After losing extra pounds with Ozempic (semaglutide), some find themselves faced with an unexpected problem, what we now call “Ozempic breasts”. This possible side effect of users of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Monjaro, and Zepboud is reported by some users.

Having Ozempic breasts means that you have experienced changes in the size and shape of your breasts due to sudden weight loss, just as you would if you had gastric bypass surgery. Any extreme weight loss, including GLP-1 agonists, carries a risk of breast changes of this type.

Breast Changes You May Notice

People who lost weight after take Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications may find that their breasts have changed. It can affect people of all ages, including young people. Changes are of course specific to each person. Some you might encounter include:

• Deflated or flattened breast tissue due to less volume
• Saggy nipples
• Loose skin
• Loss of fullness in the upper chest
• Subsidence

If you stop taking Ozempic and regain weight, these changes can be reversed.

What are the causes of “ozempic breasts”?

Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonist medications are known to reduce appetite, allowing many people to lose weight. Some research shows that after six months, people lose about 10% of their body weight.

Such sudden weight loss is accompanied by fat loss (loss of connective adipose tissue) in all areas of the body, including the breasts. Loss of tissue volume can lead to changes such as drooping, sagging and shrinking breasts, with bra cup sizes becoming smaller.

It’s also not uncommon for skin to sag without the same amount of tissue underneath. The position of the nipple may also become lower, much like after pregnancy or breastfeeding. But it is not the drug itself that causes this phenomenon; It is the rapid weight loss that causes the breasts to deflate.

GLP-1 drugs have hormonal effects

The purpose of GLP-1 drugs is to treat diabetes. When you eat, your stomach releases glucagon-like peptide-1. GLP-1 agonist drugs mimic this hormone and may have the following effects:

• They can make you produce more of the hormone insulin, which helps manage blood sugar levels.
• They limit the liver’s ability to produce glucose (sugar).
• They decrease your appetite.
• They slow down the speed of digestion, so the sugar consumed is absorbed more slowly.

Because of these hormonal effects, GLP-1 drugs work to control sugar levels in type 2 diabetes and to reduce appetite. With these medications, long after the meal is finished, you continue to feel full (have a satisfying feeling of fullness) and you do not feel the need to eat.

These three hormones work to control hunger:

• Ghreline: The stomach produces this hormone, which lets your brain know when to eat. GLP-1 drugs regulate this hormone.
• Leptin: Fat cells produce the hormone leptin. Leptin tells your brain that you have eaten enough and that there is no need to eat more.
• Insulin: In addition to other effects, this hormone acts on intestinal motility. After taking a GLP-1 medication, the speed at which the stomach works slows down, making you feel fuller for longer.

Weight loss from medications can also impact estrogen and testosterone levels due to the loss of fat cells. Fat produces steroid hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. Although these hormones are also produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands, in older adults with ovaries, fat is responsible for almost half of the estrogen and up to half of the available testosterone.

Should you be worried?

Although you may be dissatisfied with the appearance of your breasts after losing a lot of weight after using these GLP-1 medications, this is a cosmetic problem and not a medical one.

By reducing your weight, you can lower your risk of diseases such as cancer. Without certain cravings, you may also eat fewer processed foods, which could otherwise increase your risk of developing cancer.

How to manage at home

Remember that the effects of the medication may be temporary. Even if your breasts no longer look like they did before weight loss, there are practical steps you can take to improve their appearance. Here are some steps to try:

• Apply firming lotions to improve the quality of your skin and reduce sagging.
• Drink plenty of water, which will help hydrate your skin to improve its elasticity and minimize the appearance of wrinkles.
• Eat healthy foods that nourish your skin and keep it resilient.
• Exercise to develop the pectoral muscles in the area, which can improve appearance.
• Invest in a bra (possibly padded) that will provide lift and the appearance of volume.
• Practice good posture, as poor posture can put extra pressure on your breast tissue.

Other possible side effects

In addition to causing breast sagging, GLP-1 medications can also cause other side effects. While you’re taking them, you might find yourself dealing with milder gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, reflux, and cramping. Some people may suffer from constipation.

There may also be more serious side effects. Uncommon but important side effects include:

• Bile duct obstruction (bile, which aids digestion, cannot flow from the liver to the small intestine)
• Intestinal obstruction (food is prevented from moving through the intestines)
• Gallstone attacks (hardened deposits of cholesterol, bile and bilirubin block the bile ducts, causing gallbladder spasms)
• Gastroparesis (food is slowed or prevented from leaving the stomach)
• Pancreatitis (the pancreas becomes inflamed)

Summary

Taking Ozempic or another GLP-1 medication may help with weight loss, but may also be associated with undesirable changes in appearance, dubbed “Ozempic breasts.” Changes due to loss of fatty tissue include a decrease in size and change in shape of the breasts, sagging of the breasts, and sagging of the skin. The Ozempic breast is an aesthetic change but does not pose a health risk.