Cosmetic specialists have raised concerns about a new side effect of Ozempic. They warn that while the weight loss drug may help shed pounds off your hips, it could also lead to unfortunate changes around your mouth.
Dr. Michele Green, a cosmetic dermatologist from New York, revealed that many of her patients using Ozempic have experienced what she calls “Ozempic mouth.”
According to Dr. Green, individuals using Ozempic have reported a noticeable reduction in facial volume, which in turn can contribute to the development of fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, and jowls around the mouth.
‘This volume loss can also worsen the appearance of existing fine lines, wrinkles, and skin laxity, contributing to a more aged smile and overall look.’
The condition is considered part of a broader phenomenon dubbed ‘Ozempic face’ where rapid weight loss causes sagging in the cheeks and around the mouth.
Dr Green says the appearance of an aged mouth is especially apparent on people who rapidly lose weight from higher doses of the GLP-1 drug.
It is characterized by deep folds at the corners of the mouth, increased vertical wrinkles on the lips, sagging skin around the borders of the lips and and drooping skin around the chin.
Dr Green has noticed a number of celebrities suffering from Ozempic mouth as the result of taking weight loss drugs, with some of her standout examples being Sharon Osbourne, Rebel Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg.
Pictured: Sharon Osbourne as a judge on The X Factor in 2007. The mother-of-three has previously said she lost ‘too much’ weight while on Ozempic. Right, cosmetic experts say the weight loss drug has caused sagging around her lip borders
All three women have spoken openly about using weight loss medications, with the slimming results clearly visible.
In terms of male celebrities, Dr Green adds: ‘Actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein has also been open about taking Zepbound, another weight loss medication, which has led to increased sagging skin and jowls in the face after he lost a staggering 120lbs.’
Ozempic, along with similar drugs Mounjaro and Wegovy, is approved to treat type 2 diabetes but is widely used off-label for weight loss – especially among celebrities.
Figures from 2024, which are likely an undercount, suggest one in eight Americans have taken a GLP-1 drug like Ozempic.
Due to the growing concern about ‘Ozempic mouth’, Dr Green reveals that she has had an increasing number of patients asking about dermal fillers around the mouth area to help restore lost volume.
The expert says that Ozempic depletes the subcutaneous fat. This is the visible fat layer just under the skin which you can pinch.
‘By depleting the subcutaneous fat, the skin appears thinner, with more wrinkling and often lipstick lines,’ New York-based plastic surgeon Dr Barry Weintraub told this website.
Fillers – gel-like substances injected beneath the skin to restore lost volume, smooth lines and enhance facial contours – can ‘restore volume to the face, smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and plump the skin to create a more youthful-looking appearance,’ Dr Green explains.
Just as the number of people taking semaglutide (the active substance in Ozempic) has skyrocketed, the number of women using fillers has increased close to threefold in the US over the past decade.
In 2010, 1.8 million filler procedures were performed, increasing to 5.3 million in 2023.
Fxing Ozempic mouth can be an expensive task, with filler costing between $700 and $2,000 per syringe, depending on the location and provider.
Another treatment Dr Green recommends as a fix is Thermage, which is a non-invasive radiofrequency treatment that uses heat to tighten skin and improve its appearance.
Like many experts, Dr Green has noticed a number of celebrities suffering from Ozempic mouth as the result of taking weight loss drugs, with one of her standout examples being Whoopi Goldberg. Signs of Ozempic mouth include deep lines around the lips
Rebel Wilson dropped more than 70lbs back in 2021 after turning to Ozempic, and she’s committed to keeping the weight off. Sagging around the chin area is one sign of Ozempic mouth the experts point to
It works by stimulating collagen production, which helps to reduce wrinkles, improve skin laxity, and create a more youthful look.
Dr Green adds: ‘As the body’s collagen levels increase, the skin becomes firmer and tighter.
‘However, it takes four to six months to see results from Thermage, after which the results can last for approximately one and a half years.
‘Patients on Ozempic should ideally undergo a Thermage procedure early in treatment or before treatment begins to prevent the development of loose, sagging skin on the face.’
But like filler, Thermage can be pricey, with the 30 minute treatment costing between $1,500 and $3,500.
To minimize the aging effects on your smile and mouth due to Ozempic, Dr Green recommends ‘consulting with your doctor about adjusting your medication dosage to prioritize gradual weight loss rather than rapid weight loss.’
Meanwhile, Dr Ilana Ramer Bass of Mount Sinai Health System told this website she recommends eating ‘small, well-balanced meals with a focus on fiber and protein’ to help keep the skin hydrated.
She adds: ‘Before any skin conditions develop, causing wrinkles or dryness, I would also recommend seeing a dermatologist before turning to cosmetic surgery.’
In terms of male celebrities, Dr Green says: ‘Actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein has also been open about taking Zepbound, another weight loss medication, which has led to increased sagging skin and jowls in the face.’ Fierstein lost 120lbs in total thanks to weight loss medication
Ozempic mouth is just the latest body part to be warped because of the rapid and drastic weight-loss turbocharged by Ozempic and similar drugs.
Dr Barry Weintraub, a New York-based board certified plastic surgeon, previously told DailyMail.com a loss of fat can impact water retention in the body and cause excessive sagging in the feet.
Fans speculated stars like Sharon Osbourne and Oprah Winfrey – both of whom have admitted to taking weight-loss dugs – were among the first to show signs of the surprising side effect deemed ‘Ozempic feet’.
‘Ozempic face’ has increasingly been seen on celebrities, who look gaunt with sunken eyes, hollow cheekbones and sagging faces.
Katy Perry, Scott Disick and Jessica Simpson have all been labeled as suffering from the side effect after fans noticed their slimmed-down looks while the stars were out and about.
Additionally, the term ‘Ozempic butt’ has been coined to describe the deflated look of a person’s buttocks after GLP-1 weight loss.
Some users who have lost large amounts of weight said their backsides have now ‘completely disappeared’ and shrunk so much they can ‘feel every bone’.
Some even said the problem was so bad they were constantly covering up their buttocks because they are self conscious of the way it looks.
