With the rapid popularity of bariatric therapies, surgeons believe Hollywood is experiencing a spike in side effects known as "ozone faces."
Several doctors claimed to the Daily Mail that celebrities ranging from John Goodman to Sharon Osborne were among the people most affected by the disease.
What exactly is this phenomenon and why has it attracted the attention of celebrities and medical experts?
According to British media on April 21, Ozempic is an injectable treatment designed to mimic a hormone that sends a satiety signal to the brain, and has attracted widespread attention for its ability to quickly lose weight. However, among the range of potential side effects that come with the benefits of fat loss, "Ozempic Complexion" stands out as a side effect that has attracted attention.
The "Ozempic Look" is described as a series of facial changes, including sunken eyes, emaciated cheeks, and sagging skin, similar to the effects typically associated with rapid or significant weight loss.
Plastic surgeons observed a decrease in facial volume, leading to the appearance of facial cavities and an increase in wrinkles – a change that some believe has been seen in well-known figures in the entertainment industry.
Dr. Smita Ramanadham, a plastic surgeon in New Jersey, told the Daily Mail: "Hypoxic faces are essentially the same features we see in patients who lose weight quickly or regularly. ”
"We see a reduction in facial volume, and when we reduce facial fat, we see signs such as more sunken cheeks, more saggy skin, and generally sunken features. ”
This injection therapy mimics a naturally occurring hormone that tells the brain that it's full, suppressing appetite and leading to rapid weight loss.
One example of this is the journey of actor John Goodman, a 71-year-old actor whose remarkable weight loss journey has been widely documented. Although Goodman denied using Ozempic and attributed the changes to diet and lifestyle changes, experts noted that significant changes in his facial structure indicated the effects of substantial weight loss.
Plastic surgeon Ramanadan said of Goodman: "When you lose weight, you see more wrinkles, more wrinkles and more deflatation on his face than when he loses weight and has a full face. ”
"These changes are typical of overall weight loss, with or without weight loss medications. ”
Similarly, 50-year-old singer Robbie Williams admitted to using a treatment similar to Ozempic, drawing attention to changes in his facial features, including hollowing under the eyes and cheeks, as well as the appearance of wrinkles — a testament to the impact that weight loss treatments can have on appearance.
It is important to note that the phenomenon of "Ozempic facies" appears to be less pronounced in women, but well-known figures like Sharon Osborne have experienced significant changes in facial volume and appearance due to the drug, which is considered evidence of significant weight loss caused by the drug.
"Her eyes look more sunken and her cheeks more sunken," Ramanadan said.
"There will also be a significant reduction in facial volume, and with it, an increase in wrinkles. ”
Other so-called wire frowning patients include Jessica Simpson, Scott Dijc, and Liam Payne, although surgeons attribute the latter's streamlined face to buccal fat pad surgery, in which fat pads are removed from the cheeks.
According to the Daily Mail, the ozone face is one of the many side effects associated with the drug, with 9 million prescriptions issued in the last three months of 2022. In addition to being humiliating, this treatment has been blamed for causing vision problems, constipation, and even personality changes.
Meanwhile, in January, several Ozempic advocates claimed that they stopped taking the drug and as a result, they regained more weight than they lost.
As a popular weight loss treatment, the "Ozempic Face" phenomenon highlights the complex interplay between Hollywood's beauty standards and medical interventions. While the desire to have a slim figure is understandable, the potential consequences that may come with such interventions require careful consideration and further study.
As the debate around Ozempic continues to unfold, it serves as a compelling reminder of the importance of our pursuit of health, beauty, and informed decision-making.