Ozempic face: role of cosmetologists in preventing and treating skin and soft tissue changes

Chronic diseases caused by excessive fat accumulation are a global concern in modern society. Obesity increases the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and other serious disorders and complications. Insufficient efficacy of lifestyle modification approaches (balanced diet, regular exercise, etc.) necessitates drug therapy, which is selected based on the severity of obesity and concomitant conditions. Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, is used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. It has become widely used owing to high efficacy in reducing body weight, which significantly improves the metabolic profile. However, semaglutide-induced weight loss frequently causes a significant reduction in fat depots, impaired skin quality, and facial muscle atrophy, resulting in premature aging, including in young patients. This phenomenon is known as Ozempic face. Therefore, timely cosmetic procedures are recommended for the prevention and treatment of these changes to preserve natural-looking and healthy skin. Procedures that improve and restore skin quality, such as collagen stimulation therapy, biorevitalization, phototherapy, and radiofrequency therapy, are especially beneficial in preparation for semaglutide therapy. Cosmetic procedures performed during semaglutide therapy must improve skin quality while also maintaining facial muscles and ligaments (for example, using supramaximal high-voltage electrical stimulation) and preserving fat compartments and natural face contours.