Gemma Collins has expressed surprise at the side effects of weight loss medication she’s been using.
The 44-year-old TV personality, known for her openness about body image, recently shared that she has been using Mounjaro, a weight loss injection approved by the NHS. She also mentioned that the drug, along with its well-known counterpart Ozempic, can cause side effects that vary for each person. Some of these effects, she noted, are most noticeable in the face due to the significant weight loss.
Collins, who has lost two stone since starting the medication, feels that the change in her appearance has made her look “significantly older.”
“I really don’t know what’s happened to me,” she wrote on Instagram. “It just came on overnight. But it’s been a year since I’ve had any little tweakments.” She added, “I don’t know if it’s because of the weight loss. I haven’t got ‘Ozempic face’ yet, but that would be the dream right now.”
“Ozempic face” refers to the facial changes that occur with rapid weight loss due to the injection, with experts warning that users may appear more “aged” as the fat in their face decreases, leading to a “deflated” look.
“I’ve always had a fuller face,” Collins continued. “I like the expression around my eyes. I want to look natural, but this isn’t right. I’m 44, but I never imagined this would happen.”
Dr. Oren Tepper, a New York-based plastic surgeon, spoke about the increase in “Ozempic face” in an interview with The New York Times. He explained, “Fat in the face is typically more helpful than harmful when it comes to aging. While weight loss might turn back your biological age, it often accelerates facial aging.”
Regarding whether these changes can be reversed, Dr. Tepper noted that non-invasive treatments like fillers could help, but they can be costly. However, when a significant amount of weight is lost quickly, fillers may not be sufficient to restore facial volume, and plastic surgery might be required. He added that many people using weight loss medications are unaware of the potential impact on their facial appearance.
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