“Ozempic butt” is a nonmedical term that’s become popular to describe the flattening or sagging of your buttock area after rapid weight loss when using drugs such as Ozempic. It’s a popular phrase but not a technical one. In fact, it’s a term that can increase weight stigma by promoting the idea that it’s not enough just to lose weight, but that you also have to do it without getting loose skin.
Ozempic is one type of drug in a class of medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists. It’s currently only FDA-approved for treating type 2 diabetes. It and other GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs were originally made for treating type 2 diabetes about 20 years ago.
Other GLP-1 agonist drugs that are only approved for type 2 diabetes can also cause weight loss, such as:
More recently, the FDA approved several GLP-1 agonists for weight loss, including:
GLP-1 receptor agonists act in the brain to reduce hunger. They also delay stomach emptying, so you feel full longer. The drugs themselves don’t cause a flabby backside. The loose skin and flattened appearance that can happen are from the rapid weight loss you get when you take them.
Doctors recommend a loss of about 1-2 pounds a week when you’re using diet and lifestyle changes to lose weight. Ozempic and other similar drugs cause much faster weight loss. In one study, people taking GLP-1 agonist medications lost 17% of their body weight in 68 weeks. During this same time, the people in the study who used only nutrition and exercise for weight loss dropped around 2% of their body weight.
Even without weight loss, your skin gets looser and less elastic as you age. And starting at age 30, you begin to lose muscle mass. Your gluteus maximus is the large muscle that makes up most of the shape of your buttocks. If you begin to lose muscle mass because of age, that can cause a flatter rump, too.
Ozempic Butt Side Effects
If you’re taking Ozempic or other GLP-1 agonist drugs, you may notice your bottom looks different over time. After weight loss, some people notice effects such as:
- Less padding (fat), like your backside has “deflated”
- Sagging buttocks skin
- Lipodystrophy, a condition where fat goes to other places in your body
Buttock ptosis and weight loss
Loose or excess skin has always been a side effect of significant weight loss, so isn’t new to GLP-1 agonist medications. People who have bariatric surgery for weight loss have also dealt with a “saggy butt.”
Buttock ptosis is the medical name for gluteal tissue that droops below the crease between your legs and butt. It’s a way for doctors to measure the sag in this area.
Can You Prevent Ozempic Butt?
A change in the appearance of your backside may be inevitable if you lose a good bit of weight quickly. And that’s OK. But a few things may make a difference in your chances of that happening.
Temper your weight loss rate. Ask your doctor how quickly you should expect to lose weight when using your prescribed GLP-1 drug. It may be possible to slow down the process with dosing or medication choices. The goal is improved health from treating obesity and overweight, so your doctor will likely make that the priority over preventing loose skin. But you can have the conversation.
Drink lots of water. When your skin has enough moisture, it’s better at bouncing back to its original shape after losing underlying fat.
Prioritize nutrition. GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic turn off “food noise” in your brain and reduce your desire to eat. Be sure you’re still getting enough calories and make them nutrient-dense.
Get regular exercise. Not only is it good for toning muscle, it may also help skin look tighter.
How to Treat Ozempic Butt
Having a smaller-sized backside or saggy skin on your bottom is not a dangerous or problematic issue that needs treatment. If it’s something you want to change about your appearance, there are options you can try. Some are more involved and invasive than others.
Resistance training
Bodies lose lean muscle over time unless you do work to prevent it. Resistance, or strength training, helps you keep the muscle you have and even enhance it.
Exercises you can try:
Step-ups: Stand in front of a small, sturdy step, keeping your back straight and your belly muscles tight. Alternate your lead foot as you step up onto the step and back down.
Squats: Stand with both feet shoulder-width apart and bend your knees as if you’re sitting in a chair and then stand back up. Don’t go past 90 degrees. Keep your back in a normal position. You can hold a dumbbell to increase resistance.
Leg press. Using a weight machine, sit in the seat and place your feet on the platform about shoulder-width apart. Push the platform away with your legs and then let it come back.
Collagen for loose skin
Collagen is a protein in your body that supports and strengthens skin, bones, and tissue. It plays a big role in your skin’s elasticity, or the ability to bounce back to its previous shape. Collagen naturally declines in your body as you age.
Research shows taking collagen supplements may help boost your skin’s hydration and reduce signs of aging.
Nutrition and hydration
You need good hydration along with a diet rich in protein, vitamin C, and omega-3s to give your skin what it needs to be its healthiest.
Protein. You need protein for building and maintaining muscle in your bottom (and everywhere in your body). Make sure you’re getting enough in your daily diet. Eat lean meats (chicken, turkey), fish, dairy products, beans, peas, lentils, eggs, quinoa, and tofu for a protein boost.
