Plastic surgeon and reality star reveals why he ‘quit’ Ozempic

A plastic surgeon who went on Ozempic because he wanted to experience the treatment his patients are on has revealed why he “quit”.

Cosmetic surgeon and reality star reveals why he ‘quit’ Ozempic. Picture: Supplied

A popular cosmetic surgeon who stars on a hit reality show has revealed why he’s stopped taking a weight loss drug he described as a “miracle”.

Dr Terry Dubrow, who appears on Botched, decided to try Ozempic as he wanted to experience first hand the treatment so many of his patients are on.

But while he believes the drug, which in Australia is currently only approved to treat type 2 diabetes, is life-changing for those who battle with weight issues, Dr Dubrow said he “quit” after suffering side effects.

“I’ve tried it. I thought it was amazing. I … didn’t have that much weight to lose,” the 65-year-old told Page Six while promoting Season 8 of his reality show with Dr Paul Nassif.

Cosmetic surgeon and reality star Dr. Terry Dubrow has revealed why he ‘quit’ Ozempic. Picture: Supplied

“But I wanted to try it because so many of my patients were on it and I wanted to see what it was like when you’re not diabetic and you only have 10-15 (4.5kg – 7kg) pounds to lose,” he continued, adding that he experienced “some side effects” from taking the medication.

Still, Dr Dubrow emphasised he is a “huge fan” of the popular drug which has a growing roster of celebrities using it for weight loss.

“I think it’s a miracle,” he said. “The biggest breakthrough in medical history.”

Still, an accelerated slim-down wasn’t worth the “low-grade nausea” Dr Dubrow felt or, more importantly, an acute disinterest in food.

“I thought, ‘You know what, I kind of want to get my appetite back. The holidays are coming, I want to enjoy myself,’” he said of his reason for quitting.

“You go on vacation, maybe you don’t exercise, you eat too much.

“It was kind of like, ‘Well, I want to go on a food vacation,’ meaning I want to be able to eat again.”

Dr Dubrow, who is married to Real Housewives of Orange County star Heather Dubrow, said it killed his appetite. Picture: Supplied

Ozempic is one of the brand names for semaglutide — also known as Wegovy — which impacts the brain to maintain satiety and suppress one’s appetite.

The drug has also made headlines due to its side effects such as nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting.

Dr Dubrow confirmed the medication killed his appetite and “really took … all the joy of eating away”.

The doc — who is married to champagne enthusiast and Real Housewives of Orange County star Heather Dubrow — warned current and future users to stay away from alcohol.

“You can’t drink on it,” he explained acknowledging the reported danger of developing pancreatitis while taking Ozempic.

“You’ve got to be really careful with alcohol because people are being put in the hospital with pancreatitis.”

The star of Botched, who appears alongside Dr Paul Nassif, still believes it is a ‘miracle’ weight loss drug. Picture: Supplied

Botched co-star, Dr Nassif, 61, believes that Ozempic has properties that could eventually lead to “living longer,” but notes that he’s seen an uptick in plastic surgery patients wanting him to operate on sagging skin due to rapid weight loss.

“Your skin does not accommodate, so it hangs,” he said.

“Then you lose muscle, you’re not taking enough protein and then they’ve got a lot of hanging skin.”

In response to the growing demand in Australia, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) introduced new rules to handle a shortage, expected to last until at least the end of the year. This means the medication should not be given to new patients unless there is no suitable alternative.

The TGA also said pharmacists should prioritise patients who were already on the medication.

— With Page Six