Known generically as semaglutide, Ozempic is a drug that works to treat type 2 diabetic patients by mimicking a hormone in the body that helps the pancreas increase insulin production, effectively lowering high blood sugar levels. It also slows down digestion and induces satiety resulting in suppressed appetites and weight loss.

Uncut Gems star Julia Fox told Entertainment Tonight last year that she would never take the drug as “there are diabetics that need it”.

However, several high-profile celebrities, such as Amy Schumer and Elon Musk, have openly admitted to taking the drug and successfully shedding pounds. Musk even credited his “fit, ripped and healthy” body to Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, a higher dose of semaglitude.

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Unfortunately, drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy come with side effects such as nausea and excessive weight loss. British television personality Sharon Osbourne, who used Ozempic for weight loss, told British media last year, “You can lose so much weight and it’s easy to become addicted to that, which is very dangerous.”

“I couldn’t stop losing weight and now I’ve lost 42lbs – and I can’t afford to lose any more,” she said.

What does Ozempic do to your face?

Reality TV star Scott Disick’s post-Ozempic transformation was so shocking that several fans expressed concern for his health over his extreme weight loss. According to British media, the 40-year-old is now seeking help and working with nutritionists to get back on track.

The medicine can also lead to users looking gaunt. Dr Paul Jarrod Frank, a celebrity dermatologist from New York, coined the term “Ozempic face” when he observed noticeable changes in the facial appearance of several patients who had lost weight while using the medication.

The side effect can be characterised by “increased signs of ageing, loss of fat, which can lead the skin to become loose and sag, and a hollowed-out appearance”, according to Medical News Today.

Luckily, Galderma Group AG’s boss has an answer for people suffering from sunken faces: fillers.

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Can fillers really fix Ozempic Face?

Galderma’s Sculptra skin treatment and other fillers “should be able to restore this”, CEO Flemming Ornskov said in an interview following its first-quarter earnings.

“I think that will be another growth wave in that space, which I will make sure to capture,” he added.

Weight-loss drugs produced by Novo and Eli Lilly & Co. have surged in popularity as people rush to find quicker and easier ways of shedding pounds. But many patients “end up with faces that look sunk”, Ornskov said. Sculptra boosts collagen production, which helps to treat wrinkles and other signs of ageing.

Ornskov was speaking as the company reported its first earnings as a public company. Galderma, whose brands also include Cetaphil and Alastin, saw sales rise 12 per cent to US$1.07 billion in the first quarter.

Galderma’s shares have surged since last month’s listing, making it one of the most successful initial public offerings of the year amid the recent drought in capital markets.

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