Significant weight loss has caused a gaunt looking face. What fillers would work best?

Question

I recently lost 33 pounds via Tirzepatide. I am 5'3". My starting weight was close to 150, and my current weight is 117. My goal weight was 120. Like many, my face now looks gaunt. I do not want surgery. I've had two face and neck lifts, two eye lifts, and a chin implant. I'm confident that more people who have lost weight like me will ask what filler you have found works best. I understand this is evaluated on a case-by-case basis, but if there are some fillers you believe work best, I'd love to know what you recommend. TIA.

Ran Y. Rubinstein, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. Firstly, congratulations on your weight loss accomplishments! You are not alone and this is a common occurrence following treatment with GLP-1 medications. As we lose weight, so does our face lose volume and this can result in the gaunt appearance you describe. At our practice, we love using biostimulators such as Sculptra to address volume loss and to restore a more youthful appearance. While HA fillers can provide immediately gratifying results, oftentimes large amounts of product would need to be utilized following significant weight loss and a series of Sculptra can be more cost effective to address the full face. Sculptra is a biostimulant which is a regenerative treatment that stimulates the body's own natural collagen production in response to targeted injections. Hope this helps! Esther Litenatsky AGACNP-BC on behalf of Dr. Ran Y. Rubinstein facial plastic surgeon in Newburgh, NY and Montvale, NJ.

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Hi!

Thank you for sharing your story, and congratulations on reaching your health goals! It's not uncommon to experience volume loss in the face following substantial weight loss, especially with the use of medications like Tirzepatide. I absolutely understand your desire to restore facial volume without pursuing additional surgery.

When it comes to non-surgical facial rejuvenation, there are several excellent filler options that can help restore a youthful, natural appearance while maintaining facial harmony:

Top Fillers I Recommend for Volume Loss:
Sculptra (Poly-L-lactic acid)

Best for global volume restoration.

Stimulates your body’s own collagen production gradually over time.

Ideal for those looking for long-lasting, subtle improvements (results improve over months).

Especially effective for the temples, cheeks, and jawline.

Radiesse (Calcium Hydroxylapatite)

Great for deeper structural support.

Provides immediate volume and stimulates collagen production.

Works well in areas like the mid-face, jawline, and preauricular area.

Hyaluronic Acid Fillers (like Voluma, Restylane Lyft, or RHA 4)

Provide immediate results.

Can be placed with precision in areas like the cheeks, tear troughs, nasolabial folds, and chin.

Very versatile and reversible.

My General Approach
I often recommend a combination approach tailored to your facial structure and areas of greatest volume depletion. Since you've had prior surgical enhancements, it's especially important to choose a strategy that complements your anatomy and avoids overcorrection.

In-office consultation (or virtual, if more convenient) allows me to assess facial proportions, skin quality, and movement to select the most appropriate product(s). I always aim for natural, elegant results that help you look refreshed and not “done.”

Jeffrey H. Spiegel, MD · Answer

Dermal filters and or fast transfer of you have it are the perfect choice to restore volume under the eyes, cheeks and temples. Under the eyes we like hyaluronic acid fillers like Restylane or Versa. In the upper perimeter of the face and around the mouth a combination of hyluronic acid fillers with calcium based filler like Radiesse or Sculpra can be a good choice for biostimulation and elevation.

Monika Kiripolsky, MD · Answer

Hi AIM,
First, congratulations on the significant weight loss! That is fantastic!
I’m seeing this a lot in Los Angeles. There is no “best” filler for this (every patient is different and different areas of the face are best treated with different injectables. To clarify, I use 14 different fillers/biostimulatory molecule injection products in my office. You likely need a combination approach of hyperdilute Sculptra to blanket your face and achieve delicate panfacial revolumization in addition to focal use of heavily-crosslinked hyaluronic acid filler injections to other areas of your face. There are many options that we have. I recommend seeing a board-certified dermatologist or board-certified plastic surgeon with a significant amount of advanced filler and laser experience. Experience matters in nuanced cases like this. We offer zoom consults in my office. 
Hope this helps & congrats again!
Dr. Kiripolsky

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

You have options to help improve the gaunt look after weight loss.  Renuva is a great option which addresses volume loss.  It is similar to HA fillers in that you get some immediate result with treatment.  The big difference is that over time the product is replaced by your own fat, giving you longer lasting results.  Another option is Sculptra which works differently than traditional HA fillers.  It works by stimulating collagen production.  It too provides longer lasting results.  I've included a video I hope you find helpful.

Significant weight loss has caused a gaunt looking face. What fillers would work best?

Answers (5)

Answer: Weight loss GLP facial laxity

Answer: Weight loss GLP facial laxity

Answer: Gaunt face after weight loss

Answer: Gaunt face after weight loss

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Everything you need to know about Dermal Fillers

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Significant weight loss has caused a gaunt looking face. What fillers would work best?

Answers (5)

Answer: Weight loss GLP facial laxity

Answer: Weight loss GLP facial laxity

Answer: Gaunt face after weight loss

Answer: Gaunt face after weight loss

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Dermal Fillers

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.