“Ozempic Face” To Ripe Grape & Summer Glow-Up Tips

by M icaela e nglish

Are they…or aren’t they?

That’s been the whispered buzz among Palm Beach and New York social circles—as restaurants, galas, and cocktail parties are teeming with guests who appear to be inexplicably…deflated.

The topic in question? Semaglutides, most commonly known as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, an injectable antidiabetic medication used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and now approved to be prescribed for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or who are significantly overweight.

A quick crash course on those that are approved to be taking semaglutide for weight loss, “The guidelines to be a candidate are very clear,” According to endocrinologist and obesity specialist, Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen. “Patients who have a BMI equal to or greater than 27 plus one comorbidity (comorbidity occurs when a person has more than one disease or condition at the same time—for example, if you have diabetes and you’re later diagnosed with depression, then depression is a comorbidity) or a BMI of 30 or more without any comorbidities are candidates for semaglutide,” says Salas-Whalen. As per plastic surgeon, Dr. Da vid Shafer, the success of peptide weight loss treatments, including semaglutide, is commendable, “Semaglutide and the other peptide weight loss treatments really work. When taken properly and under medical supervision, the side effects are minimal compared to previous weight loss medications that relied on speeding up metabolism which can raise the blood pressure and heart rate and make people feel jittery,” says Dr. Shafer.

But with the oh-so-pop culture murmur of it all, from the mention of Ozempic in Jimmy Kimmel’s opening at this year’s Academy Awards to that infamous Marilyn Monroe dress going up the steps of last year’s Met Gala, Cosmetic Derm and “Exterior Designer” Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank (board-certified dermatologist, skincare consultant, and founder of the bespoke aesthetic healthcare brand PFRANKMD) reminds us this is not a trend, stating “Do not go along with using medications of any kind as a replacement for a healthy lifestyle, good self-care, and making the efforts that are necessary to live a positive and aesthetically pleasing life. I think these medications are excellent for people who struggle with weight loss and health issues that are related to carrying excess weight, but as with all medications, I show concerns over their abuse. I think that it’s not just a trend—it’s a new category of treatment for obesity.” Plastic surgeon and skin care founder Dr. Lara Devgan says,

Clockwise from top left: Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank is a board-certified dermatologist, skincare consultant, and founder of bespoke aesthetic healthcare brand, PFRANKMD (pfrankmd.com); Dr. David Shafer, MD, FACS is a double board certified, award-winning New York City plastic surgeon, specializing in all aspects of aesthetic & cosmetic surgery (shaferplasticsurgery.com); EMFACE™ is the first hands-free, non-invasive device that helps skin appear lifted and less wrinkled without the use of needles. Results appear within 6-12 weeks. Opposite page, from above: protecting skin from the sun is one of the best things you can do to keep it healthy, according to dermatologists; plump grapes versus dried raisins have been compared to faces that have undergone rapid weight loss.

“Net net, these medications are helping many people. They are not for kickstarting, they are not trends. They are similar to thyroid medications or depression medications or blood pressure medications—drugs used to treat chronic diseases that require chronic solutions.”

This brings us to one of the aesthetic implications of swift weight loss—ozempic face—where an individual’s facial features may transition from a plump grape-like appearance to a hollowed out raisin-like visage, whether they are undergoing treatment with semaglutide or have experienced accelerated weight loss via other means. Dr. Shafer shares his go-to solutions for this common case, “Any rapid weight loss can lead to less volume in the face and loose skin. This is the same phenomenon with gastric bypass surgery and other rapid weight loss methods. So there is nothing inherent or unique to the effects on the skin due to Ozempic. And, it’s not just the face. We see patients with sagging breasts, abdomens, and buttocks. Treatment for the face includes re-volumizing with fat grafting or dermal fillers such as Voluma and Volux. Some patients may need a facelift or other skin tightening surgeries and some may benefit from laser and other energy based skin tightening treatments.” For those with significant weight loss, Dr. Frank explains the surgical truth, “For extreme weight loss, where there is significant laxity, we usually refer them for surgery. There’s only so much that non or minimally-invasive treatments can do. People with 50+ weight loss or who are 50+ years old, may require surgical intervention. I coordinate care with various types of surgeons.”

Peptides aside, for those looking for a derm-approved pre-summer the arrival of warmer seasons is the perfect opportunity to prioritize skin improvements and volume, “We want to get rid of sun damage, have clear skin, improve skin texture (particularly on the body) and treat cellulite. Treatments like Ultherapy for the face, Emtone for the body and Emsculpt + Emface for muscular improvements and lifting are usually the things that get people spring and summer ready,” says Dr. Frank.

Other routes to plump, hydrated, taut, glowing skin ahead of sum mer? Try celebrity aesthetician Edyta Jarosz’s DiamondGlow® facial at the Shafer Clinic (her “magic hands” have created quite the cult-fol lowing and viral buzz on Instagram). Expect instant clarity, dewiness, and brighter skin from the facial’s signature real diamond tip wand that infuses the skin with professional-grade SkinMedica® Pro-Infu sion Serum while extracting debris and clearing your pores.

Dr. Lara Devgan loves a combo of procedures and products: “My short list of my top 3 procedures would be to maintain Botox for a brow lift and neck bands to open up the eyes (and avoid a neck lift down the road), cheekbone augmentation for midface support, and jawline augmentation to reduce jowling”. As for her products, A-list celebrities and private clients can’t get enough of her Serum Superhe roes. “This edited collection of our most powerful serums contains Hyaluronic Serum for collagen boosting and hydration, Vitamin CBE Ferulic Serum for discoloration and fine lines, and Retinol Bakuchiol Serum for enlarged pores, blemishes, texture, and wrinkles. It’s trans formed the skin of tens of thousands of real users.” Here’s to the sunny, glowy, and “voluminous” days ahead...◆

From above: Dr. Lara Devgan’s Serum Superheroes Collection including: Hyaluronic Serum, Vitamin C+B+E Ferulic Serum, and Retinol + Bakuchiol Serum to achieve tighter pores, reduced fine lines, a clear and even complexion, and bright, hydrated skin; recognized by Goop and Vogue as one of New York’s best cosmetic surgeons, Dr. Lara Devgan, MD, MPH, FACS, is a top board-certified New York City plastic surgeon and the founder and CEO of luxury medical-grade skincare line Dr. Devgan Scientific Beauty (laradevganmd.com).