Ozempic Sparks Concern as Alarming New Side Effect Emerges

That "Smiling" Side Effect? Yeah, It's Not What You Think.

Okay, so you’ve probably heard of Ozempic — that “miracle” shot everyone from Sharon Osbourne to your cousin’s coworker is suddenly on. What you might not have heard? It could leave you looking like you're permanently smirking... and not in a cute way.

No, seriously.

It’s called “Ozempic mouth,” and according to NYC-based dermatologist Dr. Michele Green, it’s becoming a real thing. We’re talking hollowed cheeks, saggy jowls, deeper wrinkles, your face aging faster than your birth certificate says it should.

And here’s the kicker: it’s not just a celeb problem. Dr. Green’s seeing lots of regular folks with this look, especially those dropping weight fast. She even pointed to folks like Rebel Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg as examples — both of whom have been open about their semaglutide use. Spoiler: their lower face? Not what it used to be.

Want to fix it? Great. Just have $2,000 handy for fillers — per syringe. And, oh, you’ll probably need more than one. Or, you can try something called Thermage — a heat-based skin-tightening treatment that works over time (like, 4–6 months). That one starts around $1,500. So yeah, not exactly a bargain bin fix.

And if that wasn’t enough, dentists are chiming in now. Dr. Sofina Ahmed says she’s seeing dry mouth, sensitive teeth, gum recession — all from people forgetting their mouths matter, too. I mean, chew less, drool less, and suddenly your smile’s aging faster than your wardrobe.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Weight loss is tough. But chasing rapid results with these injections might be trading one insecurity for another. Kinda ironic, right?

Ozempic was originally FDA-approved in 2017 for diabetes, not weight loss. But of course, the whole off-label boom took off — and here we are.

Moral of the story? Maybe slow down. Talk to your doc. Or just... look in the mirror and ask: is that extra smile line worth it?