Doctors are reporting a surge in patients seeking help for so-called ‘Ozempic feet’ – a painful side effect of dramatic weight loss from blockbuster slimming jabs.
The condition refers to sagging, aging skin and loss of cushioning in the feet caused by rapid fat loss.
It joins a growing list of aesthetic concerns linked to the drugs, including ‘Ozempic face’ and ‘Ozempic butt’.
Experts say that as fat pads on the soles and toes shrink, pressure on the joints increases, often making walking uncomfortable.
The loss of fat also leaves the skin looser and more wrinkled, prematurely aging the feet.
Celebrities such as Sharon Osbourne and Oprah Winfrey have both been accused by fans of showing signs of the condition.
Dr Bhavik Shah, aesthetic specialist at Dr Medispa, said: ‘In the last year to 18 months we’ve seen a dramatic rise in patients coming in with this problem.
‘Patients often complain of discomfort on the soles of their feet, and if left untreated it can lead to real pain when walking. They may also notice pain around the bony bits of the feet, thinner, more dehydrated skin and visible veins.’
Sharon Osbourne took to Instagram to share a cozy picture of herself with her two-year-old grandson and pet dog
TV spectators have also noticed excessive wrinkling on Oprah Winfrey’s feet
Dr Shah says the problem is particularly common among people who have been prescribed the injections privately, often despite having a lower BMI than recommended.
‘In these cases, the impact of rapid fat loss is greater,’ he explains.
He adds that many patients don’t immediately connect their foot problems to the jabs, and may not mention their use of the medication to clinicians.
Some foot pain, he notes, may simply result from people becoming more active – an important part of managing weight – which can initially put extra strain on the feet.
There are, however, ways to manage Ozempic feet.
‘If the issue is purely cosmetic, so patients complaining of saggy skin and feet that look well beyond their years, without experiencing pain, we recommend collagen stimulants,’ says Dr Shah.
These injections, which cost around £200, are designed to boost the body’s natural production of collagen – the protein that keeps skin firm, hydrated and elastic. Increasing collagen levels can help counteract the visible effects of rapid fat loss.
‘However, if the patient is in pain or discomfort, dermal fillers are needed to replace the lost fat and restore cushioning,’ he adds.
Dermal fillers for feet are primarily made from hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring substance in the body that helps retain moisture and maintain skin elasticity.
These fillers are injected beneath the skin to restore lost volume, provide cushioning, offsetting the loss of fat from the injections.
The procedure can last up to two years, depending on the type of filler used and the individual’s body.
Dr Shah adds: ‘The key is that the patient’s weight has stabilised – otherwise the results won’t last and the treatment will need to be repeated.’
He notes that such procedures were once common almost a decade ago – when high heels were in vogue.
This is because heels can have a similar effect causing the natural fat pad on the foot to thin, move, and become compressed, leading to pain and the development of calluses.
However the problem had largely dissapeared as the style went out of fashion
‘There’s been a big resurgence,’ Dr Shah says.
At least half a million NHS patients – and some 15 million in the US – are now thought to be using weight-loss jabs, which can help people shed up to 20 per cent of their body weight within months.
An estimated 90 per cent of users, however, access the drugs privately.
Weight-loss injections such as semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) work by mimicking gut hormones that reduce appetite and slow digestion, helping users feel full for longer.
In clinical trials, semaglutide led to average weight loss of around 15 to 20 per cent over 68 to 88 weeks, while newer drugs such as tirzepatide and retatrutide have produced even greater reductions.
However, studies show much of the weight can return once treatment stops, and real-world results tend to be more modest, often because patients discontinue early or reduce doses.
In the UK, roughly 1.5 to 2.5 million people are now using weight-loss jabs, most privately. NHS prescriptions have risen nearly tenfold since 2020.
In the US, demand is even higher, with tens of millions of adults estimated to be taking GLP-1 drugs for diabetes or weight control – a number growing rapidly each year.
While hailed as medical breakthroughs, the jabs have been linked to a growing list of side effects affecting appearance with users reporting thinning hair and receding gums.
More serious risks include gastrointestinal problems, pancreatitis, gallbladder disease – and, in rare cases, acute kidney injury.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .