According to the Pew Research Center, more than 2 million Americans take Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide, a weight-loss medication, in 2021, indicating a steady rise in demand.
The semglutide medications Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy that Novo Nordisk sold in 2023 generated approximately $21.1 billion for the business.
Unwanted Side Effects
However, as more people take these medications, some are beginning to experience unwanted side effects and body changes, such as Ozempic face and Ozempic butt.
Even though taking a weight-loss medication can make the buttocks look different, experts tell TODAY.com that this is something that can happen with any significant weight loss and can be avoided.
Appetite Suppressant
The term “Ozempic butt” refers to the wrinkly, loose, and sagging skin on some people’s backsides caused by taking weight-loss medications for a long time and losing a lot of weight. There is no official medical diagnosis for ozempic butt.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ozempic, the diabetes treatment that gave rise to the term. Semaglutide, its active ingredient, suppresses appetite by releasing a synthetic version of a hormone the body makes when eating. Ozempic’s sister drug, Wegovy, likewise contains semaglutide and is FDA-supported to treat weight.
Sagging Skin
“Because the weight loss can be so rapid” on Ozempic, Wegovy and comparable medications, users might see sagging skin around their backsides, Dr. F. Clarissa Yang, dermatologist-in-chief at Tufts Medical Center, tells TODAY.com.
She continues, “However, you can see this with any rapid weight loss.”
Novo Nordisk Response
When asked about reports of Ozempic butt, a spokesperson for Novo Nordisk tells TODAY.com: “At Novo Nordisk, patient safety is a top priority. We work closely with the (FDA) to continuously monitor the safety profile of our medicines. We do not have clinical data evaluating the effect of Wegovy or Ozempic on sagging skin on the buttocks.”
“We recommend that any patients experiencing side effects while taking Wegovy or Ozempic contact their health care provider.”
“Most Common Areas”
Alongside quick weight reduction, Ozempic butt can likewise end up happening to people who experience huge weight reduction, no less than 100 pounds or over 40% of one’s excess body weight, Dr. John Burns, a board-certified plastic surgeon and the president at Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute, tells TODAY.com.
The subsequent excess skin can happen in any part of the body where fat had been stored, including the stomach, thighs and arms — “but two of the most common areas of complaint are the face and butt,” he says.
Excess Skin
Burns adds that in both instances, “the amount of excess skin generally tracks with the amount of weight lost,” which means that the more weight lost, the more excess skin is typically left behind.
Both fast and huge weight reduction, usually due to a weight reduction medicine (not only Ozempic), can cause Ozempic butt.
Skin Recovery
Because it loses elasticity and collagen as it expands, excess skin associated with weight loss sags or appears wrinkly, the skin cannot retract as well after weight loss.
Dr. Samuel Lin, a Boston-based plastic surgeon and associate professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, advises TODAY.com, “Think of a balloon that’s losing air. As the balloon deflates, you notice wrinkles and extra material where the air once filled.”
Older Age Groups
Ozempic butt is more likely to occur in older people because collagen and elastin, which help maintain elasticity, deplete with age.
According to dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine Dr. Debra Jaliman, “the younger you are, the more elastic your skin is and the more likely it is to bounce back like a rubber band. The older you are, the more likely your skin is going to sag.”
Skin and Muscle Impact
When taking a weight-loss medication like Ozempic, rapid weight loss can affect the skin and muscles as well.
“When you lose weight, you can lose muscle and bone, in addition to fat,” says Yang.
Minimizing Effects
Ozempic butt and other negative effects of significant weight loss can be minimized, though it is not always possible to completely avoid them.
Jaliman states, “It is always best to lose weight slowly, so you may want to have your doctor monitor the dose of the medication and lower the dose if you’re losing weight too fast.”
Exercise and Nutrition
Dr. Dustin Portela, dermatologist and founder of Treasure Valley Dermatology in Boise concurs that it “can make it easier for the skin to adjust” when losing two to four pounds per week.
Portela advises, “Focus on strength training the large muscles of your legs, hips and buttocks. Strengthening these muscles helps to increase the muscle volume to compensate for the fat loss in these areas and will also help your body process sugar more efficiently and improve your metabolic health.”
Yang emphasizes the importance of eating a diet high in nutrients. She suggests paying attention to your intake of protein and micronutrients like vitamin C, zinc, copper, magnesium, and iron because they can help make your skin look better.
