Restoring Facial Volume After Weight Loss: A Holistic Approach to "Ozempic Face"
Congratulations. You’ve put in the work, prioritized your health, and hit your weight loss goals. Whether through diet, exercise, or the support of GLP-1 medications (like Semaglutide/Tirzepatide), losing weight is a transformative journey for your body.
However, many of our patients in Redondo Beach notice an unexpected side effect: while their body looks stronger and leaner, their face can look tired, gaunt, or older.
In the media, this is often sensationalized as "Ozempic Face." At Uplifted Aesthetics, we view it simply as a volume deficit—a natural biological response to weight loss that has a clear, non-surgical solution.
Why does my face look older after weight loss? Rapid weight loss often depletes essential fat pads in the cheeks and temples that provide structural support. This leads to sagging skin and a hollow appearance.
The Fix: A combination approach is best. We use
structural fillers (like Voluma or Radiesse) to replace lost bone/fat density and
skin tightening (like Pixel8 RF or PDO Threads) to snap the skin back into place.

The Science of the "Gaunt" Look
To understand how to fix it, we have to understand the anatomy. Your face is built on a framework of bone and fat pads. These fat pads act like the scaffolding that holds your skin up.
When we lose weight significant weight, the body doesn't discriminate where it burns fat. Unfortunately for many, facial fat is the first to go.
- The Temples: Loss here creates a "peanut" head shape.
- The Mid-Face: Loss of cheek volume causes the skin to drape forward, creating deeper nasolabial folds (smile lines) and jowls.
- The Skin Envelope: Think of a grape turning into a raisin. The volume inside shrinks, but the surface area of the skin remains the same, leading to laxity.
The Uplifted "Restore & Tighten" Protocol
You shouldn't have to choose between a healthy body and a youthful face. Because Uplifted Aesthetics offers both Medical Weight Loss and Advanced Aesthetics, we are uniquely positioned to manage this balance.
Here is how Hula Castellon, FNP approaches post-weight loss facial balancing:
Phase 1: Structural Restoration (The Foundation)
We don't just "fill wrinkles." We rebuild the scaffolding. Using high-G-Prime fillers like Juvederm Voluma or Radiesse, we place product deep on the bone in the cheeks and chin.
- The Goal: To re-inflate the deep fat pads, which naturally lifts the lower face and restores the "Triangle of Youth."
Phase 2: Addressing the Hollows (The Softening)
Once the structure is back, we look at the transitions.
- Temples: Using Sculptra or dilute filler to soften the transition from the forehead to the cheek.
- Under Eyes: Addressing the tear troughs that often become more visible when cheek volume is lost.
Phase 3: Skin Tightening (The Fit)
If weight loss was rapid, the skin might be loose. Adding volume helps, but sometimes we need to shrink the wrapper to fit the new contents.
- Pixel8 RF Microneedling: To stimulate collagen and tighten the skin surface.
- PDO Threads: To physically lift sagging tissues and reposition them.
Planning Your Journey: Timing is Everything
If you are currently on a weight loss journey, you don't have to wait until you hit your goal weight to start maintaining your face. In fact, "Proactive Pre-Juvenation" is often better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will adding filler make my face look chubby again?
A: No. This is a common myth. When placed correctly by an expert injector, filler replaces structural volume (bone/muscle support), not surface volume (chubby cheeks). The result is a contoured, lifted look—not a round one.
Q: How soon after weight loss can I get treated?
A: You can start immediately. If you are still actively losing weight, we may recommend biostimulators (like Sculptra) that grow with you, rather than permanent structural changes until your weight stabilizes.
Q: Do you offer weight loss support?
A: Yes. Uplifted Aesthetics offers a comprehensive Medical Weight Loss program. Because we manage both your metabolic health and your aesthetic goals, we can ensure you look as good as you feel every step of the way.









