THE TRUTH ABOUT OZEMPIC FACE 😱 Dermatologist @DrDrayzday
A dermatologist argues that so-called Ozempic face comes from rapid weight loss, not the drug, and covers what semaglutide is, who it is for and its side effects.
Key moments
Tap a moment to play the video from there.
- 0:00Why the myth is wrongDr Dray says the facial changes people blame on Ozempic come from significant weight loss, and are also seen after bariatric surgery.
- 0:58What Ozempic and semaglutide areShe describes a weekly injection that acts like the hormone GLP-1, tells the brain the person is full and leads to weight loss.
- 2:01Celebrity hype and costShe mentions rumors and public statements about celebrity use, and says the drug costs thirteen hundred to fifteen hundred dollars a month.
- 2:43Not a quick fixDr Dray says the medication needs lifestyle changes, and that studies suggest people regain two-thirds of lost weight within a year of stopping.
- 4:48Face changes and fixesShe explains that fat cannot be spot reduced, so facial fat pads shrink with weight loss, and says filler or fat transfer can restore volume.
- 6:11Loose skin on the bodyShe says loose skin can cause friction, moisture and recurrent infections, and that removal is a surgical decision with a plastic surgeon.
- 7:43Breasts and fat transfersDr Dray says breast tissue can shrink and that fat previously moved to breasts or buttocks can shrink too, through what she calls donor site memory.
- 8:51Side effects and monitoringShe names nausea, vomiting and diarrhea as the most common effects, and says doctors should adjust dose and watch the pace of weight loss.
- 10:49Final remarks and stigmaShe says telling people not to take the medication because they will look old is ignorant, and refers viewers to an obesity specialist.
What the video says
Dr Dray, a dermatologist, sets out to counter what she calls a harmful narrative online: that Ozempic makes people look older. She says the thinner face, deeper wrinkles and sagging seen in some users come from losing a lot of weight quickly, and that the same changes appear after bariatric surgery or any large weight loss. In her view the name "Ozempic face" is misleading and would be better described as weight loss face.
Before getting to that, she gives a short background on the drug. She describes Ozempic as the brand name for semaglutide, a weekly injection that mimics the hormone GLP-1, signals fullness to the brain and so reduces eating. She notes its approval for type 2 diabetes and that a related higher-dose product is approved for obesity. She stresses that these are serious, expensive medications that still require diet and exercise changes. She says appetite returns after stopping, and that studies suggest people regain about two-thirds of the weight within a year.
The middle of the video covers the cosmetic side. Dr Dray explains that facial fat pads shrink and shift with age and with fast weight loss, which she says produces the sunken look. She says spot reduction of fat does not exist, and that filler or fat transfer can replace lost facial volume. She also covers loose skin on the body, which she says can cause friction and skin infections and may call for surgery from a plastic surgeon. She adds that breast volume can drop and that previously transferred fat, such as from a Brazilian butt lift, can shrink after weight loss.
She closes with side effects and cautions. She says the most common are nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, which is why doses start low and rise gradually. She raises concern about online telehealth prescribing without proper monitoring and says the drug is not for getting summer body ready. She states that she is not an expert on the medication itself and points viewers to an obesity medicine physician for more.
On each compound
Semaglutide0:58
Dr Dray describes semaglutide, sold as Ozempic, as a weekly injection that mimics GLP-1, signals fullness and leads to weight loss. She says it was approved in 2017 for type 2 diabetes, that she thinks it can help people lose about 15 percent of body weight, and that nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are the most common side effects.
See how your DNA reads SemaglutideWhat this video doesn’t settle
- The presenter is a dermatologist who says she is not an expert on the medication, so her claims about the drug itself are not backed by prescribing experience.
- The video gives no data on how often facial changes occur with semaglutide compared with other weight loss methods.
- The regain figure and the 15 percent weight loss figure are cited without naming the studies behind them.
Questions this video answers
Does Ozempic cause facial aging?
Dr Dray says the drug itself does not change the face. She argues the sunken look, sagging and deeper wrinkles come from losing a lot of weight, especially quickly, and can occur with any weight loss method including bariatric surgery.
Can you lose weight without losing fat in your face?
According to Dr Dray, fat cannot be spot reduced, so fat loss also affects the face. She says lost facial volume can later be replaced with cosmetic filler or fat transferred from the hips or abdomen.
What happens when you stop taking Ozempic?
She says appetite returns once the drug leaves the system. Citing studies in general terms, she says people regain about two-thirds of the weight lost within one year.
What side effects of Ozempic does the dermatologist mention?
Dr Dray says the most common side effects are gastrointestinal, namely nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. She says patients start at a low dose that is raised once these effects subside, under a doctor's monitoring.
Video by Dr Dray on YouTube, embedded as published. The summary is written by PeptidesDNA from the video; every claim in it is the speaker’s. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the creator. Not medical advice.
