(Formerly Kamila Skin Care)

The GLP-1 Side Effect No One Mentions: What "Ozempic Face" Is and What Actually Helps

ROW 89 Team • October 22, 2026 • 8 min read

Rocio Romero, PA-C, in a white coat and black turtleneck, looking down in front of ROW 89's wood-slat wall

Five months into her GLP-1, Elena felt better than she had in years. More energy, easier mornings, a doctor pleased with her numbers. At 56, she had finally stopped dreading dressing rooms.

Then, on her way to the final fitting for her mother-of-the-bride dress, she stepped into the elevator of her Carnegie Hill building and caught her reflection under the flat overhead light.

Her cheeks looked hollow. The shadows under her eyes seemed deeper. She didn't look unwell, exactly. She looked tired, and not quite like herself.

At the boutique, a friend snapped a photo of her in the dress. Elena found herself zooming in on her face instead of the silk.

That night she sat at the kitchen table with a cup of tea and a dozen open browser tabs. She didn't regret a single pound. But her daughter's wedding was eight weeks away, and the questions kept circling. Was this normal? Should she do something now, or wait? Would anything she tried still look like her?

By morning, she had decided to stop guessing and ask a medical professional for advice.

Elena is a composite of clients we hear from often; names and details are changed.

If Elena's evening sounds familiar, you're not imagining it. On October 21, 2026, Reuters reported that Galderma, L'Oréal and Natura are testing treatments for the facial sagging and volume loss some people notice after losing weight on GLP-1 medicines. The internet has a name for it: "Ozempic face."

Our team on the Upper East Side walks you through what's happening, what can help and why timing matters. Losing weight is your health decision; how you feel about your face is yours, too.

This article is general information, not medical advice. GLP-1 medicines are prescription drugs. Talk with a licensed clinician about whether any medication or treatment is right for you.

Why your face tells a different story than your jeans

When weight comes off, your jeans get looser. Your face doesn't just get smaller. It can lose shape.

GLP-1 medicines can cause fat loss throughout the body, including the face, as an American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) article notes. On a waistline, that reads as slimmer. On a face, it can read as hollow.

A 2024 review in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology describes a hollow or gaunt look around the midface, temples and under-eyes, and notes that when weight comes off quickly, skin doesn't have time to adjust.

"Ozempic face" is a nickname, not a diagnosis. Cleveland Clinic calls it "not a medical term" and describes facial volume loss from rapid weight loss: sunken cheeks, wrinkles and an older look.

Here's the twist: the drug isn't the direct cause. Experts quoted by Reuters link these changes to rapid weight loss, and Cleveland Clinic says Ozempic face "isn't a side effect of the medication itself." Similar changes can follow bariatric surgery. As one dermatologist told Reuters, "The drug doesn't melt your collagen."

In other words, it's a side effect of losing weight quickly. Two things tend to make it more noticeable:

  • Speed and amount. As the ASPS article puts it, "significant, quick weight loss doesn't always leave skin that snaps back."
  • Age. Cleveland Clinic notes that older adults are more likely to see these changes, partly because they have less fat under the skin to begin with.

Why a cream alone can't fill it back in

It's tempting to look for the answer in a jar. But skincare has limits.

A plastic and craniofacial surgeon told Reuters that creams can't alter the ligament structure of the face or reposition its deep fat pads. "There is a limit to what these things can do," he said.

A consultant dermatologist added that there has never been evidence that topical skincare reaches the fat layer where volume is lost. She said injectable fillers work better than creams because they can reach the dermis.

So a realistic plan usually has layers: restoring volume, supporting skin quality and healthy habits.

The timing mistake that can make it look worse

The catch: your face keeps changing for as long as you're losing weight. Correct volume too early, and you may be chasing a moving target.

There's no settled rule. The 2024 review calls timing "a central challenge" and asks whether practitioners should wait until weight stabilizes, perhaps three, six or nine months after the loss. For facial surgery, a facial plastic surgeon interviewed by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) recommends at least three to six months of stable weight first. He adds that minimally invasive skin tightening may not provide the desired long-term results if significant weight loss continues.

Weight regain matters too. Facial plastic surgeon Theda Kontis, MD, said in an AAFPRS press release that if weight comes back, filler "can start to look very distorted if it has not been placed precisely."

