Viral TikTok Trend Promises to Combat 'Ozempic Face' With Chinese Plant Extract

A growing trend on TikTok suggests that a cream containing a Chinese plant extract, Volufiline, could be the solution to 'Ozempic face' – a side effect of popular weight loss drugs characterized by gaunt features like hollow cheeks and sagging skin.

'Ozempic face' is an increasingly recognized outcome of using blockbuster weight loss injections such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. A study published last year in the Journal of Clinical Medicine attributed the phenomenon to the rapid weight loss these treatments facilitate, with patients potentially shedding a fifth of their body weight in just over a year. This has led many users to seek solutions to regain facial volume.

Volufiline, derived from the root of the Anemarrhena asphodeloides plant native to China and Mongolia, is being touted on social media for its potential to restore facial fullness. The extract contains sarsasapogenin, a compound believed to work by encouraging existing fat cells beneath the skin to store more fat, thereby increasing volume and creating a plumper appearance, according to dermatologist Hadley King.

Supporters on TikTok claim to have seen noticeable improvements in their facial contours after using Volufiline creams and serums. Some influencers have even compared its effects to injectable fillers, sharing before-and-after images that appear to show enhanced cheekbones and overall facial volume.

However, medical experts express skepticism regarding the efficacy of topical Volufiline for significantly increasing facial fat. Dr. Christopher Rowland Payne, a consultant dermatologist at The London Clinic, questioned the ability of a topical product to penetrate the skin deeply enough to affect facial fat cells. He suggested that any perceived plumping effect might be due to increased skin hydration from the product rather than a change in fat cells, a temporary effect likely to wear off quickly compared to established treatments like lipofilling or filler injections.

Dr. Sweta Rai, a consultant dermatologist at King's College Hospital, advised caution, emphasizing that viral trends should be approached with skepticism. She also questioned the biological mechanism by which a topical agent could achieve the volumizing effects claimed by users, especially as an alternative to injectable treatments.

Several experts agree that more research is needed to validate Volufiline's effectiveness on the face. While the ingredient, sold by manufacturer Croda, has been available for about a decade, its popularity has surged following its association with 'Ozempic face,' with videos tagged with the treatment amassing hundreds of millions of views on TikTok.

Dr. Rowland Payne recommended that individuals experiencing facial hollowness due to weight loss medication first consult their doctor. He suggested that adjustments to medication dosage or professional cosmetic procedures like lipofilling or dermal fillers might be more appropriate solutions. Professional medical interventions are designed to address the underlying cause of the gaunt appearance.

Despite expert reservations, the increased interest in Volufiline presents a commercial opportunity. Croda's chief executive, Steve Foots, acknowledged that the rise of medications like Ozempic has created a significant market opening for their product. He indicated that Croda is actively capitalizing on this trend by developing solutions, such as Volufiline, to address facial volume loss. The company works with beauty brands to introduce science-led ingredients that meet emerging consumer needs, citing Volufiline and another ingredient, Silverfree, as recent examples of their innovation in skincare and haircare.