for Collagen-Stimulating and Volumising Aesthetic Treatments”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42210888/ - PubMed „Face and Neck Lifting After Weight Loss”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30447822/ - PubMed „Facelift in Patients with Massive Weight Loss”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31514808/ - PubMed „A comparison of lipoatrophy and ageing: volume deficits in the face”: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18987910/
- PubMed „Volume loss versus gravity: new concepts in facial ageing”: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17620897/
- PubMed „Effects of Bariatric Surgery on Facial Features”
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4579167/
