I have Ozempic vulva. It’s the latest bizarre side effect of the miracle jabs no one talks about – and there’s one treatment that can fix it

It’s a miracle drug that has revolutionised weight loss for millions. 

But now some women are reporting that taking GLP-1 injections, more commonly known by brand names like Ozempic and Mounjaro, has produced an unsightly and uncomfortable side effect.

Whispered in private Facebook groups and on medical forums, they dub the phenomenon ‘Ozempic vagina’ – or, to be anatomically correct, ‘Ozempic vulva’.

Embarrassed, they recount how ‘vaginal weight loss’ – a genuine phenomenon – has caused the labia majora to lose volume and appear deflated.

Generally speaking, women on prescription drugs such as Ozempic report seeking out body-contouring cosmetic procedures to address sagging skin and the loss of elasticity caused by rapid weight loss.

Specifically for ‘Ozempic vagina’, there is one increasingly popular fix: labia puffing.

Labia puffing refers to a treatment whereby the labia majora are treated cosmetically – either surgically through fat transfer, or non-surgically with dermal filler – to ‘smooth out’ or increase volume and restore a more ‘youthful’ look.

While pricing varies, you can expect to pay between AU$4,000 and AU$10,000 for the procedure. (That’s US$2,600 and US$6,500, or £2,000 and £4,900.)

‘Ozempic vulva’ is the latest unsightly and uncomfortable side effect being reported by women taking GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro (stock image posed by model)

‘The term labia puffing is a marketing term, not a formal medical one,’ explains Dr Justin Perron, a specialist plastic surgeon and board member of the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. 

‘The labia majora, like other fatty areas, can lose volume after substantial weight loss.’

‘These changes are more pronounced with rapid weight loss and in women over 35, where natural collagen and elastin reserves are already reduced,’ adds Dr Perron.

Effects may include deflation (a wrinkled appearance) and diminished elasticity, resulting in sagging or folds that make activities such as cycling, running or sex less comfortable.

About 79,000 Australians are estimated to be using Ozempic, the GLP-1 injectable drug used both to treat diabetes and weight loss. The average patient loses an estimated 10-15 per cent of their body weight on the drug.

While these drugs have transformed many bodies, the toll of rapid weight loss shows up from head to toe.

‘GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide, tirzepatide) and other effective weight-loss interventions have created a new subset of patients experiencing rapid, significant weight loss,’ Dr Perron says.

‘Loss of subcutaneous fat is global – including the mons pubis and labia majora – sometimes giving the area a deflated or “aged” look. This can be due to ptosis of soft tissue, or atrophy of the fat in this area.’

He adds that while formal registry data is limited, some ASAPS members have reported a rise in requests for vulvo-vaginal aesthetic procedures, including labia majora augmentation, over the past five to 10 years.

‘This parallels trends in America and Britain, where it’s often bundled under “genital rejuvenation”,’ he adds.

Requests for ‘labia-puffing’ treatments to restore volume are on the rise (stock image)

Perron notes that, anecdotally, he has seen an increase in genital rejuvenation consultations as a direct result of post-weight loss changes.

‘I personally see these requests several times a week,’ he says.

Non-surgical labia puffing requires little downtime – light activity can resume almost immediately, though sex and intense exercise are usually off-limits for up to a week.

‘Risks can include bruising, swelling, asymmetry, overcorrection, infection, filler migration and rare vascular compromise,’ notes Dr Perron.

Surgical options – such as fat grafting or dermal fat grafts, occasionally with skin removal – require significantly greater downtime, and include risks such as ‘swelling, bruising, infection, seroma, fat necrosis, oil cysts, asymmetry or partial fat loss requiring revision.’