A doctor says he’s seen a surge of patients who need treatment after having injections to help manage their weight.
Dr Ed Robinson now spends much of his time reversing cosmetic damage caused by skinny jabs, with facial damage and hair loss among the most common concerns.
The cosmetic aesthetic doctor says 15% of his patients are actively using weight-loss medications, while 30% have asked if he can provide the same treatment. However, many quickly realise that the reality isn’t as glamorous as they’d hoped. “Weight-loss drugs make you lose weight so rapidly that it triggers cosmetic changes,” Dr Ed, who also works as an NHS anaesthetist, explains.
“Patients are noticing that they are left with a very thin face and gaunt expression. The fat-pads in the cheeks, forehead, and lower face are so important for keeping you looking youthful and so many of my clients are complaining of premature ageing.
“I am carrying out 4-5 consultations a week with patients requesting dermal fillers or collagen stimulators to revolumise areas and undo ‘Ozempic face’.”
Weight loss drugs are usually used to treat diabetic or overweight patients by reducing their appetite and helping them to lose weight quickly. “The issue is that people who are only slightly overweight, or not overweight at all, are now using weight-loss medications because they want to be skinny with minimal effort,” he adds. “It is not appropriate for this cohort of patients.
“However, as soon as these patients stop taking the medication, they rapidly gain weight again as they were not exercising or changing their psychological behaviour patterns to lose weight in the first place. Yet, many find that even as they gain weight and stop using the drugs, gauntness remains.
“Additionally, several patients are worried about rapid hair loss side-effects and are requesting non-surgical treatments to improve hairlines. They are desperate to get their hands on these drugs, and do not consider the cosmetic side-effects, nor the fact that we are unaware of the long-term impacts.
“It is particularly concerning when these patients are going through the menopause, when hair loss and gaunt expressions are already a reality. I am seeing patients ageing beyond their years. Before 2024 I had never seen a single patient mentioning these medications, but it now seems to be spiralling out of control.”