One of my top requests over the last few years is how to restore facial plumpness after weight loss. With all there is to celebrate about weight loss medications comes “Ozempic face”. It doesn’t matter which GLP-1 you use, losing fat changes your face shape in ways that can add years to your appearance. So much so that you may not look like yourself.  

Many of my clients are reaching out to explore filler-free esthetic methods of plumping, firming, and lifting. There are a few highly effective options. Results take time but can be significant!

WHAT IS OZEMPIC FACE? 

This term is used to describe the gaunt, sunken in, and sagging that occurs on the face any time you lose weight rapidly. You aren’t alone if the more weight you lose, the more pronounced your wrinkles from head to toe. It’s frustrating because you should be celebrating your improved health, not stressing over your new skin concerns.

WHAT DOES OZEMPIC FACE LOOK LIKE?

Many of my clients struggled with the skin conditions below before they lost weight. As their face thins out, these conditions are amplified.

DEEP WRINKLES

Losing weight doesn’t accelerate aging, but it makes it look like your aging has accelerated. The static and dynamic fine lines and wrinkles you had before become more apparent, as they no longer have facial fat plumping them out. As they sink deeper, they add years to your appearance.  

SUNKEN EYES, CHEEKS, AND FACE

Having angular features can be appealing, but that’s not what I’m referring to. When you lose a significant amount of weight in your face, your bone structure becomes pronounced in a way that goes beyond youthful contouring. Your cheekbones become gaunt, and your eye sockets and temples look hollowed out. When combined with skin laxity and wrinkles, the aging impact is significant.  

SKIN LAXITY

The fuller your face was before, the more your skin will sag. Your skin is resilient and will gradually restore some of its elasticity, but it takes time. If you’re still losing weight, your skin doesn’t have the chance to self-restore at the rate your weight is coming off. So, it may get worse before it gets better.

PRONOUNCED NATURAL AGING

Ozempic face is intensified for those of us 45+. Fat pads in your face naturally shrink with age. As this thin layer diminishes, your skin sinks in and loses firmness. Further skin laxity occurs due to the loss of collagen and elastin that comes with the natural aging process.

WILL SKIN ELASTICITY IMPROVE AFTER WEIGHT LOSS?

Yes, some. Your body is intelligent and will work to restore some of your elasticity, but not all. The faster you’re losing weight, the longer it takes your body to catch up. The more weight you lose and the longer you’ve carried a bit of extra weight, the harder it is for your skin to recover without esthetic intervention.  

HOW TO RESTORE FACIAL VOLUME AFTER LOSING WEIGHT?

Skin laxity from the neck down is easier to hide with clothing, but there’s no hiding your face. There’s no quick fix, but there are products and devices that promote skin tightening. I completely understand that you may explore your options in facial fillers, fat grafting, thread lifts, and other med spa treatments, but they aren’t your only options. Below are the products and devices I use to plump, lift, and smooth my client’s face. I use these treatments and products on myself too! 

1. Poly -L-Lactic Acid (PLLA) 

Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA) is a biostimulator that packs into the pores, creating a plumping, lifting, and smoothing matrix underneath your skin. As a Master Esthetician of 25 years, I’ve tested several PLLA products, and House of PLLA is the only line I’ve found to be effective. It took the scientists at this innovative Korean skincare brand 8 years to perfect their technology. Their dissolvable sutures wrap around your hair follicles, stimulating a steady stream of collagen production that creates and maintains a volumizing matrix.

The initial product line was centered primarily around PLLA, now their formulations include high-performing and concentrated actives that support a range of anti-aging objectives. If I had to pick just one product, it would be the   CaviPLLA. This oxygenating serum boosts hydration, refines pores, and improves skin texture. It combines PLLA, Caviar Extract, Tripeptide-1, Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, and Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract. Consistency is key, so you’ll need to apply PLLA daily.

2. BUCCAL MASSAGE

Plumping is your objective, but most of my clients don’t just want to plump, they want to smooth and lift. For this, I suggest a weekly buccal massage. This massage technique is an old Hollywood secret celebrities still use today. It’s so effective that it’s part of my signature 3-step treatments: Targeted Massage, High-Performing Skincare Products, and Multitasking Skincare Devices.

