Significant weight loss can leave behind loose facial skin, hollow cheeks, jowls, deeper folds, and a less defined jawline. Often called “Ozempic face” when associated with GLP-1 medications, these changes can occur after substantial weight loss from other causes as well.
A facelift after weight loss can address sagging facial tissues, excess skin, jowling, and loss of definition along the lower face and neck. At Kessler Plastic Surgery in Corona del Mar, CA, Dr. Robert Kessler can evaluate your facial changes and determine whether a facelift, with or without volume restoration, is appropriate.
How Weight Loss Changes the Face
Losing a significant amount of weight can affect the facial tissues in several ways. As facial fat decreases and the skin loses support, you may notice:
- Facial volume loss: The cheeks, temples, and other areas may appear hollow or less full.
- Loose skin: Skin that has stretched over time may not fully contract after weight loss.
- Jowls: Reduced volume and skin laxity can cause tissue to descend along the lower face.
- Less defined jawline: Excess skin and shifting facial tissues can obscure the natural contour of the jaw.
- Neck laxity: Loose skin and tissue beneath the chin can create a less defined transition between the face and neck.
The extent of these changes depends on factors such as the amount and speed of weight loss, age, skin elasticity, and your underlying facial structure. While some concerns involve lost volume, significant skin and tissue laxity may require a surgical approach, such as a facelift, to restore facial contour.
What Is “Ozempic Face”?
“Ozempic face” is a popular term for facial changes that can occur after significant or rapid weight loss, including weight loss associated with Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications. Loss of facial fat can make the cheeks and temples appear hollow, while reduced skin elasticity may contribute to sagging, jowls, and deeper folds.
These changes are not unique to Ozempic. Similar facial volume loss and skin laxity can develop after substantial weight loss from diet and exercise, bariatric surgery, or other causes. The appropriate treatment depends on whether your primary concern is lost facial volume, loose skin, and sagging tissues, or both.
How Can a Facelift Address Post-Weight-Loss Facial Changes?
A facelift can address the loose skin and sagging facial tissues that may become more noticeable after significant weight loss. By repositioning underlying tissues and removing excess skin, facelift surgery can improve:
- Sagging cheeks and facial tissues that have descended
- Jowls along the lower face
- Loose skin along the cheeks, jawline, and lower face
- Poor jawline definition caused by excess skin and tissue laxity
- Neck laxity and loose skin beneath the chin
- Overall facial contour when weight loss has altered the position of the facial tissues
A facelift primarily restores the position of sagging tissues and removes excess skin. It does not replace facial fat lost during weight loss, so patients with significant hollowing or volume loss may benefit from a complementary treatment such as facial fat transfer.
Can a Facelift Restore Facial Volume After Weight Loss?
A facelift can improve facial contour, but it does not directly replace the fat lost during significant weight loss. When volume loss is a major concern, fat grafting may be performed with a facelift to address both sagging and facial deflation.
Fat transfer uses your own fat to add volume to areas that may appear hollow after weight loss, such as the cheeks or temples. Combining facial fat grafting with a facelift can address two distinct effects of weight loss: lost volume and lax, sagging tissues. The appropriate approach depends on your facial anatomy, the amount of volume lost, and the degree of skin laxity.
When Should You Consider a Facelift After Weight Loss?
It may be appropriate to consider a facelift once your weight has stabilized and you are no longer expecting significant additional weight loss. Maintaining a stable weight can help your facial contours remain more consistent after surgery.
A facelift may be worth discussing if you have noticeable loose skin, jowls, facial sagging, or reduced jawline and neck definition that remain after reaching your weight-loss goals. If volume loss is also significant, Dr. Kessler can determine whether fat transfer or another treatment should be incorporated into your facial rejuvenation plan.
Restore Facial Contour After Weight Loss
Significant weight loss can leave behind loose skin, jowls, and changes in facial volume. At Kessler Plastic Surgery in Corona del Mar, Dr. Robert Kessler can evaluate whether a facelift, fat transfer, or combination approach is right for you.
Schedule a consultation to discuss your post-weight-loss facial changes and treatment options.
