Do you lose facial fat as you age?

Author: Casandra Cummings  |  Last update: Tuesday, May 6, 2025

And as we age, we naturally lose facial fat. "Our facial fat pads shrink, and our facial skeleton even shrinks, all of which leads to deflation and ultimately contributes to sagging as that internal support is diminished," said Kristy Hamilton, MD.

Does your face get skinnier as you age?

As we age, we lose some of the fat beneath our skin, which also contributes to a loss of structure as well as making skin thinner and more translucent. So yes, we lose facial fat naturally.

What age do you lose the most face fat?

Love or hate your facial fat, time will eventually whittle it, without your input or permission. In fact, after age 30, we lose around three cc's of facial fat per year, Chang says. This isn't always a bad thing, mind you.

Does your face get less puffy as you get older?

Aging: As you age, the skin loses elasticity, and the underlying muscles weaken. This can contribute to a more puffy appearance in the morning. Lymphatic Drainage: The lymphatic system helps drain excess fluid from tissues. Sometimes, issues with lymphatic drainage can lead to facial puffiness.

Why am I suddenly losing face fat?

Facial volume loss is caused partly by the breakdown of proteins such as collagen that provide structure to your skin. This change occurs as we age. Our youthful balance of fat changes – we lose it in some areas and gain it in others. Inherited genes appear to intensify the process.

Facial fat renewal | Adipeau founder answers your crunch questions!

Can you regain fat in your face?

It is not possible to specifically target the face when gaining extra weight naturally. However, gaining weight overall can help people achieve a fuller facial appearance. Working out the facial muscles can make them stronger, which may make the face appear fuller.

At what age does your face change most?

In your 40s, your ageing skin can become drier, making lines and wrinkles more pronounced. You continue to lose subcutaneous fat, but not equally from all areas. Fat pads around the cheeks and above the mouth are generally the first to go, followed by fat from around the sides of the mouth, chin and jawline.

Why am I looking old all of a sudden?

The cause is usually environmental and lifestyle factors. The most common signs of premature aging appear in your skin, with wrinkles, age spots, dryness or loss of skin tone. Healthy lifestyle habits can help stop and prevent further premature aging.

How do I stop fluid retention in my face?

Keep your head elevated to reduce fluid buildup in your face. Place a cold compress on your face to help with inflammation and swelling. Take pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®).

Why do women's faces get wider as they age?

As the face ages, the tissue and bone changes create more of an upright triangle, with a wider jawline, instead of an inverted triangle, with wider cheekbones and narrower chin—the traits of a youthful appearance.

Can you reverse facial fat loss?

A facelift procedure is one of the most effective ways to reverse facial volume loss. Facelift procedures are performed by experienced plastic surgeons like Dr. Bret Johnson, MD, who has many years of experience helping patients achieve their desired results.

What is the Ozempic face?

Ozempic face is a colloquial term, not a medically recognized condition. It describes the facial changes that can accompany rapid weight loss when using medications like Ozempic or another version of the same drug (generic name semaglutide) FDA-approved for weight-loss treatment.

Can stress cause facial fat loss?

Other factors can also cause facial fat loss, including stress and even some in-clinic treatments, if they're not right for you. Stress impacts the body in many ways, including facial fat loss due to elevated cortisol levels and poor nutrition.

What ages your face the most?

12 Things that Are Aging Your Skin
  1. Smoking. Smokers get wrinkles around their mouths sooner than non-smokers. ...
  2. Not Using Sunscreen Daily. ...
  3. Tanning. ...
  4. Not Getting Enough Sleep. ...
  5. Going to Bed Before Cleansing. ...
  6. Not Using a Moisturizer. ...
  7. Scrubbing to Cleanse. ...
  8. Stripping Your Skin of Oils.

What age does chubby face go away?

The fat under our eyes starts to decrease the earliest, beginning in our twenties, and is followed in our thirties by the beginning of the loss of fat in the temples and parts of the cheeks. The superficial fat tends to persist unless there's major weight loss.

Why is my face puffy as I get older?

Over time, this hormonal imbalance can cause weight gain and water retention. This can lead to swelling and fat deposits in and around your face, and you might look like you have a moon face.

What drink reduces face swelling?

Drink More Water

As you drink up, the cells release the stored-up water and help the swelling subside.

What is cortisol face?

“Cortisol face” isn't an official diagnosis

But this facial feature has been described in the medical field — we've called it “moon face” — and it absolutely can be induced by high cortisol levels. It's a combination of fat accumulation and soft issue swelling, associated with thinning of the skin.

At what age do you age the fastest?

Massive biomolecular shifts occur in our 40s and 60s, Stanford Medicine researchers find. We undergo two periods of rapid change, averaging around age 44 and age 60, according to a Stanford Medicine study.

Does caffeine age you?

Because caffeine tends to inhibit cell cycle-dependent DNA repair, inducing potential disruption of chromosomes [9–11], accelerated biologic aging is a potential consequence.

What makes a woman look older than her age?

Skin: Things like excessive sun damage, liver spots, and enlarged pores are common foes that age our skin quicker than we'd like. Another thing that may affect your skin and make it look older is an uneven complexion caused by loss of collagen and elastin.

At what age do females start looking older?

For some, the first signs of aging can show as early as their mid-20s, while others only notice wrinkles, sun spots, and sagging skin in their late 40s or even early 50s. Some people can also appear younger than their age, while others look way older.

Why is my face getting fat but not my body?

You may simply have a genetic pre-disposition to store more fat in your face and buccal fat pads. Additionally, many people are simply born with a naturally larger or thicker buccal fat pads. This fat storage isn't always evenly distributed either – you may have larger buccal fat pads but have a slim body.

What age does crepey skin start?

“Crepey skin usually begins to appear when you're in your 40s. But it can show up as early as your 20s if you are a chronic tanning bed user or have gained and lost substantial amounts of weight,” says Dr. Kassouf. “Medications are another potential cause of crepey skin, such as long-term prednisone.”

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