The pharmaceutical industry is credited for manufacturing some of the most effective medications. Thanks to the joint efforts of various players in this sector, many diseases no longer pose an existential threat to the human population.
However, one glaring downside to conventional drugs is their high susceptibility to trigger adverse reactions. While some of these medications only get problematic when overdosed, others, like Ozempic, can induce side effects even if used within the recommended limits.
One of the most common side effects of Ozempic is a phenomenon called Ozempic face. Read on to learn more about the Ozempic face, including why it happens, how it happens, and how to avoid it.
Introducing Ozempic Face
Ozempic face is a term that describes certain adverse effects triggered by semaglutide or Ozempic, a common type 2 diabetes injectable medication. The phenomenon generally causes a premature onset of aging symptoms, particularly sagging of the facial skin.
Fortunately, the Ozempic face is treatable and even avoidable. We shall highlight various techniques on how to avoid ozempic face later on.
But first, let’s understand more about Ozempic and how the drug works.
Who Makes Ozempic?
Ozempic is manufactured by Novo Nordisk and prescribed for treating type 2 diabetes in adults. Despite its worrying side effects, it’s important to note that this drug enjoys the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.
The FDA authorizes Ozempic for managing chronic weight gain in people living with obesity, a major risk factor for diabetes.
Ozempic’s efficacy against type 2 diabetes, coupled with its FDA approval, makes it one of the most sought-after drugs in the United States. It’s also a major factor behind the rising cases of Ozempic face among type 2 diabetes patients.
How Does Ozempic Work?
Ozempic belongs to a class of drugs called incretin mimetics. These medications treat type 2 diabetes by stimulating the pancreas to release sufficient insulin during spikes in high blood glucose levels.
Incretin mimetics like Ozempic also combat diabetes by acting as a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist. In lay terms, the drugs induce the sensation of fullness for much longer between meals while also delaying gastric transit time. This might help to prevent unhealthy weight gain triggered by high food intake.
If properly dosed, Ozempic can lead to dramatic weight and fat loss.
Now, shedding extra pounds should come as excellent news for anyone living with obesity and diabetes. But for diabetics on Ozempic prescription, it’s a double-edged sword.
Many people associate fat loss with a leaner belly or tummy. However, losing fat with Ozempic causes a significant amount of weight to leave the face as well. And that’s where Ozempic face comes in.
The absence of body fat underneath the skin around your face can cause the face to look sunken and wrinkled. That’s especially true if the fat loss is more drastic than gradual, as is often the case for Ozempic users.
The absence of facial fat can blemish your looks by reducing skin elasticity. It could also open you up for secondary skin issues, especially if the skin takes longer to regenerate the lost collagen.
What Does Ozempic Face Look Like?
Signs of premature aging are the hallmarks of an Ozempic face. The skin around the face may look sunken and wrinkled due to lost elasticity. This can create a hollowed-out appearance, severely blemishing your aesthetic appeal.
Taking Ozempic may also cause the skin around your face, as with other parts of the body, to sag. Besides, you could suffer from lipodystrophy, a condition that impairs the body’s natural ability to accumulate and store fat.
But Ozempic face isn’t the only reported side effect of taking Ozempic medications. The drug could trigger a slew of gastrointestinal complications, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, and abdominal pain. Some people also report fatigue and hypersensitive reactions at the injection site.
As with most drugs, long-term usage of Ozempic could trigger severe chronic issues. These range from pancreatitis to kidney disease, gallbladder disease, thyroid cancer, hypoglycemia, and vision changes.
How to Prevent Ozempic Face and Other Ozempic Side Effects
The most effective way to avoid Ozempic face is to consume Ozempic sparingly.
Taking Ozempic moderately allows you to lose weight gradually and not rapidly, consequently minimizing undesired facial changes.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obese adults should only lose between one and two pounds per week. So, if you’re on an Ozempic prescription, the surest way to tell that you’re possibly overdosing on the drug is if you happen to shed over two pounds per week.
Besides, always stick to the doctor’s prescription and consult your healthcare provider if you notice drastic changes to your facial appearance. The physician will assess your situation and possibly recommend a dosage reduction. They might also suggest alternative medications if lower doses either do not reduce Ozempic face or prove ineffective at managing your type 2 diabetes.
Other natural remedies to treat Ozempic face include upping your water intake by 1 – 2 liters daily and improving protein intake to replenish lost facial collagen.
If the situation persists, you might consider surgical interventions, such as dermatological fillers, plasma injections, microneedling, and fat transfer.
Final Word
Ozempic face is one of the most bothersome side effects of the drug Ozempic. However, it’s relieving to know that there are multiple ways (both natural and cosmetic) to avoid this phenomenon and other adverse reactions to Ozempic.
