Natural Weight Loss or "Ozempic Face": Demystifying A Social Media Phenomenon

New patients turning to semaglutide (Ozempic® and Wegovy®), a glucagon-like-peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist, for weight loss, have captivated social media platforms. Wegovy® carries a United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for chronic weight management in patients who have a body mass index (BMI) 27 kg/m2 or greater and at least one weight-related condition (eg, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cholesterol) or in patients with a 30 kg/m2 or greater BMI. Although other semaglutide formulations are not FDA approved for weight loss, the term "Ozempic face" has consumed the media with the medication's rising popularity. This term is a new purported side effect, used to describe the rapid facial weight loss leaving a distorted facial appearance. This challenges the healthcare team to discern whether a new adverse effect is a novel or a natural consequence of rapid weight loss. Dermatologists are well positioned to counsel patients receiving or discontinuing GLP-1 agonists and recommend appropriate countermeasures, as appropriate.