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Tips on how to repair 'Ozempic physique' — the sagging pores and skin brought on by stylish weight-loss medication

  • Extra individuals are in search of therapy for free, saggy pores and skin after taking the burden loss drug Ozempic.
  • A plastic surgeon mentioned Ozempic sufferers may expertise looser pores and skin than bariatric surgical procedure sufferers.
  • He mentioned he treats sufferers with free pores and skin utilizing a tummy tuck, which contain snipping off extra pores and skin.

Many have reported dropping substantial weight after taking the stylish drug semaglutide, which has the model title Ozempic or Wegovy. However plastic surgeons say they’re seeing an increase in sufferers coming in with saggy, free pores and skin that seems after dramatic weight reduction — a phenomenon generally known as “Ozempic face” or “Ozempic physique.” 

Semaglutide works by suppressing the urge for food by balancing out hormones equivalent to insulin. Initially permitted by the Meals and Drug Administration to deal with diabetes in 2017, semaglutide turned the primary FDA-approved drug for weight administration in 2021. 

Ozempic itself doesn’t trigger free pores and skin greater than some other type of weight reduction, endocrinologist Rocio Salas-Whalen beforehand instructed Insider. However the drug may cause sufferers to shed pounds sooner than different types of weight administration, together with bariatric surgical procedure.

Throughout bariatric surgical procedure, surgeons take away components of the abdomen, which might result in weight reduction by lowering appetite-inducing indicators associated to the hormone ghrelin, which is produced within the abdomen.  

Although many plastic surgeons are used to seeing sufferers are available in with free pores and skin after bariatric surgical procedure, Ryan Neinstein, a board-certified plastic surgeon primarily based in New York Metropolis who focuses on superior liposuction and a set of procedures that’s know as “mommy makeover surgical procedure,” instructed Insider he is more and more seeing extra folks with the identical problem after taking Ozempic. 

Neinstein mentioned lots of his sufferers on Ozempic have misplaced a substantial quantity weight in a brief period of time, resulting in even stretchier, looser pores and skin than his bariatric surgical procedure sufferers may need.

“The phenomenon with Ozempic is, with muscle mass and fats lowering so shortly, the pores and skin’s turning into stretchier than it’s purely with the bariatric surgical procedure, from what I am seeing,” he mentioned.

Train and adopting wholesome habits may help sagging pores and skin

Free or saggy pores and skin following weight reduction could be short-term. Most individuals see pores and skin return to regular between 6 to 18 months following bariatric surgical procedure, and other people can see sooner outcomes in the event that they train or undertake different wholesome habits like quitting smoking, Insider beforehand reported.

Since Ozempic has solely been round a couple of years, docs are nonetheless determining whether or not free pores and skin is extra prone to persist after taking weight-loss medication, Neinstein mentioned. However his first strategy in serving to Ozempic sufferers is identical as with bariatric surgical procedure sufferers: encouraging persistence and train.

How plastic surgeons take away free pores and skin 

If his sufferers have tried different approaches and nonetheless need cosmetic surgery, Neinstein will discuss to them a few “tummy tuck” process, through which he trims off extra pores and skin and fats from the torso and generally the arms, and thighs and stitches collectively what’s left. 

The common price of a tummy tuck is $6,154, in keeping with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, however varies relying on the surgeon’s experience and placement. Most medical insurance plans don’t cowl tummy tucks or their problems, per ASPS, however docs will typically work with sufferers on versatile fee plans.

Neinstein mentioned the surgical procedure lasts three to 4 hours, and sufferers keep in a single day for monitoring. Sufferers sometimes are on mattress relaxation for 2 weeks after the process, however restoration from bruising, ache, and swelling normally clears up inside seven days. 

Sufferers on weight reduction medication should cease taking the remedy two weeks earlier than the stomach tuck surgical procedure, Neinstein mentioned, as a result of he has discovered the medication intervene with anesthesia. However, for essentially the most half, the process is protected and efficient when carried out by the hands of a board-certified plastic surgeon, he mentioned.