As you get older the skin on your face can start to sag and you lose volume around the temples, eyes, cheeks, mouth, jawline and chin. Many individuals attribute facial aging to gravity and the laxity of skin tissues, however, facial fat volume depletion has a strong impact on the appearance of your face.
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.
Usually, there is a significant increase in buccal fat between the ages of 10-20, and then a slow, ongoing reduction until about 50. With that said, everyone is different.
Loss of muscle tone and thinning skin gives the face a flabby or drooping appearance. In some people, sagging jowls may create the look of a double chin. Your skin also dries out and the underlying layer of fat shrinks so that your face no longer has a plump, smooth surface.
As we age, our skin loses elasticity and fat deposits in the face begin to diminish. This can cause the face to appear fuller as the skin sags and droops. Additionally, the bones in our face can shrink over time, further contributing to a fuller appearance.
Ways to reduce facial fat include exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet rich in whole fruits and vegetables, limiting processed and sugary foods, and staying hydrated. Other certain lifestyle and diet changes can further help a person lose weight and achieve a slimmer-looking face.
The good news is that, in many cases, facial volume loss can be reversed or improved with suitable treatment options.
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.
The primary cause of a fat face is excess fat in the buccal fat pads. Why is my face fat but not my body? You may have a genetic pre-disposition to chubby cheeks even though you have a slim body. Also, some people are born with thicker buccal fat pads in their cheeks while the rest of their bodies are slim.
Facial fat transfer or fillers can be combined with facelift surgery to not only restore facial volume, but to address loose skin and wrinkles, too. The results are long-lasting, but we find that about 20-25% of the transferred fat will not survive.
Many individuals who have undergone an aggressive buccal fat removal find themselves dissatisfied with their results, especially as they age. Some have expressed regret online, sharing that they feel their faces now look older and less youthful than they would have liked.
The average cost can range between $2,000 and $5,000, and in some cases can be as much as $20,000. Some people don't enjoy having a “baby face" or full cheeks in adulthood and opt for a more streamlined or mature look through a procedure known as buccal fat removal.
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.
Drink More Water
It can even help you lose weight in your face. Studies indicate that drinking plenty of water can decrease your calorie intake and temporarily boost your metabolism. There's also evidence that water can prevent facial bloating caused by fluid retention.
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.
Facial fat significantly impacts facial attractiveness, as it can alter the shape and contours of the face, leading to a less defined appearance. Weight gain can result in a puffier face with rounded features and a less prominent jawline, while weight loss can enhance facial angles and create a more sculpted look.
Why is my face getting fat and not my body? Different people accumulate fat in different areas of the body. Your genes play a role in where your body stores most of its fat. Some people are genetically predisposed to having fat deposits build up in their cheeks instead of anywhere else.
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.
When an individual loses facial fat and bony structure, their face is less voluminous, and they can appear older than they are. You may notice hollow cheeks, dark circles, marionette lines around the mouth, jowls and drooping skin. The results of fat loss in the face do not always appear how we wish they would.
After surveying over 16,000 individuals across eight different countries who were all asked at what ages they think men and women are most beautiful, the data found that the overall average age where women are found to be most attractive is 28.
Regular cardiovascular exercise helps to reduce your overall weight which should also reduce the amount of fat in your cheeks and face. Drink more water. Water can help you feel fuller so you don't snack as often or eat as much at meals which, like cardio, can help you slim down overall.
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.
Buccal fat pads do not grow back, so the results are long-lasting. However, there are other fat cells in the face that may expand if there is significant weight gain.