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What's the Story?
From Ozempic® and Wegovy to Mounjaro and Saxenda — we are well and truly in the era of the GLP-1. Used by millions of people across the world to tackle obesity and manage weight, there is no disputing the transformative effects they are having on our bodies — but what about our skin? It’s a scientific fact that after rapid fat loss —whether via medication or surgery — a structural deficit if left behind, and once stretched, skin does not always bounce back.
So, let’s look at what happens to the skin, and what —if anything — can be done to manage the after effects.
Why Skin Laxity Happens After Rapid Weight Loss
There’s no way to sugarcoat this - extreme and/or rapid weight loss (whether via weight loss drugs, bariatric surgery, or crash dieting) can have a dramatic effect on skin. Losing dermal and subcutaneous fat from the face can contribute to a more aged, hollow look as the fat volume (essentially the plump padding that gives us a more youthful look) is lost. In addition, rapid weight loss weakens the collagen and elastin fibres that give our skin its structure, bounce and elasticity. Treatments—whether topical, device-led, or surgical—work by either stimulating new collagen, reorganising existing fibres, or removing excess tissue entirely.
Skin is biologically elastic, but only up to a point. With significant or rapid weight loss, particularly when driven by GLP-1 drugs, several mechanisms converge:
- Loss of underlying fat volume removes structural support
- Collagen and elastin fibres become stretched and fragmented
- Speed of weight loss outpaces skin contraction
While some rebound occurs naturally, significant laxity can be permanent, especially after large weight reductions. When weight loss occurs gradually, the skin's fibroblasts can continue producing collagen and elastin, allowing it to retract more effectively, but with rapid or significant weight loss, the skin's ability to contract is overwhelmed, leading to lax tissue and an inability to ‘snap back’. Add in loss of oestrogen (if you’re menopausal) and skin’s youthfulness can take a serious hammering.
Can Topicals Help 'Ozempic Skin'?
Sadly, no cream or serum on the planet is going to lift your face back up, but the right ingredients can help improve skin texture, firmness, and overall appearance. Will these replace lost volume? No. Will they tighten moderate laxity? No. But they will improve skin quality, help support skin health, and complement other treatment options. These are the ones to look for:
- Retinoids — remain the most evidence-backed topical for skin renewal. Excellent for stimulating collagen production, increasing cell turnover and improving the elasticity that helps skin ‘snap back’ retinoids are the gold standard topical and will cumulatively improve dermal density over time.
- Peptides – As the building blocks for proteins such as collagen, elastin, and keratin, these are key to help keep skin firm, smooth, and youthful.
- Antioxidants - A good antioxidant/vitamin C serum will help shield the skin from free radical damage, preserve collagen levels, reduce the appearance of visible signs of ageing and improve elasticity.
- Growth Factors - Often found in serums, microneedling treatments and PRP therapy, growth factors are naturally occurring proteins that signal skin cells to repair, rebuild, and tighten.
- SPF(Obviously) – If you’re not wearing sunscreen, don’t even bother with the rest. UV damage breaks down collagen faster than anything.
- Ceramides - While temporary, the visual effect on “crepey” areas like arms and décolleté can be significant.
Volume Creams — Part of recent skincare innovations that claim to tackle facial volume, these treatment products are designed to improve the appearance of skin affected by weight loss, menopause and general ageing. Adipeau’s Volume Cream — which claims to be "the first topical proven to support dermal fat cell health” — is inspired by research on dermal fat cells and is designed to address facial concerns including hollow cheeks, under-eye hollowing, and nasolabial folds. Although the evidence does not establish uniform results across all individuals, usage does show a consistent pattern of improvements in facial contours and volume.
Treatments and Tweakments
Facials:
To complement and boost your topical skincare, regular facials are a great investment for enhancing skin quality and boosting elasticity and firmness — especially when combined with targeted treatments and specific massage techniques.
A powerful partner for a good at-home skincare routine, facials will amplify at-home results and offer myriad visible and long-term skin benefits including:
- Reduced puffiness through lymphatic drainage
- Brighter, more energised skin thanks to improved circulation
- A firmer, more sculpted appearance
- Relaxed muscles, which may help prevent expression lines and tension
Expert facial massage is key to this. By stimulating lymphatic flow, facial massage helps move excess fluid, encourages toxin removal, releases muscle tension—especially around the jaw—and can also create a more lifted, contoured look. The following techniques can help rejuvenate a lax, lacklustre complexion while providing deep relaxation — helping to minimise the visible effects of stress on our skin:
- Effleurage (light stroking): is a classic technique that uses long, gentle, upward strokes to relax the face and encourage lymphatic drainage.
