‘A devastating cocktail for the face’: is Ozempic aging us prematurely? | Lifestyle

The face is the window to the soul, they say. Also that by the time people are in their forties, they have the face they deserve. But a better way to put it might be: they have the one they can afford. The truth is that appearance often has more to do with a person’s wallet than their mind. Besides having access to expensive aesthetic services, it can be difficult to parse other pseudoscientific claims about our facial musculature. For example, can running really make us look older?

Putting these rumors aside for a moment, another group of people who experience rapid up-and-down movements are those who lose weight quickly. Along with the pounds, such individuals can lose fat compartments that give balance and volume to the face. Have you ever seen someone who has lost weight after a long period of time and thought: is he or she sick? They may be doing just fine, but their faces may not reflect that fact.

In the run-up to bikini season, such changed faces may appear, accompanied by muscular, lean bodies that can appear ten years younger than the mug sitting above them. Two expressions have emerged, one more precise than the other, to label this phenomenon: “Ozempian sight” and “runner face.”

The first refers to the consequences of rapid weight loss that does not distinguish between fat and muscle mass, causing both to decrease. This is just one of the issues that have been associated with the so-called “drug of the century.” The term ‘Ozempic face’ was coined by dermatologist Paul Jarrod Frank, an authority in his field who sees it as a side effect of the Ozempic treatment, whose main active ingredient is semaglutide.

After visiting several individuals who were taking the medication and exhibiting the symptoms, he wrote a scientific article stating that the drug has “a more pronounced effect” on the face, causing dermatological consequences and some sagging due to the displacement or elimination of fats that give volume to the face. “In addition, facial skin loses the ability to retract and return to its rightful place after rapid weight loss, and there is a decrease in the levels of elastin and collagen, two important components of facial structure,” Frank wrote.

The doctor describes the Ozempic facial phenomenon in terms of four key points: an increase in signs of aging associated with it Worry lines and wrinklesloss of fat compartments causing the skin to become loose and sagging, a hollowed out appearance and lipodystrophy (a condition that causes abnormal changes in the distribution of body fat).

Last May, Doctor Dennis Gross, a New York-based dermatologist, told EL PAÍS that he had several patients who were trying to reverse the effects of Ozempic on their facial volume. “The problem is that even if you regain weight, facial fat may not return to its original form, which is one of the biggest challenges in dermacosmetics.”

In contrast, there is debate about the use of the term ‘runner face’. There is little evidence to suggest that running is a primary factor behind emaciated and thin faces, and doctors suggest that the poor hydration and inadequate sun protection that can come with exercise are more likely causes of such changes in appearance.

Dr. Kiya Movassaghi, plastic surgeon and fanatic marathon runnerpoints to a combination of factors that can lead to such a phenomenon in a social media post: “Because we are naturally thin, prolonged sun exposure without protection and inadequate hydration can lead to a haggard appearance, which is often seen in skiers, gardeners, sailors and cyclists.” Movassaghi believes that those who use the term are confusing causation and correlation, as such facial expressions are typically related to the collagen loss that can typically occur with aging.

Dr. Carmen Lorente of The Beauty Concept says extreme sports can cause oxidative stress that produces free radicals, shortens telomeres and accelerates aging. “This, added to sun exposure, pollution, cold and the impact of exercise itself, is a devastating cocktail for the face. The solution can start with protecting yourself better when you go running, or not exercising in extreme weather conditions.”

Another professional who knows such faces is Dr. Adriana Ribé. She explains: “After rapid weight loss, tissues no longer repair themselves in the same way.” According to her, the fat layers of the nose and cheekbones are the critical areas of the face whose change can give it an aged appearance. “As fat compartments disappear from the center of the face, volume is lost and tissue is displaced. Even if they are refilled with other substances, it is difficult to prevent skin expansion.” She adds: “If you lose weight too quickly, the face can act like a deflating balloon. The skin can become thinner, wrinkled and sagging.”

From the age of 25, men and women begin to lose collagen, the substance that gives the skin elasticity and ensures that the facial skin returns to its original position after rapid weight loss. “Losing weight through exercise or medication after the age of 40 can have a direct impact on the superficial fat layers of the face, which in turn can affect skin quality,” says Dr. Victoria Páez, whose clinic is located in Marbella, Spain. Páez says she’s seeing more and more male patients concerned about their “new faces.” “If weight loss occurs continuously, the elastic recovery of tissue slows down and there comes a point of no return.”

The solution experts suggest is to avoid abrupt weight loss, and not wait until you’ve lost weight to take care of your face. “It is better to undergo controlled weight loss and gradually increase collagen and insert anchors to prevent sagging,” says Ribé, who adds that it is realistic to assume that a person’s face will be affected by weight loss. Páez suggests a similar strategy: “Among men, it is better to prevent the loss of facial fat compartments before achieving their ultimate weight loss goal.”

Facial error? It depends

In any case, a face with an aged appearance is not always a sign of poor health. Expectations regarding beauty and health have changed over time. “When I see someone who is very tan and thin, I read: too much sport and sun. A person can like his own appearance, but to me his face is damaged. That does not mean that their body does not function properly, but it does mean that they oxidize quickly and that their skin takes the brunt,” says Lorente.

You can be in phenomenal shape and still have an aged face. You can lose 60 pounds and people will still ask if you feel good. You can run three marathons a year and still look ten years older than you should. Another popular refrain is that at some point you have to make the decision between your face or your derriere. Thousands of individuals, from celebrities to everyday people, have chosen the latter.

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