Ozempic after-glow or aftermath? How does it affect your skin, dermatologist explains

New Delhi:

Rapid shifts in how people talk about losing weight came with pills such as Ozempic. Made at first to treat diabetes, they’re now known more for quieting hunger. A change happens there - yet Dr Gaurav Garg, consultant dermatologist, hair transplant surgeon and dermato-surgeon, founder and director of Dermalife Skin and Hair Clinic at New Delhi, noticed another shift entirely through his eyes as a skin doctor. Not measured by numbers dropping, this one shows up quietly, reflected from someone’s face.

Losing weight might lift your spirit. Many people feel stronger, move more easily, and notice their clothes fit better. Yet when pounds drop fast, skin may loosen, hair may thin, and facial shape shifts. How you look in the mirror might surprise you - more than the number on the scale ever did. That new reflection? It sticks with some longer than the effort it took to get there.

A frequent topic people bring up involves changes in facial fullness

Beneath the surface, fatty tissue acts as a cushion, particularly noticeable in areas such as the cheekbones, eye sockets, and forehead region. Should body mass decrease fast, the underlying padding often shrinks, leading to sunken features or a weary look. Though some now call it “Ozempic face,” such shifts are not tied solely to one medication. In reality, swift reduction of fat - no matter how achieved - often results in similar effects on appearance.

Loose skin often shows up after major changes

Though skin stretches well, adjusting takes time. If pounds drop too fast, the body cannot keep up - sag develops, especially under the chin, on the upper arms, belly, and throat. How much bounce returns depends partly on genes, partly on age; past tanning habits matter, as does original firmness. Recovery varies person to person.

Not everyone notices it, yet shifts in hair are possible

Several individuals report more hair falling out several weeks post beginning treatment for excess weight. Stress on the body - like fast slimming down or eating much less - is behind this; such strain triggers telogen effluvium, pushing strands into dormancy. Still, most find regrowth begins naturally over time. Though brief in duration, seeing clumps come out may bring discomfort.

What you see in the mirror often shapes how you feel inside

Expectations run high after weight loss - many assume confidence will follow naturally once pounds are gone. Yet reality sometimes delivers something different: sagging skin, new wrinkles, or less hair than before. A stronger body sits alongside a face that seems to age overnight. Comfort within oneself does not always arrive on schedule. Reflections can surprise, unsettle, even when health improves.

Here's when broad thinking matters most

Support from skin specialists makes navigating change easier. Procedures that boost collagen, tools that improve tightness, plus tailored routines often lift surface quality. During slimming phases, food choices matter just as much - focus on proteins, track vitamins, and keep tissues strong. The health of skin and hair is closely related to what fuels the body.

Just as crucial is the need to set achievable goals. Though drugs such as Ozempic offer strong support, appearance changes don’t happen simply through pills alone. Shedding weight involves bodily functions; how skin responds follows natural patterns, shaped by patience and attention.

What matters most isn’t dodging change, but making sense of it. A shifting reflection doesn’t mean something went wrong - it is feedback. Medical support, when matched with personal insight, lets outer looks catch up to inner strength. Helping people recognise themselves again - that balance, that gentleness - is what guides our work.

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