When you hold tension in your face, it pulls your face in and down, intensifying forehead creases, lip lines, and marionette lines. Buccal massage releases tension to pull your entire face up and out. It also stimulates circulation to drain lymphatic fluid that increases undereye bags, marionette lines, and a double chin. Combining this weekly technique with PLLA, rapidly reduces the aging impact of GLP-1s. Not to mention, releasing your jaw feels amazing!

3. COMBINE CaviPLLA WITH THE SKIN WAND PRO 

It’s never one thing that improves your skin; it’s a combination of things that work together to activate your body’s natural reparative ability. For faster and more effective lifting, firming, smoothing, and tightening, apply a generous layer of CaviPLLA to your skin, then use the Skin Wand Pro. Alternate with your favorite skin brightening serum, as this device is a dream for fading hyperpigmentation.

The Skin Wand Pro is an advanced nano channeling device. It’s ultra gentle, providing the benefits of microneedling with zero irritation or downtime. The exacting silicone tip creates tiny 0.15 mm channels in your skin. These channels drive actives to the junction of where dead tissue meets live tissue, activating your body’s natural healing process. Unlike microneedling, you’re not red after your treatment. In fact, quite the opposite, you have a “just out of a facial” glow after every treatment. Just don’t apply retinoids before nano channeling!

The Skin Wand Pro is versatile, delivering a range of skin benefits. You can use it anywhere, including on your lips and directly underneath your eyes.

Use daily or at least 3 days a week to:

• Gently exfoliate

• Smooth fine lines and wrinkles

• Fade hyperpigmentation

• Smooth and fade stretch marks

• Thicken thinning skin

4. HYBRID LIFT PRO 

The Hybrid Lift Pro is a multi-modality device that includes 3 different modes for Vibration, Vibration and Heat, and EMS Microcurrent. All 3 modes promote circulation and drive actives deeper into your skin. The EMS releases tight muscles and strengthens weak muscles to lift and plump your skin.

HOW TO ADDRESS OZEMPIC BODY?

If you’re experiencing GLP-1 sagging, laxity, and wrinkles on your face, you may be experiencing it on your body too.

From the décolleté down, I suggest:

• PLLA Body Lotion: House of PLLA has a multitasking  All-Mineral Face and Body Sunscreen. It has PLLA, Anti-Aging Growth Factors, and Broad-Spectrum 50 UV Protection. It has a bit of a white cast, so give it a few minutes to absorb into your skin.

• Whole-Body Devices: Many estheticians use tightening, firming, and brightening devices that are safe and effective to use from the neck down. At the top of this list are LED therapy, radiofrequency, and EMS devices. Preferably, a multimodality device.

• Resistance Training: You aren’t just losing fat, you’re losing muscle mass, which intensifies sagging. There’s no need to bulk up, but every little bit you increase your lean muscle mass fills in your skin.

HOW TO MINIMIZE LEAN MUSCLE MASS LOSS?

Unless you strength train and make protein-rich dietary changes, approximately  1/4 of the weight you’re losing from the neck down is lean muscle mass. If you feel weak or tired, it may be because you’re losing too much muscle. So, add strength training to the mix 3 days a week to boost your energy, improve metabolism, accelerate weight loss, and plump out sagging skin. No need for heavy weights, as you can use your body for resistance training.

LOSING WEIGHT BUT STILL HAVE A DOUBLE CHIN?

Subcutaneous fat accumulates under the chin with weight gain and age. Even the short-term weight gain of pregnancy. When you lose weight, your chin’s fat pads shrink, but the bulky cells remain. Ultrasound or radio frequency helps your body permanently dissolve chin fat without targeting other tissues or cells. Also, perform targeted massage, as heads-down electronics use slows lymphatic drainage, so it may not just be fat underneath your skin.

LET’S DISCUSS YOUR SKIN BEYOND SKIN TIGHTENING 

Now that you know how to begin firming your face after losing weight, let’s discuss your other anti-aging concerns. You can join the  Christine Byer Beauty Club to learn exclusive skincare tips for your local climate, lifestyle, skin type, and skin conditions.

I offer a 14-Day FREE preview with full access to everything in the Club. This includes answers to your personal skincare questions and access to exclusive content and discounts. If you don’t find value in your membership, cancel within 14 days at no charge.