According to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, brow lifts top the list of facial enhancements, increasing by 27%, while eyelift surgery is up by 8% and face and neck lifts are up by 11%. In contrast, breast augmentation surgeries have declined by 8%, though they remain the UK's most popular cosmetic surgery, and Superficial Gluteal Lipofilling procedures have plummeted by 38%. The association links the move away from 'exaggerated curves' to the explosion of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy.
Dr Adil Sheraz, a consultant dermatologist and British Skin Foundation spokesperson, explained that Ozempic face refers to sagging, ageing, and lacklustre appearance of facial skin and structures due to rapid weight loss, where the overlying skin cannot shrink at the same rate as fat loss, resulting in a sagging, droopy, and wrinkled appearance. He noted this change can occur with any rapid weight loss, not just Ozempic, and may be more of an issue in older individuals due to reduced collagen and elastin in the skin. Additional trends show eyelift surgery up by 8% and face and neck lifts up by 11%, while Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, could not comment on 'Ozempic face' specifically because the term references off-brand use of the drug.
It remains unknown how many facial enhancement surgeries are directly attributed to patients experiencing Ozempic face or what the demographic breakdown of these patients is, and specific safety concerns or regulatory actions for off-label Ozempic use are not detailed.