If you’re not used to cosmetic treatments, figuring out where to start can feel overwhelming, especially when changes to your face seem to show up all at once. In the latest episode of The Beauty Authority, NewBeauty speaks with Pasadena, CA facial plastic surgeon Kay Durairaj, MD, about what actually happens to the face during GLP-1 weight loss and how injectables can be approached thoughtfully, even if you’ve never done anything before.
1. “Ozempic face” is not due to the medication
The facial changes people associate with GLP-1s are driven by how quickly fat loss occurs—not the medication itself. “Patients can lose up to seven to ten percent of their facial fat in a very fast period of time,” Dr. Durairaj explains. That rapid deflation affects support and gravity, leading to drooping and hollowing often referred to as “Ozempic face.”
It’s a shift Dr. Durairaj believes patients should be prepared for. “I literally think it needs to be part of the informed consent for going on shots,” she adds.
2. The first 10 pounds usually look great
Early weight loss tends to slim the face in a flattering way. “The first 10 pounds looks great on everyone,” Dr. Durairaj says. But without support, deeper fat pads begin to thin. “Patients come in looking fabulous after losing 30 pounds, but then they tell me they feel like their face suddenly looks older.” That’s often the point when facial support becomes just as important as the number on the scale.
3. Waiting until your goal weight can backfire
Many people assume they should wait until they’re done losing weight to address their face. According to Dr. Durairaj, that often leads to needing more correction later. “If you do small maintenance along the way, it’s going to be better than waiting to do the full Monty at the end,” she says. Delaying treatment can make recovery more challenging and less subtle.
4. Not all fillers are about adding volume
A major point of confusion is the difference between fillers and collagen stimulators. “A collagen biostimulator helps your body turn on its own natural collagen production,” Dr. Durairaj explains. Traditional fillers, on the other hand, are designed to replace lost volume immediately, while collagen stimulators work by rebuilding the skin’s structure.
That distinction matters during GLP-1 weight loss, which doesn’t just affect fat—it can thin the dermis as well. “We see real skin changes,” Dr. Durairaj adds. “The skin looks more crepey and gets thinner.” When skin quality is compromised like that, volume alone isn’t always the answer.
“When I use a product like Radiesse in a hyper-diluted form, I’m not trying to add bulk,” she says. “I’m using it to rebuild support and improve skin quality over time, so the face looks stronger and more resilient.”
5. The goal is facial support, not puffiness
Dr. Durairaj frequently says using hyper-diluted Radiesse or Sculptra helps support facial ligaments and skin quality. “I love injecting around the facial ligaments because you get a fishnet effect that supports the entire midface,” she says. Patients may notice some immediate lift, but the real benefit builds gradually. “It takes about 60 days for collagen to start growing, and that collagen is yours.”
“The mistake people worry about is looking overfilled,” she adds. “When you focus on framework instead of volume, the result is lift, firmness and better skin quality, not puffiness.”
6. Timing matters more than how much you use
One of the episode’s most practical takeaways is her timing strategy. “My advice is every 10 pounds of weight loss, you should do a collagen stim session,” Dr. Durairaj says. This gradual approach allows the face to adapt alongside the body, avoiding dramatic hollowing followed by heavy correction.
7. Using biostimulators won’t ruin future facelifts
Online fears suggest collagen stimulators complicate future surgery, but Dr. Durairaj is clear. “There has been no scientific validation of that concept,” she says. These products have been used for more than 25 years, and experienced surgeons routinely work in treated tissue planes without issue.
GLP-1 weight loss doesn’t have to mean your face is the trade-off. Dr. Durairaj encourages patients to start the conversation early. “I want to see you at the beginning, so I know what to preserve,” she says. With thoughtful timing and a provider who understands facial structure, Dr. Durairaj says injectables can be used as quiet maintenance along the way, not a heavy correction after the fact.
