Now What? Facial Rejuvenation After Weight Loss

You did it! With the help of cutting-edge weight loss medication, you dropped the weight and have seen stunning results. You can wear what you want, clothes fit better, and you look forward to swimsuit shopping. Your confidence is soaring and you’re ready to start a new chapter. Except for one unexpected weight loss by-product: facial changes. Along with a slimmer body, facial fat loss likely also occurred, and for many people, this produces a suddenly hollow, aged appearance with loose skin. The good news is there are a variety of ways to correct this concern and achieve facial rejuvenation after weight loss.

Medical Weight-Loss Trends

In recent years, those seeking medical weight loss solutions have frequently been choosing blood sugar-regulating medications, including semaglutide and tirzepatide. These medications belong to a class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, which imitate the GLP-1 hormone responsible for blood sugar and insulin regulation. Semaglutide is sold under familiar brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, while tirzepatide is sold as Mounjaro. These weekly injectables stimulate a lasting feeling of fullness and curb the appetite resulting in extended weight loss. Many patients using these medications can lose as much as 20 percent of their body weight without the need to stick with extreme lifestyle changes.

How These New Treatments Impact the Face

Soon after Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro began to gain traction as powerful weight loss tools, secondary results, including “Ozempic face,” became part of the discussion. Especially when weight loss occurs quickly, as is frequently the case with semaglutide and tirzepatide, the face can feel the effects in the form of sagging skin and a lack of plump youthfulness. Those who may have been struggling with weight loss for many years may see the effects even more as aging might have happened underneath the layers of subcutaneous fat in the face, which are now revealed. This is common with both women and men who may have begun to gain weight in their 30s or 40s and are now losing the weight in their 40s or 50s.

Popular Facial Treatments After Weight Loss

If you’ve lost weight and are now struggling with sagging skin, sunken cheeks and temples, or other noticeable signs of aging in the face, there are a range of rejuvenation options. Men and women may benefit from cosmetic facial treatment or a combination of procedures, and there are more comprehensive as well as less invasive treatments.

Facelift

A facelift, also known as rhytidectomy, aims to address sagging skin and wrinkles on the face and neck. By tightening underlying tissues and removing excess skin, a facelift can restore a more youthful and refreshed appearance. Depending on each patient’s specific needs, a full facelift, mini facelift, or lower facelift may be chosen for optimal results.

Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, targets sagging or drooping eyelids and under-eye hollowness. By removing excess skin and repositioning fat pads in the upper or lower eyelids, this procedure can rejuvenate the eyes and create a more alert and youthful look.

Neck Lift

A neck lift focuses on improving the appearance of the neck by addressing sagging skin, wrinkles, and muscle laxity. This procedure can redefine the jawline and reduce the appearance of neck bands, resulting in a more toned and tight neck contour. It is often performed along with a facelift as a comprehensive option for facial rejuvenation after weight loss.

Facial Fat Grafting

Facial fat grafting utilizes your own body fat to restore volume and enhance facial contours. The procedure consists of carefully harvesting fat cells from areas like the abdomen, flanks, or thighs, which are then processed, purified, and meticulously injected into targeted areas of the face to bring about renewed volume.

Facetite

For those who have more mild skin laxity or who prefer a non-surgical alternative, Facetite is an effective and safe option. This procedure uses radiofrequency-assisted heating under the skin to contour and tighten the jawline and neck. By delivering controlled thermal energy to targeted areas, Facetite stimulates collagen production and tightens the skin, producing a sculpted appearance.

MyEllevate

If your neck and jawline need a lift, but you're not ready for the downtime and cost of a traditional Neck Lift, MyEllevate can be a great solution. This minimally invasive procedure lifts and tightens the chin, neck, and jawline with minimal recovery time. This technique involves placing sutures under the skin through tiny needle punctures in the neck, which are strategically positioned to provide a lifting and tightening effect.

Facial Fillers

Facial fillers are a popular and effective way to address volume loss after weight loss. Dermal fillers are gel-like substances injected beneath the skin's surface. They work by restoring volume in specific areas, creating a smoother, fuller, and more youthful appearance. Dr. White uses a range of different fillers to suit each patient's needs, with results lasting anywhere from six months to two years, depending on the filler used.

Morpheus8

Another minimally invasive rejuvenation method is the Morpheus8 system. This procedure combines microneedling with radiofrequency energy to rejuvenate the skin and stimulate collagen production. This innovative treatment can address various concerns, including wrinkles and skin laxity, resulting in smoother, firmer, and more youthful-looking skin.

Embrace Your Transformation 

If you’re celebrating weight loss but don’t want to accept unwanted side effects like facial sagging and an aged appearance, you have options for rejuvenation. The best way to decide if one of these treatments or some other cosmetic procedure is right for you is to speak with a plastic surgeon or medical aesthetic expert like Dr. Jeremy White and the staff at ARC Plastic Surgery. Working with highly educated, trained, and skilled professionals is key to achieving outstanding aesthetic results.