The Daily Mail reported that more than nine million prescriptions for the wonder drug Ozempic were handed out in the U.S. in the last three months of 2022.
Recently, prescription drugs like Ozempic became mainstream after originally intended for diabetic patients but now also used to lose weight. This dual-use came to be after it was found to diminish one's appetite. In 2021, the FDA approved Ozempic for those suffering from excess weight, but in Hollywood, as in Hollywood, you don't need to suffer from excess weight to inject and slim down.
And yet, it seems that Ozempic users did not read the fine print and did not consider the less pleasant side-effects of the wonder drug, including sunken eyes, sagging skin, and prominent cheekbones, or in short: "Ozempic face" as experts call the phenomenon.
"Ozempic face is essentially the same characteristics that we see when patients have rapid or regular weight loss," explained Dr. Smita Ramanadham, a plastic surgeon in New Jersey. "We see a loss of volume in the face, and when we lose fat in the face we see signs like the cheeks are more sunken in, more sagging skin and a general hollowing out of the features."
A prime example of Dr. Ramanadham's words is Scott Disick's face, who underwent extreme and troubling changes. In recent months, rumors about the reality star's health circulated on gossip sites, and his close associates said he uses Ozempic to get rid of his "dad bod" and emphasized that he does not need drugs.
Dr. Sue Decotiis, a weight loss specialist who has prescribed Ozempic to thousands of patients, said that weight loss appears significantly more noticeable in those with long faces, as the skin stretches.
6 View gallery
Jessica Simpson before and after Ozempic
(Photo: NDZ/Star Max/GC Images/John Shearer/Getty Images)
And yet, the experts claimed that Disick's appearance was truly exceptional, suggesting that other factors may be at play, which aligns with his fans' concerns he has resumed using drugs.
Since Hollywood stars (and local celebrities) are not quick to admit that they use slimming injections, a selection of experts and surgeons, including Dr. Nicholas Jones, a plastic surgeon in Georgia, received photos of fifteen celebrities who have recently lost significant weight. They said that more than half of them, mainly men, are struggling with Ozempic faces.
The experts claimed that the actor John Goodman, 71, is an example of 'Ozempic face', or how the face changes after rapid weight loss because of the deflated appearance of his cheeks and his sunken eyes. They also pointed to more wrinkles on his face. "He hasn't been in the news for anything on Ozempic, so I don't know if it's that," Dr. Ramanadham refuted.
As for Robbie Williams, the experts said "You can see a hollowing under the eyes and the cheeks and more wrinkles appearing because of a loss of volume. With Robbie, you can see the direct results of weight loss." A year ago, the singer referred to his significant weight loss, saying that he lost 25lbs, hinting that it was a wonder drug like Ozempic. He defined the process as a miracle.
Among women, two experts claimed that Sharon Osbourne, 71, is an extreme example of Ozempic face, after revealing that she shed 42lbs through Ozempic. "Her eyes look more sunken in, her cheeks have more hollowing,' said Dr Ramanadham. "There is a significant loss in facial volume as well, and more wrinkling that is associated with it," they said.
Even in our small country, there is a huge demand for Ozempic. "This is a trend that has recently come from the U.S. and is due to the effectiveness of the drugs compared to the past. In the past, they contributed to less significant weight loss, but today, the effectiveness has increased, and we see weight loss with fewer side effects and less effort," explained Dr. Raz Hagoel, Medical Director of Dr. Raz Medical Weight Loss Clinic.
6 View gallery
Sharon Osbourne and the effects of Ozempic
(Photo: Steve Granitz/FilmMagic/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
The rush for Ozempic, and the fact that not everyone managed to get a prescription, also led to the establishment of a flourishing black market. "There are many celebrities, as well as models, who do not meet the criteria for Ozempic and manage to get it in the black market, at 2,000 shekels per injection," said a figure in the drug industry.