A sensible plan to discuss with your provider: care for your skin during active loss, and save larger volume corrections for when your weight is fairly steady. Have a big date coming, like Elena's wedding? Mention it early.

What actually helps, from filler to radiofrequency

Hyaluronic acid fillers for lost volume

Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers such as Juvéderm, Belotero and RHA are a common choice for replacing volume. The 2024 review calls HA fillers "highly effective in replenishing lost volume and restoring facial contours."

The FDA lists cheeks, chin, jawline and under-eye hollows among approved areas and notes that the effects of most approved fillers are temporary, so touch-ups are part of the plan.

Bruising, redness and swelling are common. The most serious risk is accidental injection into a blood vessel, so the FDA advises working with a licensed provider experienced in injecting fillers. See dermal fillers.

Radiesse for structure

Radiesse is a calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) filler. The 2024 review says CaHA can add structural support, particularly along the jawline and cheekbones, and groups it with biostimulatory fillers that stimulate collagen production. Expect gradual, modest change.

One caveat: the authors note that data are still thin for some of these treatments, and many recommendations rest on practitioner experience.

RF microneedling and radio frequency facials

For looser or crepey skin, ask about radiofrequency (RF), which heats the dermis to prompt a healing response. RF microneedling uses fine needles to carry that energy deeper.

A 2023 review in Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum reported improvements in wrinkles and laxity in studies of RF microneedling, with side effects such as discomfort, redness, swelling and grid-pattern marks. It's often done as a series.

Keep expectations modest. In the ASPS article, Kelly Killeen, MD, said noninvasive and minimally invasive tightening technologies "still leave a lot to be desired." See RF microneedling, or ask about a needle-free radio frequency facial.

Hydrating facials for comfort

Facials won't replace lost fat, but an Ultra-Hydrating Glow Facial or Hydradermie facial can help dry, tired-looking skin feel more comfortable while your face adjusts. Cleveland Clinic also suggests staying hydrated and wearing sunscreen daily.

The everyday habits that protect your face while you lose

Cleveland Clinic suggests aiming for slower loss, about one to two pounds a week, and eating enough protein to help build muscle as you lose fat.

But protein alone may not be enough. A 2025 joint advisory from four medical and nutrition groups, including the Obesity Medicine Association and The Obesity Society, says GLP-1s should be prescribed with a structured exercise program, including strength training at least three times a week, and notes that more protein alone is likely inadequate to preserve muscle.

A morning walk in Carl Schurz Park is a lovely start; add resistance work on top, and ask your clinician about a protein target that fits your health.

Considering a GLP-1? What supervised care on East 89th Street looks like

ROW 89 offers medically supervised GLP-1 weight-loss treatment led by Rocio Romero, PA-C, our board-certified physician assistant and Practice Director. A few honest points:

  • These are prescription medicines. Whether one is right for you is decided by the provider at a consultation, based on your health history.
  • Side effects are possible. Cleveland Clinic lists loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea among the most common.
  • Results vary. No one can promise a specific amount of weight loss.
  • One provider for both questions. Rocio also performs ROW 89's injectables, so you can ask about facial changes and timing as you go.

There's no online booking for GLP-1 care yet. Call (212) 722-1959 or message us on WhatsApp to ask about GLP-1 weight-loss treatment, or book a New Patient Consult with Rocio. Learn more on our weight-loss page.

Curious about exosomes? Here's the honest answer

ROW 89 also offers exosome treatments. To be clear: exosome products are not FDA-approved (the FDA has stated there are currently none), and the evidence is still emerging, so we make no claims about what they will do.

Ask Rocio at your consult: she can explain what the treatment involves and whether it's worth considering for you. Call (212) 722-1959 or WhatsApp us to ask.

Ready for real answers? Book at ROW 89

You don't have to figure this out alone at the kitchen table.

ROW 89 is at 219A East 89th Street, between Second and Third Avenues, open 10am–8pm daily. We're a short walk for Yorkville neighbors, and about five minutes from the 86th Street Q station and ten from the 86th Street 4/5/6.

Prefer to browse? See the full menu. Results vary, and every plan starts with an honest conversation about your goals.

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