Will I have loose skin?

Why this page exists: this question comes up often in GLP-1 patient forums but rarely in search results. We sampled forum threads by title; we did not quote or identify any user.

What the trials measured

The trials measured weight, waist, body composition and side effects, not skin. Average losses were 14.9% on Wegovy and 15 to 21% on Zepbound,^[1][2] and some people lost far more.

What generally affects it

From general experience with large weight loss, including after bariatric surgery, the amount of weight lost, age, genetics, sun damage and smoking history all seem to matter. These are general observations, not GLP-1 trial findings, and we found no good evidence that creams, supplements or a particular speed of loss prevent loose skin. Surgery to remove excess skin is a separate conversation with a plastic surgeon, usually once weight has been stable for a while.

"Ozempic face"

The hollow-cheeked look that the media call "Ozempic face" is fat loss in the face, the same thing that happens with weight loss from any cause. The muscle and Ozempic face page covers it.

The short version

Questions to bring to your prescriber

Print these or screenshot them. They are conversation starters, not a checklist of things to do.

• Is there anything about my health (smoking, sun exposure, diabetes) that affects skin healing?
• When would it be reasonable to talk about skin surgery, if it comes to that?

Sources

Every number on this page traces to one of these. "Primary read" means the full paper or label was read; "abstract only" means only the abstract was available; "secondary" means the figure was taken from a named review.

1. Novo Nordisk / FDA. Wegovy (semaglutide) injection and tablets, prescribing information, revised 06/2026. label
2. Eli Lilly / FDA. Zepbound (tirzepatide) prescribing information, revised 08/2026. label

Related explainers

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