Breaking News: Expert Analysis Reveals the Safety of Ozempic-The Truth About Safe Weight Loss Drug

A medication used to manage type two diabetes is now used off label as a weight loss drug. It's called Ozempic. Or Wegovy. You've probably been seeing about it more often, hearing about it, certainly on social media. But there's a lot of questions around the safety of this drug and also some of the side effects. So we're joined this afternoon by Dr. Jon Mendelsohn. He's a Facial Plastic Surgeon here in town and the Medical Director of Advanced Cosmetic Surgery and Laser Center.

Ozempic is the brand name for a medication called Semaglutide. It's used for two main purposes. One is for patients with type two diabetes and the other is for weight loss. It works by basically promoting insulin, which allows our blood sugars to be monitored. And it also works to cause, I would say, patients to become satiated. So they eat less. And it's been very effective for both of those.

Well, you know, most of the side effects that you're talking about are going to be GI related nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. You might see that in many medications. I would say that they're mild overall. We use it a lot. I have family members on the medication. I think it's an extremely safe medication. There is a profile that they're uncertain about with the research with a type of cancer that it could cause. But it's really preliminary data. Research does not strongly suggest that at all.

You have family members who use it for weight loss?
I think, you know one of my family members. My sister, actually, she started on it. She had breast cancer. She gained some weight and she's lost over 30lbs in the last several months. It's usually about a pound and a half per week.

Wow. And of course, this is something someone should consult their doctor before using. What do you tell your patients who decide to take Ozempic?
Yeah, well I think it is important that the appropriate health care provider is the one that's prescribing this and for the right reason. And, you know, one of the reasons why it may work well for weight loss is, you know, diabetics, type two diabetes, often weight loss is one of the recommended protocols. And so by losing weight, the diabetes is probably better under control as well.
You were talking about some of the physical side effects, the nausea and that sort of thing. Talk about the other thing, and I know this is what a lot of I think the thing you're probably seeing on social media, it's called Ozempic Face, I believe, is what they're calling it. So talk about that physical.
Yes. So I wouldn't say that, that's really a side effect of Ozempic. I think that's a side effect of weight loss. And, you know, Sheree, we've had patients come in with hard work, good nutrition, diet, exercise, lose 100, 120lbs. They come to see us because they've lost volume in their face. So they're sagging, they're drooping, and they're coming to us to help restore some of the cosmetic benefit.
So it really can be any time you have just a huge weight loss.
That's right. And so if Ozempic Face is a problem, it might be a nice way to lose weight, actually.

So another trend that we're seeing on social media, is it buckle or buccal fat removal? Is that also in line with Ozempic Face and why people are doing this?

We seem to see this buccal, buccal means cheek. And so there's a pocket of fat in our cheek. So this is very trendy. From time to time we'll see people come in asking for buckle fat removal. The procedure is pretty straightforward. There's a little incision made in the cheek and there's a fat pocket that is removed. The problem is, is that most people aren't great candidates for it. Our providers spend most of their days injecting fillers because of volume loss. You know, as we age, that fat atrophies anyway. So it's not a great procedure for most people.

And the only reason why I think the two are associated is because you can look sort of gaunt or hollow after buccal fat removal.

And that's one of those things. What do you tell patients that maybe want cosmetic procedures due to a trend that may go away in 10 or 15 years?

Yeah. Well, this trend with buccal fat, I absolutely would caution people on. Most trends I would caution people on. But you know depending on what your goals are, what your anatomy is and there are procedures that can provide benefits.

And I guess the takeaway with the OZEMPIC that we were talking about is talk to your doctor no matter what.
Ozempic or any weight loss medication. But I do think Ozempic is a safe medication. It is popular and it works very effectively.
Thank you so much, Dr. Jon Mendelson, joining us from Advanced Cosmetic Surgery and Laser Center. He really is a wealth of knowledge. And as a plastic surgeon, always one of those people who's just kind of very safe and never pushy with people. So we appreciate you being here with us today.