OZEMPIC HAIR: LOSING WEIGHT BUT LOSING HAIR? LET'S TALK TRADE-OFFS

FOR many, the name Ozempic has become a buzzword for quick weight loss, the so-called “miracle shot” that’s all over TikTok and Instagram.

- VUYILE MADWANTSI

Originally designed to help manage type 2 diabetes, Ozempic (semaglutide) and similar GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound have exploded in popularity for one reason: they work, writes Vogue.

But behind the viral success stories and dramatic before-and-after pictures, there’s a quieter conversation unfolding.

Some people are discovering an unexpected cost: thinning hair, receding hairlines and a face that looks older overnight.

When New York facial plastic surgeon Dr Jennifer Levine spoke to Vogue, she described what's now known as “Ozempic face” as skin that looks gaunt, loose, and tired because of rapid weight loss. “Think raisin instead of grape,” she said.

Now, a new term is trending, “Ozempic hair’, and it’s sparking honest questions about what these injections are doing to our bodies.

Why is my hair falling out?

If you're shedding more than usual, you're not alone. Experts say the main culprit is rapid weight loss itself, not necessarily the drug.

When your body drops weight too quickly, it goes into survival mode, prioritising vital organs over things like hair growth. This condition, called telogen effluvium, is not unique to Ozempic.

Hair loss happens whenever there's significant stress on the body. Surgery, crash diets and major life stress can all push hair follicles into a resting phase, leading to shedding.