According to plastic surgeons and dermatologists:
Dr. Few estimates that about 25 to 30 percent of his patients are currently taking a GLP-1, and finds that their skin “doesn’t hold its elastic recoil the way it did.” Based on his experience, using a GLP-1 “almost seems to age the quality of the skin, like the skin takes on an appearance of an older person.” He’s seen the skin look more worn and lose its ability to retain its shape around the structures of the face, which might lead to sagging around the jawline, for example. These are changes he hasn’t noticed in patients who have lost significant weight in other ways—like through diet or gastric bypass surgery—which makes him think it’s unique to GLP-1 usage.
While operating on Ozempic patients, Dr. Few started to notice a trend: The skin quality of someone on a GLP-1 was reminding him of an “old, overused rubber band.” Mark Mofid, MD, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in San Diego and La Jolla, makes a similar comparison—it’s like the elastic waistband on a pair of underwear that has stretched out over time.
Dr. Diamond, who specializes in facelift surgeries, has noticed the SMAS layer is “definitely thinner and weaker” on people who have been using GLP-1s for weight loss. (SMAS is an acronym for subcutaneous musculoaponeurotic system, a layer of connective tissues that supports the face.) Usually, the SMAS thins naturally as you get older, which can contribute to facial aging, like sagging around the cheeks, according to a study published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum. And if an Ozempic patient has plans to become a facelift patient, it’s worth noting that the SMAS layer is also essential for natural-looking results.
https://www.allure.com/story/ozempics-effects-on-skin