Having skilled a meteoric buzz in virtually each type of media (particularly TikTok) over the past yr, semaglutide injections (higher identified below model names like Ozempic and Wegovy) have gotten extra widespread than ever earlier than. The prescription drug — which partially, mimics a hormone within the physique that helps suppress urge for food and should encourage important weight reduction — has additionally earned a fame for a myriad of unintended effects, every little thing from gastrointestinal misery to the dramatic influence it could have in your look. A part of that phenomenon was examined earlier this yr when drug customers complained of “Ozempic face,” the place weight reduction had prompted saggy, drawn facial pores and skin resulting from weight reduction simply weeks into utilizing semaglutide.
Now, extra specialists and customers are elevating consciousness about the identical impact which will happen in different areas of the physique, too, together with the derrière. The time period “Ozempic butt” is changing into extra widespread as some sufferers did not intend to expertise free, sagging pores and skin after losing a few pounds.
For many who aren’t conscious, semaglutide, a drug that belongs to a category of medicine known as GLP-1 agonists, was initially authorized for kind 2 diabetes remedy and stimulating the pancreas; it additionally helps lower urge for food and the motion of meals by means of the gastrointestinal system, which is commonly how customers start to shed extra pounds. Semaglutide does not formally trigger pores and skin points by any means — however weight reduction alone can immediate sagging, free pores and skin, explains David Nazarian, M.D., medical director of MyConciergeMD, a non-public apply in Beverly Hills.
“When an individual loses a big quantity of weight, the pores and skin might not totally bounce again to its unique tautness,” he provides. “That is extra evident if the burden loss happens extra quickly.”
What’s “Ozempic butt”?
Experiencing free, undefined pores and skin that seems to be deflated just isn’t a brand new phenomenon for anybody who has skilled weight reduction, by any means. However specialists are involved that the speed at which some sufferers are losing a few pounds whereas utilizing semaglutide medicines (significantly within the first few doses) can exacerbate the issue.
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As a result of semaglutide influences starvation and satiety ranges, many sufferers could also be unintentionally curbing the mandatory vitamins they want by means of correct vitamin. Some may be utilizing the drug for weight reduction efforts alone, and might dangerously pair semaglutide with different weight-reduction plan techniques (extreme portion management or skipping meals and fasting, for instance) that healthcare suppliers would not suggest within the first place. It is a actuality that Dr. Nazarian and different suppliers are seeing firsthand, he tells us.
The mixture of losing a few pounds quick and malnutrition might result in poor pores and skin elasticity in areas which can be often well-defined on the physique. For some, it could “age” the face in making a extra concave, hollowed-out look — however for others, the identical impact can happen round your rear finish.
It could be as a result of your pores and skin cannot catch as much as the tempo of weight reduction you might be experiencing. If you happen to shed extra pounds too shortly (particularly when you’ve got held extra physique fats for a protracted time period), pores and skin cannot reshape itself to your new kind because it usually would over an prolonged time period, specialists preserve.
Vitamin may play a task right here, as muscle tissue within the buttocks’ area might be impaired by a eating regimen that is not sufficiently nutrient-dense, Dr. Nazarian provides.
“We’re seeing many sufferers who will not be having the right dietary enter, medical and follow-ups they want after they’re prescribed these medicines,” he says. “Many sufferers will not be conscious they should have sufficient protein of their diets when on these medicines to keep away from muscle breakdown in addition to fats loss; muscle breakdown can additional exacerbate saggy pores and skin look.”
All areas of the physique that naturally include extra physique fats (assume areas just like the thighs, cheeks, stomach — and sure, the butt!) could also be extra susceptible to sagging, free pores and skin than others.
Who’s more than likely to expertise “Ozempic butt”?
It is vital to notice that semaglutide does not immediately trigger free pores and skin, nor will everybody who makes use of this drug expertise it. However for anybody who does discover a lack of pores and skin elasticity throughout weight reduction — whether or not within the face, or of their rear, thighs, or different shapely areas — it could be a sign that your present vitamin consumption is not adequate on your wants.
“Anybody who loses a big quantity of fats and muscle in a brief time period can expertise sagging pores and skin within the areas of the physique the place they lose essentially the most weight,” Dr. Nazarian explains.
The correlation between saggy pores and skin and medicines like Ozempic and Wegovy is linked to how a lot weight a affected person loses, plus how briskly they lose it. Failing to fulfill correct protein intakes by means of a wholesome, balanced eating regimen might set off the problem as analysis properly establishes that semaglutide might set off muscle loss in some sufferers throughout use.
How specialists say you’ll be able to deal with “Ozempic butt”
Most of the time, healthcare suppliers seek the advice of sufferers who’re utilizing semaglutide to craft a personalized health plan that enables sufferers to make sure they aren’t dropping muscle mass whereas on remedy. Growing gluteal muscle measurement — the focused muscle tissue in your butt — by means of managed train is an effective method to fill out and tighten free pores and skin over time.
However many are resorting to surgical corrections and different beauty instruments to revert saggy pores and skin, says Jeffrey G. Lind II, M.D., a double board-certified plastic surgeon and founding father of the Lind Institute of Plastic Surgical procedure in Texas, who works with sufferers to discover choices like pores and skin excision, injectable fillers and skin-tightening techniques, which all vary from surgical to noninvasive choices.
Different notable unintended effects of semaglutide medicines like Ozempic, Wegovy
Weight reduction is an meant aspect impact of semaglutide for a lot of sufferers, although excessive weight reduction could cause points like sagging pores and skin because of this. However different identified unintended effects of this sort of medicine can embrace variations of the next, in keeping with supplies printed by the Mayo Clinic, in varied severities that fluctuate from affected person to affected person:
Reducing weight too shortly comes with its personal set of potential unintended effects and dangers, past saggy pores and skin. The Mayo Clinic notes that fast weight reduction poses a danger of gallstone growth, in addition to extra points like persistent dehydration and malnutrition, amongst others. Finally, it is essential to observe semaglutide use along with your major healthcare supplier — and to not search out non-prescribed variations of this medicine.
Editor’s observe: Weight reduction, well being and physique picture are advanced topics — we invite you to achieve a broader perspective by studying our exploration into the hazards of eating regimen tradition.
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