- Lymphatic drainage massage: is a slow, methodical technique focusing on guiding fluid towards the lymph nodes to help reduce puffiness, soften muscle tension and leave the face looking more lifted. Enhanced circulation may also support collagen and elasticity for a plumper appearance.
- Petrissage (kneading): Kneading, rolling and lifting movements that work deeper into the muscles. Helpful for easing tightness and improving overall circulation.
- Tapotement (tapping): Light, rhythmic tapping to stimulate blood flow and revive tired-looking skin.
- Pinching and plucking: Using the thumb and forefinger to gently pinch or “pluck” sections of skin. This boosts circulation, encourages tone and can help reduce puffiness when used sparingly and gently.
- Myofascial release and buccal massage are increasingly popular, non-invasive, 'inside-out' treatments aimed at targeting the signs of 'Ozempic Face'. Often described as a 'workout for the face', these types of massage can act as a natural, non-surgical alternative to filler or a complement to other anti-ageing procedures.
These massage techniques work by releasing deep muscle tension, stimulating circulation, and lifting the facial fascia:
- Buccal Massage — Involves intra-oral techniques where therapists work inside the cheek muscles to release tension in the jaw (masseter) and lift the cheeks from within. This helps define the jawline, reduce puffiness, and lift sagging muscles.
- Myofascial Release — Targets the fascia (connective tissue) by applying gentle, sustained pressure to ease tightness in the face. This strengthens the support structure of the skin, counteracting the sagging caused by rapid fat loss.
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Skin Rocks Facials — combine time-honoured touch with clinically proven topical skincare — an ideal combination for anyone wanting to visibly improve their skin. The signature Lifting Massage is particularly effective for those who enjoy a firm touch and are looking for a more sculpted look; the shoulder-to-scalp deep pressure massage will help to instantly lift and define your face, reduce tension, boost collagen and stimulate blood flow.
To locate your nearest Skin Rocks Pro partner, head over to our Find a Facialist Map
Many people will achieve good results by pairing tweakments with high-quality skincare and regular facials, but if you’re looking for something more dramatic —but less invasive than surgery— injectables and non-surgical treatments can deliver improvements in volume and/or skin firmness. Bear in mind that most in-clinic treatments require patience and maintenance (you wouldn’t expect a firm body after one gym session), so be prepared to wait for optimal results and invest in repeat sessions to maintain results.
Advanced Treatments/Tweakments
- Dermal Fillers (i.e Sculptra, Restylane): Extremely popular for adding volume to areas of laxity (especially nasolabial folds and cheeks) dermal fillers are injectable gels made of high-density molecules which add volume or structure. When done properly and safely with a trusted practitioner they can be very effective for reshaping rejuvenating areas of hollowness/mild to moderate sagging.
- Injectable Biostimulators: Biostimulators like Sculptra, Radiesse and Profhilo encourage your body to rebuild its own collagen. Done well, these can restore structure and plump out hollows.
- Profhilo Structura:(not to be confused with Sculptra) is an injectable treatment made with the same hyaluronic acid as Profhilo but twice as concentrated and designed to restore volume to the superficial fat pads in the face.
- PDO(Polydioxanone)Threads: AKA a non-surgical facelift. The threads are inserted under the skin using a thin needle or cannula to provide an immediate lifting effect while stimulating collagen production over time. There are several different types that can be helpful for lifting, smoothing or adding volume.
- Skin Tightening Treatments (Radiofrequency, Ultrasound) – These work by heating the deeper layers of the skin, triggering collagen production, improving skin elasticity, reducing wrinkles, and creating a smoother, more youthful appearance. Clinical evidence shows that RF can reorganise collagen and elastic fibres, leading to measurable tightening. If you want to try RF, think Morpheus8, Ultherapy, HIFU or Thermage.
- EMFACE®: These devices can be used for non-invasive facial sculpting using a patented combination of synchronised RF heating and HIFES™ muscle stimulation to contract and restore facial muscles.
- Radiofrequency Microneedling:Treatments such as Potenza combine traditional microneedling with radiofrequency energy to stimulate collagen and elastin production, improving skin texture, firmness, and overall appearance.
- PRP(Platelet-Rich Plasma): Your own blood is spun to extract growth factors, then reinjected to stimulate collagen. Good for overall skin quality but won’t "lift" per se. If you're looking for more noticeable lifting, PRP is often combined with other treatments such as microneedling or radiofrequency.
