In the era of rapid weight loss powered by GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, patients are celebrating slimmer waistlines—but often at the expense of their facial appearance. The phenomenon now widely known as “Ozempic Face” is characterized by a gaunt, deflated look: hollow cheeks, sagging jowls, and loose neck skin.
While many are turning to injectables or short-term fixes, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Anthony Berlet of New Jersey has pioneered a long-lasting surgical approach he coined Ozempic Face Surgery—designed to restore natural facial contours and youthful definition after rapid weight loss from GLP-1 medications.
His innovative work has garnered national attention, with CNN recently spotlighting the growing demand for surgical solutions to Ozempic-related facial volume loss. Similarly, AOL News covered the trend, emphasizing the emotional and physical transformation patients experience through procedures like Dr. Berlet’s deep plane facelift.
What Is Ozempic Face?
“Ozempic Face” is a term popularized by cosmetic dermatologists to describe the facial changes that can occur after significant weight loss on GLP-1 medications like Ozempic or Wegovy. These medications work by suppressing appetite and promoting weight loss, often very rapidly. The downside? They can reduce the subcutaneous fat that gives the face its fullness.
“Ozempic face isn’t a myth,” says Dr. Berlet. “What we’re seeing is a real, physiological reaction to rapid weight loss. Fat pads that once gave the face youthful volume disappear, and the skin doesn’t always snap back.”
This phenomenon is most visible in patients over 40, whose skin elasticity has already begun to decline. The result is an older, tired, or even “melted” appearance—often completely at odds with how patients feel inside.
Understanding the Hidden Cost of Weight Loss
Weight loss can be life-changing and health-enhancing—but fast and significant fat reduction in the face can lead to aging side effects. The facial skin, now unsupported by volume, begins to droop and deflate.
Patients in their 40s, 50s, and 60s are especially prone to:
- Hollowed cheeks
- Jowling at the jawline
- Deepened nasolabial folds
- Loose or hanging neck skin
- General facial “deflation”
Signs You May Need Ozempic Face Surgery
Not sure if you’re seeing the signs of Ozempic Face? Here are common indicators that you may benefit from a surgical solution:
- Your face looks older or sunken after rapid weight loss
- You’ve lost cheek volume or developed hollow temples
- There is significant loose skin around your jawline or neck
- Dermal fillers no longer provide a natural or sufficient correction
- You feel that your appearance doesn’t match your new health or body
“Each face tells a story,” says Dr. Berlet. “And after Ozempic or Wegovy, that story is one of rapid change. My goal is to restore harmony to the face and bring back the patient’s natural beauty.”
A Surgical Solution: Dr. Berlet’s Deep Plane Facelift
While dermal fillers can help replace some facial volume, they’re often insufficient for those experiencing severe skin laxity and contour loss. That’s where Dr. Berlet’s deep plane facelift makes a true difference.
Unlike traditional facelifts that merely tighten the skin, this advanced technique lifts and repositions the deeper facial structures, including the SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system), restoring volume and shape where it’s most needed. Many patients also benefit from a neck lift, which targets loose or hanging skin under the chin and jawline.
These are not one-size-fits-all procedures. Dr. Berlet customizes every facelift to each patient’s facial anatomy, aging pattern, and degree of volume loss.
Berlet’s Patient Revealing Her Story: Featured on Good Morning America
One such patient, Kimberly Bongiorno from Mount Arlington, NJ, underwent a dramatic transformation under Dr. Berlet’s care—and her results were so impressive, they were featured on Good Morning America.
After losing 45 pounds using Wegovy, Kimberly was excited about her weight loss, but devastated by how her appearance changed.
“It looked like I had melted,” Kimberly recalled in her interview. “I no longer had cheeks, and my neck looked 20 years older.”
She consulted Dr. Berlet and underwent a deep plane facelift and neck lift, which restored her cheek volume, defined her jawline, and tightened her neck. The transformation didn’t just reverse the facial aging—it gave her a new sense of confidence.
Ozempic Face Before and After: Kimberly’s Transformation with Dr. Berlet
Kimberly Bongiorno of Mount Arlington, NJ, experienced a dramatic transformation after losing 45 pounds on Wegovy. Like many patients, the rapid weight loss left her with hollow cheeks, sagging skin, and a prematurely aged appearance—classic signs of what’s now widely referred to as Ozempic Face.
Determined to reclaim her appearance, Kimberly turned to board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Anthony Berlet. Through a personalized deep plane facelift and neck lift, he restored her facial volume, redefined her jawline, and tightened loose skin—producing an outstanding Ozempic before and after result.
Her transformation was so striking it was featured on Good Morning America, and covered by national media outlets like CNN, AOL, and even regional publishers such as News8000, highlighting the growing conversation around facial changes after GLP-1 weight loss drugs.
“Before surgery, I looked closer to 60. Now people think I’m in my 40s,” she said. “It gave me back my confidence.”
Going Beyond the Face: The Ozempic Makeover
Dr. Berlet doesn’t stop at the face. As patients lose significant weight, they often struggle with excess skin and volume loss throughout the body. His custom Ozempic Makeover includes a suite of procedures designed to enhance comfort, mobility, and body aesthetics:
- Arm and thigh lifts to remove sagging skin
- Tummy tucks to contour the midsection
- Breast lifts or augmentation to restore symmetry and shape
- Fat grafting to replenish lost volume naturally
Each treatment plan is fully personalized to ensure the safest, most natural-looking results.
“Skin is heavy and uncomfortable,” Kimberly shared. “This wasn’t something I did to be a supermodel—it was about feeling comfortable in my body again.”
Why Patients Trust Dr. Anthony Berlet
With more than two decades of experience in facial and body rejuvenation, Dr. Anthony Berlet is a leader and one of the best plastic surgeons in New York, making waves in modern plastic and cosmetic surgery relam. His mastery of advanced techniques like the deep plane facelift—combined with his artistic eye and patient-first approach—makes him a go-to surgeon for patients seeking real, lasting results.
“Patients come to me feeling caught off guard,” says Dr. Berlet. “They didn’t expect their transformation to come with a price. My job is to give them a solution that’s as permanent and rewarding as their weight loss.”
Ready to Restore What You Lost?
If your weight loss has left you feeling older, hollowed, or uncomfortable in your own skin, Dr. Berlet’s Ozempic Face Surgery Solution may be right for you. Skip the short-term fixes and invest in a transformation that reflects your true vitality.
