Dr. Richland, who leads Richland Aesthetics and Richland MD, emphasized that understanding facial changes in celebrities like Seacrest involves more than just aging. “It’s about volume management, soft tissue laxity, cosmetic treatments, and lifestyle-induced atrophy,” he explained. Analyzing a 2005 photo as a baseline, Dr. Richland noted that the then-30-year-old Seacrest had not yet undergone any significant cosmetic changes.

By 2011, however, Seacrest appeared to have begun a “high-performance maintenance phase.” According to Dr. Richland, this likely included the use of Botox, dermal fillers in the cheeks, and skin resurfacing. “His mid-face remains lifted, but the absence of static lines is unusual for someone in his late 30s with such a hectic schedule,” Richland remarked. Come 2025, Seacrest’s look had evolved considerably, but the doctor attributes this transformation more to weight loss than surgery.

Dr. Richland doesn’t necessarily believe that Ryan Seacrest has undergone surgical procedures. Instead, he suggests that the “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” host might be experiencing the so-called “Ozempic face,” a term linked to popular weight-loss drugs like Zepbound or Ozempic. “The dramatic metabolic changes from these drugs are likely the cause,” Richland explained to Nicki Swift, noting how rapid weight loss can lead to a loss of fat in the lower cheeks and temples.

Seacrest himself joked about his lifestyle changes on “Entertainment Tonight,” saying, “[I’ve been] over-exercising, eating better, over-training.” Dr. Richland believes Seacrest can balance his new look, suggesting treatments like Sculptra, which builds collagen gradually, or even a “mini-lift.” Whether Seacrest will explore these options remains to be seen.

This, combined with natural aging, can result in a pretty daunting look. “When you lose that much volume at 50, the skin can ‘drape’ or appear gaunt,” Richland warned. Indeed, Seacrest’s aged face on his 2025 New Year’s Eve special had everyone saying the same sad thing. “Why is he so skinny? Looks emaciated,” one user commented under the “Good Morning America” video on YouTube. Others agreed. “Ryan looks so sick and old,” another commenter wrote. While Seacrest hasn’t publicly denied or confirmed the use of GLP-1 drugs, he has been refreshingly open about embarking on a significant weight-loss journey ahead of his 50th birthday in 2024. 

“[I’ve been] over-exercising, eating better, over-training,” he joked on “Entertainment Tonight.” As such, Richland feels Seacrest can have the best of both worlds, affirming that losing weight at an older age doesn’t have to mean an aged face. “I would suggest treatment with a biostimulator like Sculptra, which builds collagen over time rather than just ‘filling’ a hole,” he said, adding that a “mini-lift” might also help. Only time will tell if the TV host will take these options.