Rising Public Interest in Weight Loss Medications and Growing Awareness of Their Aesthetic Sequelae: An Infodemiologic Google Trends Analysis and Clinical Diagnostic Patterning

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Background Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have gained rapid popularity for both medical and consumer-directed weight loss. This growth has been accompanied by increased public discussion regarding facial aesthetic changes, commonly referred to as "Ozempic face," characterized by volume depletion and cutaneous laxity. Objective To quantify temporal patterns of public search interest in a widely known GLP-1 RA and evaluate corresponding awareness of its cosmetic facial sequelae using infodemiologic methods. Methods Google Trends data for "Ozempic" and related frequently co-searched queries were analyzed from November 2021 to December 2024. Trends in relative search volume (RSV) were examined, with particular focus on terms associated with facial aesthetics, including "Ozempic face" and "plastic surgeons Ozempic face." Results RSV for "Ozempic" showed a steady upward trajectory over the study period. Queries related to facial aesthetic consequences exhibited substantial proportional increases. Notably, "Ozempic face" demonstrated a 4600% rise in RSV, and searches for "plastic surgeons Ozempic face" similarly grew markedly. Conclusions Public interest in GLP-1 RAs is strongly associated with rising awareness and concern about their facial aesthetic effects. These trends suggest that aesthetic practitioners should expect more patient inquiries regarding GLP-1-

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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