Jump to: What causes ‘Ozempic face’? | How can you prevent ‘Ozempic face’? | Should I buy Ozempic? | Second Nature’s medication-supported programme
‘Ozempic face’ is a general term referring to a potential side effect of the GLP-1 medication, Ozempic (semaglutide). It’s characterised by facial changes that may lead to a gaunt-like look due to rapid weight loss.
While the exact figures are unclear, this side effect isn’t considered common and may only affect a small percentage of people taking the medication.
What causes ‘Ozempic face’?
Ozempic medication effectively lowers hunger, helping you eat less to support weight loss. For some individuals, the effect of Ozempic on their appetite is so profound that it can lead to rapid weight loss.
Rapid weight loss can lead to higher levels of excess skin around the body, including the face.
A hypothesis that might explain this could be related to a process called autophagy.
During steady weight loss, excess skin – made up of protein (amino acids) – the body can recycle the excess protein from the skin through a process called autophagy.
Autophagy helps the body recycle amino acids that it doesn’t need, like excess skin from weight loss, and either use it elsewhere or excrete it out of the body.
If you lose weight very quickly, the process of autophagy might not be able to keep up and recycle the amino acids in your skin effectively – leading to excess skin on the face and the gaunt look associated with ‘Ozempic face’.
However, if you have a lot of weight to lose, it’s unlikely that autophagy can recycle all of your excess skin and surgical interventions are sometimes required.
How can you prevent ‘Ozempic face’?
The best way to avoid ‘Ozempic face’ will be to aim to lose weight at a steady and sustainable rate of 1-2/lbs (0.5-1kg) per week.
Losing weight sustainably on Ozempic can be challenging due to its appetite-suppressing effects.
However, there are several tips that you can follow to achieve sustainable weight loss:
- Eat three main meals a day: Stick to your normal eating pattern, even if you’re not hungry.
- Eat healthy snacks between meals if you need to: If you struggle to eat enough in your main meals, enjoy healthy snacks like apples and peanut butter or berries and Greek yoghurt.
- Eat enough protein: Ensure a high-quality source of protein in each meal, like yoghurt, eggs, tofu, meat, or fish.
If you’d like a free 7-day meal plan personalised to your preferences, you can request this from our AI health coaching tool, CoachGPT, here. Simply ask CoachGPT to create a meal plan and list what foods you do and don’t eat.
Should I buy Ozempic?
Ozempic is only approved for individuals living with type 2 diabetes. However, if you decide to buy Ozempic for weight loss, it’s considered off-label medication use.
Whether Ozempic is a suitable option for you depends on your current situation, your weight loss history, and whether it’s an affordable option.
Ozempic will cost £229 a month with Second Nature and over $3000 in the U.S., depending on your insurance policy.
Additionally, medication use is a very personal decision, and we’d recommend speaking with your doctor about your current options if you’re struggling to lose weight.
Ozempic isn’t a magic pill and won’t cure your obesity in the long term; it’s designed as an adjunct to a healthy diet and lifestyle change to maintain weight loss in the long term.
Second Nature’s medication-supported programme
Second Nature has launched a new medication-supported programme to help individuals lose weight and keep it off whilst on GLP-1 medications like Ozempic.
Our new programme combines our award-winning weight-loss programme with the GLP-1 semaglutide to help you lose weight and keep it off for good.
What is included in Second Nature’s programme?
- Prescription GLP-1 medication, delivered to your door
- A dedicated health coach who’s a registered nutritionist or dietitian to support you every step of the way
- Clinically proven weight-loss programme alongside the medication
