Surgeons raise concerns over ‘Ozempic Face’ among Hollywood elite

The medical community has observed a notable rise in side effects associated with the rapid weight loss treatment Ozempic, particularly among celebrities.

The condition, informally termed “Ozempic Face,” manifests as sunken eyes, gaunt cheeks, and saggy skin, attributes that can significantly age a person’s appearance.

With the condition, “We see a loss of volume in the face, and when we lose fat in the face we see signs like the cheeks are more sunken in, more sagging skin and a general hollowing out of the features,” Dr. Smita Ramanadham, a plastic surgeon in New Jersey, told the Daily Mail.

Ozempic, an injectable medication, operates by emulating a hormone naturally produced in the body that signals satiety to the brain, effectively reducing appetite and facilitating weight loss. Its efficacy in combating obesity has made it exceedingly popular, especially in Hollywood, where physical appearance is heavily scrutinized.

Reports to the Daily Mail from several doctors highlight that notable figures, from veteran actor John Goodman to entertainer Sharon Osborne, may have experienced these adverse effects. Mr. Goodman, who since 2007 has lost nearly 200 pounds, half of his peak weight, and Mrs. Osborne, who reportedly shed 42 pounds, are cited as prominent examples.

“You see more lines, more wrinkles and more deflation in his face as he loses weight compared to when he was heavier and his face was fuller,” Dr. Ramanadham declared of Mr. Goodman. “These changes are just very typical of overall weight loss regardless of whether weight loss drugs were used.”

Furthermore, Robbie Williams, 50, revealed last fall that he was on a regimen similar to Ozempic’s, though not explicitly named, which experts believe has contributed to noticeable changes in his facial structure.

A panel of surgeons, upon reviewing images of 15 celebrities who underwent significant weight reduction, surmised that at least half might have been impacted by loss of facial volume due to the treatment. They note that this effect tends to be less apparent in women, who may use makeup and fillers to mask these changes.