Comparing Facial Aging Between Identical Twins With 3D Imaging

Conditions

• Facial Skin Aging
• Facial Volume Loss
• Wrinkle Appearance

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

18 Years - N/A

Healthy Volunteers

Accepted

Interventions

• GLP-1 Receptor Agonists — DRUG
  Self-reported current or prior use of GLP-1 receptor agonist or other rapid weight-loss medication, recorded by participant questionnaire. No medication is administered, assigned, dispensed, or modified by the study; use is observed as a naturally occurring exposure. For the secondary objective, twin pairs discordant for self-reported GLP-1 receptor agonist use are compared with respect to midface and lower-face volume and contour.

Study Details

Identical twins share the same genes, which makes them a powerful way to study how lifestyle and environment - rather than genetics - affect how faces age. This study builds on a landmark 2009 twin study by using modern three-dimensional (3D) facial imaging, which measures facial shape and volume precisely instead of relying on regular photographs. The study will also look at whether use of GLP-1 weight-loss medications (such as semaglutide or tirzepatide), sometimes associated with facial changes informally called "Ozempic face," is related to measurable differences in facial aging. The study will enroll adult identical twin pairs attending the Twins Days Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio, in August 2026. Participation takes about 30 minutes and happens in a single visit at the festival study booth. Each twin will complete a questionnaire about lifestyle, environment, and medical history (such as sun exposure, smoking, sleep, and medication use) and have a 3D image of their face taken with a non-contact camera system. There is no treatment, no medication, no blood draw or biological sample, and no follow-up visit. Researchers will then compare facial measurements within each twin pair to learn which lifestyle and environmental factors are linked to visible facial aging.

Key Dates

First listed

Aug 12, 2026

Start date

Aug 8, 2026

Status verified

Aug 2026

Primary completion

Sep 30, 2026

Completion

Sep 30, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment

200 participants (estimated)

Arms

• Arm: Adult twin pairs
  Adult (18+) twin pairs attending the Twins Days Festival, Twinsburg, Ohio, with both members present and consenting. Each participant completes a lifestyle and medical-history questionnaire and undergoes standardized three-dimensional facial surface imaging in a single session. Zygosity is established by self-report; pairs self-reporting as dizygotic or unsure are recorded as such and analyzed separately from the confirmed monozygotic cohort.

Primary Outcome Measure

Within-pair difference in quantitative three-dimensional facial surface measurements [ Time Frame: Day 1 (single study visit; all data collected at enrollment) ]

Central Contacts

• Lauren Ickes M Study Coordinator
  (216) 480-1843
  [email protected]
• Diana Ponsky, MD, FACS
  (216) 480-1843
  [email protected]

Locations (1)

Find similar trials in Beachwood, OH

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