Losing weight—especially with the help of a GLP-1 medication—can feel like the biggest hurdle, but what comes next is just as important. As your body settles into its new rhythm, you might notice changes in your skin’s glow, firmness, or contour—especially in the face. That’s where our 90-Day Glow Plan comes in. Backed by leading aesthetic experts, this three-month strategy combines professional treatments, targeted supplementation and glow-boosting skin care to help restore radiance, rebuild structure and bring your healthiest complexion forward.
Ahead, experts weigh in on how to strengthen, stimulate and sculpt your way back to a radiant, lifted look—without losing the progress you’ve worked so hard for.
Featured Experts
- Dr. Jessie Cheung is a board-certified dermatologist in Willowbrook, IL
- Dr. Kay Durairaj is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Pasadena, CA
Month 1: Rebuild From Within
The first step to restoring your post–weight loss glow starts on the inside. According to Willowbrook, IL dermatologist Dr. Jessie Cheung, post-weight loss skin changes go far beyond what you see in the mirror.
As patients lose weight—especially with GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic or Wegovy—many notice a gaunt or deflated look in the face, a side effect that’s come to be known as “Ozempic Face.” The term refers to the hollowing, sagging, or loss of definition that can occur when fat volume decreases faster than the skin can adapt.
“When we talk about loss of skin elasticity after weight loss, it’s not just about the skin being ‘stretched out,’” Dr. Cheung explains. “From a dermatology and regenerative standpoint, the changes are happening deep within the skin’s architecture and signaling pathways. Collagen and elastin fibers become fragmented and thinner, and as fat volume drops, we lose the internal scaffolding that supports firmness and contour.”
She adds that GLP-1 medications can accelerate these changes by breaking down white adipose tissue (WAT)—the fat layer that stores stem cells vital for collagen production, repair, and healing. “In aesthetics, WAT isn’t just padding,” she says. “It’s a regenerative layer that houses adipose-derived stem cells responsible for collagen production, repair and wound healing. So when we lose WAT, we’re not only losing volume, we’re also losing a layer of regenerative potential.”
The impact becomes even more significant with age. “With aging and menopause, that WAT becomes even more important, since it acts as a peripheral source of estrogen,” she notes. “By shrinking this fat depot, GLP-1 agonists may indirectly reduce local estrogen production, further contributing to thinning, dryness and laxity.”
She points out that maintaining lean muscle is also crucial. “GLP-1s can contribute to the loss of lean mass, not just fat, especially if patients aren’t maintaining adequate protein intake and exercising. That includes facial muscles and deeper support structures, which are crucial for the youthful lift and definition we associate with a healthy, vibrant face.”
Ultimately, “the changes we see in ‘Ozempic Face’ go beyond simple volume loss—we have compromised tissue quality from stretching and inflammation, less structural support and decreased regenerative capacity.”
To counter these effects, Dr. Cheung recommends rebuilding from within. “I recommend my patients support their skin’s regenerative capacity from every angle, inside and out,” she says. “That means supplementing internally with protein and collagen peptides, micronutrients such as vitamin D, B, zinc and iron and electrolytes, and topically with retinoids, copper peptides, growth factors and polynucleotides to stimulate repair and regeneration. Supporting detoxification pathways with liver and kidney supplements, glutathione and infrared light therapy, lymphatic massage and sauna also help circulation and renewal.”
Month 2: Stimulate Collagen and Tighten Skin
Once your internal foundation is stronger, it’s time to wake up collagen production.
“To restore skin firmness, I recommend non-invasive treatments such as radiofrequency, microneedling with skin boosters, ultrasound and laser-based tightening, [as well as] biostimulatory injections with Sculptra and hyperdilute Radiesse, [which] can rebuild collagen and elastin over time,” says Dr. Cheung. She’s also a fan of EmFace, a treatment that uses synchronized radiofrequency and muscle stimulation to contour, build tone and tighten skin.
At home, she adds, “it’s important to support these treatments with active skincare, regular exfoliation and even red light therapy.”
Month 3: Restore Lift and Facial Balance
With collagen stimulation underway, the final phase of the 90-Day Glow Plan focuses on restoring structure and definition. That’s where hyperdilute Radiesse may be your best choice once again—this time, as a tool for lifting and contouring the face after GLP-1–related weight loss, rather than solely improving skin texture and firmness. The difference comes down to placement and purpose: in its diluted form, Radiesse stimulates collagen to firm and smooth skin, while in its standard form, it’s used more deeply to rebuild contour and restore definition.
Pasadena, CA facial plastic surgeon Dr. Kay Durairaj explains that rapid weight loss—especially with GLP-1s—can leave the face looking hollow.
“When patients lose weight, especially with the rapid loss associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP1RAs), there is a corresponding loss of structural fat in the face,” she says. “This volume depletion means the overlying skin and soft tissues lose their support, leading to sagging, hollowing and a more skeletal appearance. This is often most noticeable in the cheeks and around the eyes.”
Her treatment of choice? Hyperdilute Radiesse. “In a recent case series I authored for Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum, we focused on treating patients on GLP-1 agonists with hyperdilute Radiesse. Despite these patients losing an average of 24.3 pounds, we used objective 3D imaging to confirm improvements in key facial areas. We saw that average cheek volume actually increased by 9.8% while jowl volume declined by 55.8%. The depth of nasolabial folds and marionette lines also decreased significantly.”
She emphasizes that results depend on collagen stimulation, not filling. “The key to a natural result is leveraging the versatility of Radiesse as a biostimulator,” Dr. Durairaj explains. “My new technique involves using a hyperdiluted form of Radiesse, which shifts its primary function from direct filling to stimulating the body’s own collagen production and improving the skin’s foundational scaffolding.”
Her multi-depth injection approach, also detailed in Aesthetic Surgery Journal, targets both mid and lower face rejuvenation. “We used a hyperdilute (1:3) mixture of Radiesse in the lower face,” she says. “This method focuses on biostimulation to build a new collagen scaffold, which supports the tissue, improves skin quality, and provides a subtle lift without adding unnatural bulk. This is how we can preserve facial harmony and achieve a refreshed, natural result that counteracts the effects of weight loss. Using this approach, 100% of the patients in our study reported being ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with their results.”
The TL;DR: Your 90-Day Glow Plan Checklist
Month 1 — Rebuild From Within
- Supplement with protein, collagen peptides, vitamin D, B, zinc, iron and electrolytes
- Add retinoids, copper peptides, growth factors and polynucleotides
- Support circulation and detoxification with glutathione, lymphatic massage, sauna, and infrared light
Month 2 — Stimulate and Tighten
- Ask your provider about radiofrequency, ultrasound, or microneedling with boosters
- Consider biostimulatory injectables like Sculptra or hyperdilute Radiesse
- Maintain results with active skincare and red-light therapy
Month 3 — Lift and Balance
- Address facial hollowing with Radiesse for collagen stimulation and structure
- Consider for multi-depth techniques
- Continue collagen-stimulating skincare and muscle-toning treatments such as EmFace
