Women turning to plastic surgery following little known side effect of 'Ozempic vulva'
A plastic surgeon has said a growing number of women are seeking out cosmetic procedures for their nether regions as a result of so-called 'Ozempic vulva.'
Ever since GLP-1 medications, like Ozempic and Mounjaro, landed in the mainstream, a number of different side effects have been reported.
Some are pretty common, such as nausea and vomiting, while others are slightly more unusual, like 'Ozempic penis' and, more recently, 'Ozempic vulva.'
No, these aren't official side effects listed by Ozempic's manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, which recommends anyone experiencing side effects to report them to their healthcare provider.
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However, a number of doctors have claimed 'Ozempic vulva' is a potential symptom of sudden weight loss.
Novo Nordisk has stressed that Ozempic is a type 2 diabetes drug, not a weight loss drug and should not be used as such.
What is 'Ozempic vulva'?
While not an official diagnosis, doctors have described patients reporting three main symptoms relating to the vagina, including a sagging of the outer labia, a weakness of the vaginal muscles and dryness.
Most people tend to mean the sagging of the labia when referring to Ozempic vulva, while one user likened it to 'losing all their fat pads in their vulva.'
Why does 'Ozempic vulva' happen?
According to cosmetic and plastic surgeon Dr Paul Banwell from Pantheons Clinic, the symptom can be caused by rapid weight loss of any kind, regardless of whether a patient has taken GLP-1 medications.
However, the rise in people losing weight quickly while taking these drugs has led to an increase in people reporting symptoms.
He told LADbible: "‘Ozempic Vulva’ refers to when the appearance of the vulva changes due to significant weight loss, often due to rapid weight loss such as from Ozempic or GLP-1 use.
"This can leave the labia or vulva with a more saggy or deflated appearance."
Rise in cosmetic procedures
In addition to more people reporting symptoms such as 'Ozempic vulva', Dr Banwell says a growing number of people have been coming forward to request procedures to 'correct' the side effect, adding that there are several things that can be done.
"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 on the back of rapid weight loss, as GLP-1s such as Ozempic become more readily available," he explained.
"The labial puff procedure is a surgical treatment using fat transfer and is designed to restore volume and rejuvenate the labia majora.
"In contrast, labiaplasty is a surgical procedure designed to reshape or reduce the size of the labia minora or majora, enhancing comfort, aesthetics, and confidence."
Emma Rosemurgey