In April 2023, at age 48, I hit rock bottom with my weight amid perimenopause challenges, including back pain, high cholesterol, and pre-diabetes. Despite yo-yo dieting, supplements, and gym efforts, family demands and my career as a freelance beauty editor derailed progress. Under Dr. Wendy Denning's care, I started Ozempic and lost 10kg over nine months, transforming my health—but not without cosmetic setbacks like thinned hair, lost facial fat, and reduced skin elasticity.
Leveraging my expertise, I tested various machines and injectables over two years. Here's what effectively addressed the issues from GLP-1 weight loss.
Turkey Neck: Tackling Slack Skin
Weight loss worsened my neck's crepey skin more than Ozempic face. Nurse practitioner Alexandra Mills administered Revitalis (£250), an injectable skin booster with hyaluronic acid and glycerol. It smooths and plumps skin, requiring three sessions two to four weeks apart for results lasting six months.
I followed with Dr. Paris Acharya's three-step Nécolleté treatment (£850). It begins with NCTF mesotherapy—tiny injections of over 50 vitamins and minerals. Next, a Radiesse 'wash' using calcium hydroxylapatite provides scaffolding via cannula. Finally, Plinest polynucleotides (purified salmon DNA) boost collagen. Two sessions six weeks apart caused minor bruising but yielded remarkable tightening, lasting up to 18 months.
At home, Trinny London The Elevator Neck Concentrate (£68) maintains firmness effectively.
Hair Loss: Restoring Thickness
My ponytail thinned noticeably, and scalp showed through. After switching to microdosing Mounjaro a year ago, I tried solutions. PRP (platelet-rich plasma) from my blood was painful and ineffective.
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The Calecim Advanced Hair System (£295), a six-week at-home kit with stem-cell serum, reactivated follicles but needed weekly 48-hour applications.
Dr. Coen Gho's hair stem-cell transplantation (from £3,500) proved transformative. This meticulous, numbed procedure extracts follicles from the donor area with a special needle, preserving growth potential. Grafts soak in stem-cell solution before precise reinsertion. I received 701 grafts for hairline, temples, and crown. Post-procedure crusts itched as growth began; at two months, sprouts are visible. Full results take 9-12 months at 1cm monthly growth.
Dr. Gho recommended minoxidil spray; now I use Regaine For Women Scalp Foam (£50) with 5% minoxidil for hereditary hair loss.
Dull Skin: Restoring Glow
Rapid weight loss dulled my complexion. Dr. Glyn Estebanez's Skinvive injections (£750) on the lower face used fluid hyaluronic acid, hydrating without volumizing for a dewy effect. It treats smoker's lines, hydrates lips naturally, and lasts nine months.
Vol.u.lift (£105), formulated by a German plastic surgeon, combats Ozempic face with bakuchiol (gentle retinol alternative) and HA silanol. It delivers exceptional glow.