GLP-1 Resource Center

What is Ozempic face, and what can actually be done about it?

Ozempic face is a term used to describe the facial changes that occur during rapid weight loss on GLP-1 medications. It is a common search topic, and one where nutrition plays a part most patients are never told about. It is worth being clear at the outset about what nutrition can and cannot do here.

What causes it

The primary cause is rapid fat loss from the face. Fat gives the face structure, volume, and a youthful appearance. When weight loss occurs quickly, as it does on GLP-1 medications, facial fat depletes alongside body fat, leading to hollowed temples, flattened cheeks, deepened nasolabial folds, and more prominent bone structure. The 2026 Allergan Aesthetics survey found that 61% of GLP-1 patients report midface volume loss, 50% report skin laxity, and 35% report visible wrinkles or folds.

Where nutrition fits

Facial change tends to track the overall rate and composition of weight loss. Across GLP-1 trials the share of weight lost as lean mass depends on the medication: about 26 percent on tirzepatide, and up to 45 percent on semaglutide, with a class-wide average near 30 percent and reported figures ranging from 20 to 50 percent.* In the SURMOUNT-1 DXA substudy the placebo group lost the same ratio as the treatment group, 25 percent against 26 percent, so this is weight loss behaving as weight loss rather than the medication doing something unusual. Fat-free mass measured by DXA includes water, glycogen, and connective tissue, so it is not skeletal muscle alone. Skin itself is built from protein, and collagen synthesis depends on a steady supply of amino acids. Adequate protein intake supports lean mass and provides the skin with raw material during a period of rapid change.* Most guidelines recommend 1.0 to 1.2 g of protein per kg of body weight per day during active weight loss, and a 2026 review recommends 1.2 to 1.5 g/kg/day.

What nutrition cannot do

No supplement can hold facial fat in place, and we do not claim one can. Facial volume loss follows fat loss, and the pace of that loss is a conversation for your prescriber. If the change is significant and bothers you, a dermatologist or aesthetic clinician can discuss options that sit outside what nutrition can offer.

The TAKE approach

TAKE Nourish provides 21g of plant protein per serving in Chocolate and 20g per serving in Vanilla, which helps in meeting daily protein targets while appetite is suppressed.* TAKE Build provides 5,000mg of creatine monohydrate per serving. A June 2026 meta-analysis in JISSN of seven randomised trials across 608 postmenopausal women found lean mass higher by 0.37kg and leg press strength higher by 7.5kg, but only at 5g or more daily combined with resistance movement, with no effect at lower doses or without it. Both are included in The Strength System.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. TAKE products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual results vary. Always speak with your healthcare provider about medication side effects or medical concerns.