As Ozempic use soars among women chasing rapid weight loss, an unexpected side effect is taking a toll – both physically and financially – with some spending over $2,500 on procedures to restore sagging, deflated intimate areas caused by sudden fat loss.
Despite repeated warnings that Ozempic isn’t meant for weight loss, millions worldwide continue using it off-label to shed pounds.
Originally developed to manage blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes, this GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist has rapidly surged in popularity for its dramatic weight loss effects.
Unexpected changes
But with dramatic results often come dramatic consequences – and the latest reported side effect has taken social media by storm: “Ozempic vulva” or “Ozempic vagina.”
Although this isn’t an officially recognized side effect by the drug’s manufacturer, physicians are beginning to weigh in.
“If you’re using a GLP-1, and you’re losing weight too rapidly, it’s going to have a massive impact on the tissue and muscles everywhere,” Kathy Kates, nurse practitioner and pelvic floor specialist told USA Today. “People talk about ‘Ozempic face.’ It’s the same thing. You’re losing fat, you’re losing tissue integrity, and all those things matter for a healthy pelvic floor.”
Dr. Michael Tahery, a Los Angeles-based urogynecologist, explained on his website that rapid fat loss can affect the vulva in multiple ways. These include sagging of the outer labia, weakened vaginal muscles, and increased dryness – symptoms associated with a weakened pelvic floor, including bladder leakage and painful sex.
In short, the drug doesn’t discriminate between fat stored in the abdomen and fat stored in more delicate areas of the body.
‘Aged look’
“Loss of subcutaneous fat is global – including the mons pubis and labia majora – sometimes giving the area a deflated or ‘aged’ look. This can be due to ptosis of soft tissue, or atrophy of the fat in this area,” Dr Justin Perron, board member of the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, said in an interview with the Daily Mail.
Beyond aesthetics, gynecologist Dr. Melanie Bone told Newsweek that “rapid weight loss induced by GLP-1 agonists may alter hormone levels, which could affect vaginal lubrication and tissue health. Some women may experience increased vaginal dryness as a result.”
Solutions
Dr. Paul Banwell told LADBible that as Ozempic becomes more readily available, the demand for corrective cosmetic procedures has increased. These treatments aim to reverse the visible signs of volume loss in the labia majora and minora, which may become wrinkled, saggy, or hollow following significant fat loss.
Treatment options include:
- Labiaplasty: For women facing sagging skin after Ozempic-induced weight loss, labiaplasty offers a surgical solution to reshape and tighten the labia minora and majora. With a satisfaction rate above 90%, this restorative procedure – often used post-childbirth or to combat aging – can boost sexual confidence and make tight clothing feel comfortable again, Dr. Tahery writes.
- Vaginal tightening: Ozempic-related weight loss can lead to vaginal laxity, reduced sensation, and dryness. Vaginal tightening restores firmness, improves intimacy, and may ease incontinence – often with added aesthetic enhancements.
- Labia puffing: Ozempic-related weight loss can leave the labia looking wrinkled or deflated. Labia puffing restores volume using either dermal fillers – similar to facial injections with no downtime – or fat grafting, which uses your own body fat for a natural, longer-lasting result.
- Vaginal dryness relief: Ozempic may trigger vaginal dryness, but hormone-free creams like SILK offer a natural way to restore moisture and comfort – no prescriptions or procedures needed.
Increased corrective procedures
“I have definitely noticed a rise in procedures on the back of rapid weight loss from Ozempic and other GLP-1s. More women have been enquiring about labiaplasty and labial puff procedures,” Banwell said.
Procedures to address Ozempic-related vulvar changes are not covered by the NHS and are considered cosmetic, with prices often starting at $2,500 US or more for labial puffing and labiaplasty, depending on the clinic and location.
It is worth noting that the medical community has not formally studied “Ozempic vagina” as a condition. However, anecdotal reports and rising cosmetic consultations suggest that the issue is real for a subset of patients undergoing rapid and significant weight loss.
While the medical benefits of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic in managing obesity and diabetes are clear, the growing trend of aesthetic complications among users highlights the broader conversation around body composition and rapid weight loss.
What are your thoughts on people using Ozempic for its unintended purpose? Please let us know what you think and then share this story so we can hear from others!
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