Vitamin C. This nutrient is not only an antioxidant that protects skin cells from damage, it also helps your body produce more collagen. Fruits (especially citrus fruits) and vegetables are rich sources of vitamin C.
Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s that you get from fatty fish, nuts, and seeds are good for helping you keep moisture in your skin and keeping a plump appearance.
Firming creams
A small study shows that certain creams may help lessen the appearance of cellulite and aging by tightening and hydrating the skin and making it more elastic. But these creams can’t get deep enough into your skin layers to actually lift skin.
If a cream has retinol, it may boost the production of collagen in your skin and help smooth it.
Body contouring
Some doctors call this “body sculpting.” Most of these procedures are used for reducing fat, not adding volume. One nonsurgical type of this procedure is called electromagnetic treatment (Emsculpt). This device can contract buttock muscles to lift and grow the area, much like resistance exercises do.
Some of the procedures for body sculpting may help to make skin tighter.
Plastic Surgery After Ozempic
Several types of plastic surgery can treat loose, sagging skin and a saggy appearance to the buttocks after weight loss. But plastic surgery comes with risks and can be expensive, so it’s important to understand what you’re choosing if you decide to go that route.
Buttock implants
In an implant procedure, a surgeon inserts silicone implants into your gluteal muscle or just below it. They make cuts either at the top or bottom of your buttocks. You’ll be under general anesthesia during the surgery.
It will be about 2-3 weeks before you can go back to work, and about 8-10 before it’s OK to exercise. You won’t be able to sleep on your back or sit directly on your backside for 2-3 weeks after the surgery. You’ll also have swelling and some scarring,
Some of the risks of this procedure include:
- Blood buildup under your skin (hematoma)
- Chronic pain
- Fluid buildup under your skin (seroma)
- Wound separation
- Infection
- Permanent scarring
- Shifting of implants
- Skin discoloration
- Uneven appearance or wrong positioning of your buttocks
- Permanent tightening of the muscles, tendons, or tissues around your implant (contracture).
Also, your implants might rupture or burst.
Lower body lift
Also called a belt lipectomy, this surgery focuses on both your belly and bottom. A surgeon makes a cut around the circumference of your body and pulls skin up to tighten both areas.
You’ll be under general anesthesia for this surgery, and you’ll probably need drains during the recovery period. The results come right away, but it may take a year before your body heals completely and your tissue settles into its new position correctly.
The risks include:
- Abnormal swelling (lymphedema)
- A blood clot in your legs (deep vein thrombosis) or lungs (pulmonary embolism)
- Heavy bleeding
- Infection
- Numbness
- Wound separation
- Uneven results between one side of your body and the other
- Healing delays
- Skin becoming loose again
Because this procedure involves your torso, an area you move often, the risk of complications is higher than it is in other procedures.
Brazilian butt lift (BBL)
This plastic surgery involves a surgeon transferring fat from another part of your body to your buttocks. A surgeon uses liposuction to take fat from your hips, belly, lower back, or thighs. Then they inject this fat into your bottom. This increases the size and boosts the shape of your buttocks without implants.
The results are semi-permanent, meaning they can last for up to a decade, but it can be less than that. Aging can also affect your results, as can weight gain or loss. The procedure takes about 6 months of recovery time before you’re back to normal.
If you have a BBL, your blood vessels or nerves could be injured during the surgery. You may have:
- Bruising
- Infection
- Skin discoloration
- Changes in skin sensation
- Swelling
- Prolonged healing
A BBL is a risky procedure. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported survey data that said 1 in 3,000 BBLs resulted in death. This makes it the most dangerous type of cosmetic surgery to have.
Takeaways
“Ozempic butt” is a popular term for the appearance your buttocks area can take after rapid weight loss, specifically while taking GLP-1 agonist drugs like Ozempic. These effects aren’t unique to these drugs. They can happen with any kind of rapid weight loss, no matter the method.
A saggy, flatter bottom after weight loss is not a medical problem and doesn’t need treatment. For people who may want to change the appearance of their buttocks after weight loss, there are lifestyle, surgical, and other options that can firm up skin and reshape the area.
Ozempic Butt FAQs
How can you rebuild muscle after Ozempic?
Get regular exercise with resistance work, such as squats, step-ups, and leg presses. Be sure you’re taking in enough calories, specifically protein, every day.
Will Ozempic make me lose my BBL?
After a Brazilian butt lift, it’s important to maintain your weight. Weight loss or gain can affect the results of your procedure.
How do I keep from losing muscle on Ozempic?
Be sure you’re getting regular exercise and eating plenty of protein. Protein helps the body maintain and build new muscle.