- CO2/Deep Resurfacing Laser Treatments: Not a lifting solution as such, but these are intense skin rejuvenation procedures that boost collagen and significantly improve skin texture, tone, and tightness. There is downtime with these.
- Polynucleotides: Commonly used on the face (such as the cheeks, jawline, and under-eye areas) but can also be applied to the neck, décolletage, hands, and other areas where skin laxity or dehydration is a concern.
- Fat Transfer:This procedure involves harvesting fat from another area of the body and injecting it into the face to restore lost volume.
To bolster professional/advanced treatments, good quality at-home devices can also play a supporting role:
A popular device to help support facial toning and improve the appearance of laxity, the ZIPP Halo is designed to lift, sculpt, and firm facial contours by using a combination of microcurrent and nanocurrent technologies:
- Muscle Toning(Microcurrent): This works at a muscular level to stimulate contraction and relaxation; helping to lift and sculpt areas that may have become lax.
- Skin Tightening (Nanocurrent): Using tiny electrical waveforms (nanocurrent) to increase ATP (cellular energy), this promotes collagen and elastin production for longer-term skin rejuvenation.
- Targeted Jowl Treatment: The ZIIP app includes specific, guided programs to treat jowls and sagging skin around the jawline.
- Immediate and Cumulative Results: Users often see an immediate lifted, "snatched" look that can last up to 72 hours, but consistent use (3-5 times a week) is required for lasting tightening.
Consistency is Key: Noticeable, long-term changes in firmness typically appear after about 6 weeks of consistent use.
It's worth noting that this is not a replacement for volume: while it tones muscles and improves skin elasticity, it cannot replace lost fat volume in the face, and it's important to use a conductive gel to facilitate the impact.
Known as the closest at-home alternative to a professional treatment, it combines four modes including EMS (electric muscle stimulation)for firming, and a "Booster" mode to help skincare penetrate deeper.
Lifestyle Habits That May Help
You can’t physically tighten loose skin with lifestyle alone, and nothing non-surgical will completely reverse loose, sagging skin. However, lifestyle changes can help slow further collagen breakdown, and the right habits will support your skin’s ability to repair and regenerate.
- Gradual Weight Loss: It’s tempting to go for the quick fix but try and aim for a gradual and sustainable weight loss approach to minimise the risk of significant facial changes.
- Protein Intake: Protein will improve skin and muscle quality and help combat the negative effects of skin laxity and muscle loss. Aim for enough protein daily (chicken, fish, tofu, eggs—whatever works for you) and ensure you are eating nutritious foods in general — they help with overall skin quality and resilience.
- Resistance Training: Research suggests that taking GLP-1s may lead to diminished facial muscle mass; further exacerbating the appearance of sagging and ageing. Resistance training helps rebuild muscle volume, filling out areas that might appear deflated, such as the cheeks, arms, and glutes. It also boosts collagen production by increasing circulation and reducing inflammation, which can improve skin elasticity.
- Collagen Supplements: Hydrolysed collagen peptides are an excellent form of protein and play a key role in cellular collagen formation and renewal.
- Hydration: People on weight loss medications can often forget to drink enough water. It's important to keep skin well hydrated, so drink water like it’s going out of fashion - at least 1-2 litres a day.
- Sleep: Basic but necessary. Skin repairs itself overnight, and sleep supports the production of growth hormones (which stimulate collagen synthesis) and helps reduce cortisol (the collagen-crushing stress hormone)
Remember — Improving your health by losing excess weight is an achievement, and loose skin is a sign of your hard work!
Having a good, consistent skincare routine, making lifestyle adjustments where necessary, and bolstering this with targeted professional skin treatments will all help. And, if you do want to go a step further with more invasive treatments or surgery then just ensure you do your research, go to trusted accredited professionals, and weigh up the pros and cons — cosmetic surgery comes with cost, downtime and potential scars.
To find a reputable surgeon, the organisations below are a good place to start:
- The British Association ofAesthetic Plastic Surgeons
- The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
References:
- https://www.healthline.com/health/ozempic-face
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38874170
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33145720
- https://www.webmd.com/obesity/what-is-ozempic-face
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https://btlaesthetics.com/uk
Words by Nicky Connors - Team Skin Rocks
Qualifications - Beauty Industry Professional, 25 years | BA (Hons) English | Beauty Writer | Copy Editor | HND Specialist Makeup.
