We’ve all seen it by now. That unmistakable look of someone who’s recently lost weight—they’re healthier, more confident and glowing from the inside out. But look a little closer and you might notice something else: a bit of hollowness in the cheeks, sagging along the jawline or skin that looks less firm and more deflated. That precious facial fat, the kind that gives us a cherubic baby face, is often the first to go and it doesn’t always bounce back.
Earlier this year, initial results hinted at a promising injectable approach for reviving “Ozempic face.” Now, new nine-month data confirms that combining Sculptra with Restylane Lyft or Contour can lead to long-lasting improvements. In the study, 88.6 percent of patients said they looked better than before treatment, with visible results that held through the nine-month mark.
What the Study Found
Washington, DC facial plastic surgeon Michael Somenek, MD served as a clinical investigator for the study and says more patients are coming in with the same concern: “I’ve had many patients experience unwanted facial changes like dull or sagging skin and a hollowed-out appearance,” he shares. “These findings demonstrate that Sculptra and Restylane can visibly enhance skin quality and restore volume loss from medication-driven weight loss.”
The study followed patients who had lost weight using GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide. Each was given a personalized treatment plan that paired Sculptra, a collagen-stimulating injectable known for its regenerative effect, with either Restylane Lyft or Contour, both hyaluronic acid fillers commonly used to restore structure in the cheeks and jawline.
At nine months, study participants reported that the results were not only holding, they had improved. Nearly 89 percent of patients reported that they looked better than before starting treatment. More than 88 percent said they loved the regenerative glow Sculptra gave their skin, and the same percentage said the treatment helped maintain their facial structure during weight loss. Over 91 percent said they would recommend the injectable combination to others dealing with similar changes in their appearance. What’s more, they also reported skin hydration and radiance visibly improved.
Structural Support
New York plastic surgeon and fellow clinical investigator Z. Paul Lorenc, MD notes that it’s powerful to now have clinical data behind what many physicians have observed for years. “We’ve always seen that post-weight-loss patients have this dullness or fatigue in their skin. Seeing that glow come back, and having the data to prove it, is huge.”
While the injecatable combination of a biostimulator like Sculptra along with a hyaluronic acid-based filler is not new, it’s encouraging for patients to know they don’t have to worry about hollowing in the long term as they continue their journey. Whether it’s sagging skin, tired eyes or that all-too-familiar gauntness in the cheeks, the data show that it’s possible to get the glow back and feel like yourself again.
