GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy are incredibly popular, but as the pounds come off, new skin concerns can appear: sagging, hollowing and a loss of the facial volume that keeps skin looking youthful.

So, how do you prevent loose skin after weight loss? Targeted skin care can make a difference in some areas. We asked our experts—board-certified dermatologists Dr. Joel Schlessinger and Dr. Daniel Schlessinger—to share their top recommendations for protecting and restoring skin during and after weight loss.

Board-certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon and cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Joel Schlessinger explains, “Rapid weight loss accelerates the breakdown of collagen and elastin, which already decline with age. Focusing on using ingredients that both stimulate new collagen production and protect what's there can help protect as much as possible as you lose weight.”

What happens to skin during rapid weight loss?

When fat cells shrink quickly, as they do with rapid weight loss, the skin doesn't always have the ability to contract. On top of this, structural proteins in collagen and elastin can weaken, leaving skin with less scaffolding to hold its shape.

Board-certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon and cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Daniel Schlessinger explains,  “The other important change during rapid weight loss from GLP-1 medications is relative malnutrition and protein deficiency,” says Dr. Daniel Schlessinger. “This lack of protein ends up leading to less collagen and elastin being produced in the skin.”

“These medications also tend to cause loss of bone density as well as muscle mass,” he adds. “The bone density doesn’t just happen in the spine and the hips, it also occurs in the face. This causes noticeable sagging in the cheeks, jawline and temples.” 

On the face, this translates to a sagging and a sunken appearance after weight loss that manifests around the cheeks and eyes. For the body, loose skin on the abdomen, upper arms and thighs is common, especially with significant or fast weight loss.

Dr. Daniel Schlessinger adds, “Genetics, age, skin quality and the speed and extent of weight loss all play a role in how your skin responds to these changes. But a consistent skin care routine focused on collagen support, cell renewal and firming active ingredients can minimize some of these effects.  Lasers such as Sciton’s HALO and MOXI can also tighten skin, while their BBL HEROic can stimulate collagen as well.”

The best skin care ingredients to look for

When skin is under the specific stress of rapid fat loss, some active ingredients are significantly more helpful than others.

Dr. Joel Schlessinger explains, "When patients ask me what ingredients to prioritize, I always come back to peptides and growth factors—they work with the skin's biology rather than just treating the surface. Adding a good antioxidant and retinol can also provide a noticeable difference in how skin holds up through weight loss and GLP-1 use. In reality, no one skin care product or procedure can totally negate the effect of sudden weight loss, but these are the best of the best for keeping your skin looking as good as possible during these changes.”

“In our office, we perform treatments like fillers, such as Juvederm, Restylane and others to replace lost fat in the face and other areas of the skin. Sculptra is particularly excellent as it is a true collagen booster and tissue regenerator. While it takes a little more time to work, it is a natural and more cost-efficient process,” explains Dr. Joel Schlessinger.

Here are the ingredients most supported by science for preventing sagging, loss of elasticity and the structural changes that come with rapid weight loss.

Key Ingredients for GLP-1 Skin Care

Key Ingredient	Peptides	Growth Factors	Antioxidants	NAD+	Pro-NAD+ Complex	Flavo-Proxylane
Highlighted Product	ALASTIN Skincare Restorative Skin Complex with TriHex+	Neocutis Bio Serum Firm Rejuvenating Growth Factor & Peptide Treatment	Revision Skincare BodiContour	Obagi Nu-Gen Cellular Renewal Serum with NAD+	Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Sculptor Body Serum	SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Ultra Serum
Primary Concern	Skin laxity; loss of firmness	Volume loss; hollowed appearance	Loose, crepey body skin; skin laxity	Dullness; uneven skin quality	Skin laxity; loose or crepey body skin	Collagen decline and glycation; sagging and loss of firmness
How It Works	Recycles old collagen and elastin; supports the body's natural production of new, healthy collagen and elastin	Stimulates cellular repair; rebuilds lost scaffolding	Supports the body's natural production of collagen, elastin and dermal-epidermal junction proteins to firm and lift skin	Supports cellular energy and DNA repair	Energizes skin cells and supports renewal; firms and tightens skin for a more sculpted appearance	Targets collagen decline and glycation to visibly lift and tighten skin on the cheeks, jawline, forehead and neck
Best For	All skin types with early laxity	Mature skin; significant volume loss	Body; loose or crepey skin on the abdomen, arms, thighs and buttocks	Skin that looks fatigued or lacks radiance	Body skin that is loose or crepey; pairs well with body contouring treatments	All skin types experiencing sagging or laxity; can be used morning and night
Face or Body	Face	Face	Body	Face	Body	Face

• Peptides: Peptides are amino acids that signal skin to produce more collagen and elastin, helping improve firmness. Look for multi-peptide formulas or technologies like ALASTIN’s TriHex+ that support the skin’s structure.
• Growth Factors: Growth factors help stimulate skin repair and regeneration, supporting firmness and structure. They’re especially helpful for improving a deflated or hollow appearance after weight loss.
• Antioxidants: Antioxidants help defend skin against free radical damage caused by environmental stressors. They also support a brighter, healthier-looking complexion while helping maintain skin firmness over time.
• NAD+ & Pro-NAD+ Complex: NAD+ supports cellular energy and repair, helping improve skin resilience and overall quality—especially during periods of metabolic change.
• Flavo-Proxylane: Flavo-Proxylane helps strengthen the skin’s support structure by promoting hydration and improving elasticity, helping skin appear firmer, smoother and more resilient.

The best skin care products for supporting skin during weight loss

skinbetter science InterFuse Treatment Cream FACE & NECK

Key ingredients: Peptides, InterFuse Technology

This peptide-rich cream uses a proprietary InterFuse Technology to help improve the appearance of skin firmness, smoothness and crepiness on the face and neck. The formula delivers a smoothing effect using neuro-calming peptides, leaving skin feeling firmer for a more lifted and contoured appearance. For GLP-1 patients experiencing the hollowed, deflated look that can accompany rapid weight loss, this face and neck cream is a great option.

ALASTIN Skincare Restorative Skin Complex with TriHex+

Key Ingredients: Peptides

The beloved peptide-powered daily moisturizer is now even more hydrating with 131% more hyaluronic acid. Featuring Next Generation TriHex Technology® and proprietary Octapeptide-45, this advanced formula helps support healthy collagen and elastin for smoother, firmer-looking skin. Magnolol helps promote the skin’s natural production of healthy adipose tissue to improve radiance, enhance volume and restore a more youthful-looking glow. It’s one of the strongest over-the-counter options for post-weight-loss skin laxity.

Neocutis Bio Serum Firm Rejuvenating Growth Factor & Peptide Treatment

Key Ingredients: Growth factors

Powered by a high concentration of proprietary peptides and human growth factors available, this intensive serum helps address visible signs of skin laxity, volume loss and dehydration that can occur as skin changes over time. In as little as six days, it helps improve smoothness, firmness, hydration and radiance. With continued use, skin appears more resilient and lifted, while the look of fine lines, wrinkles and uneven texture is visibly diminished.

Revision Skincare BodiContour

Key Ingredients: Antioxidants, peptides

This concentrated body treatment is designed to visibly smooth, firm and reshape areas prone to laxity. It features a potent blend of antioxidants and peptides, along with skin-identical lipids that help restore the skin barrier and support structural proteins. For patients who are actively losing weight on a GLP-1 medication, starting BodiContour early can help keep skin looking smoother.

Obagi Nu-Gen Cellular Renewal Serum with NAD+

Key Ingredients: NAD+

This advanced serum helps support skin during your weight loss journey with a proprietary AGE CTRL Complex that replenishes NAD+, a key molecule that naturally declines with age. By helping restore cellular energy and support skin longevity, it promotes a smoother, firmer and more luminous complexion, making it an ideal first serum step for maintaining healthy-looking skin through periods of change.

Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Sculptor Body Serum

Key Ingredients: Pro-NAD+ Complex, peptides

This lightweight body serum takes a science-forward approach to skin laxity, using bio-sculpting peptides to help redefine contours and improve elasticity. For people who've noticed that their skin feels less "snappy" after weight loss, this serum delivers a measurable tightening effect over consistent use. 

SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Ultra Serum

Key Ingredient: Flavo-Proxylane

Changes in facial volume can make areas like the cheeks, jawline and neck appear less defined over time. This targeted lifting serum helps improve the appearance of sagging skin with a powerful blend of Flavo-Proxylane, wild fruit flavonoids and rhamnose to support firmness, elasticity and hydration. By helping address visible signs of collagen decline while promoting a more sculpted look, it supports smoother, firmer-looking skin and more defined facial contours.

Looking for more ways to enhance your skin care routine with proven skin-smoothing formulas? Learn all about retinal vs retinol vs prescription retinoids and which one is right for your skin on the LovelySkin blog.