When you lose weight, you inevitably lose some fat, including that which naturally occurs in your face and neck. And when that happens, volume in your face and neck decreases, says Nina Desai, M.D., a dermatologist in Manhattan Beach, CA. That creates skin laxity (derm speak for sagging) and folds.
Losing Face Fat to Look Attractive
The cheek areas start sagging and hanging down the face giving away on the fat content. Your face starts looking heavy and old. Therefore, a study reveals that, for people to start noticing the difference on your face, you need to reduce your BMI by 1.33 points.
Often, extra fat in your face is the result of excess body fat. Losing weight can contribute to fat loss and help slim down your body and face.
Without the volume to support it, skin can sag and fold, leading to facial folds, wrinkles, turkey neck, and jowls. The combination can make a big difference in your facial appearance, and for some people it can have a much more dramatic effect, making you look more than just four years older.
People with round faces may appear to have a fatter face, even if they don't actually have excess fat in that area. While you can't change the shape of your face, you can potentially change how much fat is residing on it.
How quickly you lose face fat is determined by your genetics and how fast you lose fat on the whole, but as I mentioned earlier, most men that don't naturally have strong facial features need to be around 10% body fat to have a sharp look, and most women need to be around 20%.
If you have a double chin despite being skinny, your body just happens to genetically store extra fat around the jawline. There's really nothing unusual about it, but it does present a challenge in that your chin fat is much harder to target through diet and exercise alone.
Skin laxity can change after losing about 30 pounds, says Desai. “If you notice changes in larger areas of the body, like arms, abdomens, thighs, and buttocks, you may get that change in the face as well.”
Losing weight can bring huge health benefits. It can lengthen your life and make you look and feel incredible. But one perk can frequently trump all others: Losing weight can make you more sexually attractive and, if you're single, give your dating life a big boost.
No, your nose is not affected by weight loss. Since the nose is made of bone, cartilage, and skin, it has no fat cells. Because there are no fat cells, gaining or losing weight does not have a direct impact on the shape of your nose and the results of your rhinoplasty surgery.
If your body tends to store fat in your face or belly first, these will be the last places where it would shed from. The facial skeleton forms the foundation and shape of your face, and supports overlying soft tissues.
So, when do people start noticing the difference in your face? Canadian researchers believe they've found out. "Women and men of average height need to gain or lose about three and a half and four kilograms, or about eight and nine pounds, respectively, for anyone to see it in their face.
The fat cells shrink, or atrophy and the result is a more aged-looking face. Shadows under the eyes (nasojugal folds), creases next to the nose (nasolabial folds), and wrinkles at the corners of the mouth (marionette lines) all start to appear. Cheeks and temples start to sink.
But what is it that makes a face pretty and attractive? Different facial cosmetic features can make a face pretty when they come together. Big, alert eyes, a small, proportional nose, perky cheeks, a well-defined jawline, or full lips usually grab people's attention and strike them as beautiful.
There is a strong body of evidence for this relationship, dating from 1999 (Thornhill & Grammar) to 2021 (Hodges-Simeon). This robust coalition of research-based studies shows how and why lower facial fat makes a woman look more attractive.
The first place men typically lose weight is the belly, while women tend to lose weight all over, but hold onto weight in their thighs and hips, Dr. Block explains.
"By the time you hit 10 pounds, your jeans will feel differently, absolutely," Blum says. "Just a little looser. Theoretically, 10 pounds is considered one size." Once you get past that first couple pounds where you might not be able to tell, Blum says, you really do start to lose body fat.
On average, a 15 to 20-pound loss (approximately 2 to 5 percent of your starting body weight) is enough to notice "significant changes in your body," he said. You can start seeing differences in yourself as early as two weeks with rapid weight loss.
Skin becomes loose and sagging, bones lose their mass, and muscles lose their strength as a result of time spent living life. Most people begin to notice a shift in the appearance of their face around their 40's and 50's, with some also noticing a change in their 30's.
Doctors warn that fat loss accelerates aging by deflating the cheeks, hollowing the eyes and making the jowls look heavy. It's long been thought that sagging skin is simply the result of gravity taking its toll in later years.
Foods you should avoid
Often processed foods are packed with ingredients that "could cause weight gain, water retention, and inflammation—such as added sodium, refined carbohydrates and sugars, and trans fats," says Poon. So if you're looking to reduce puffiness, best to steer clear of highly processed foods.
Reduced intake of water may trigger your body to store water in the body and cheeks contributing towards face fat. So, drink plenty of water to remove harmful toxins from the body which in turn enhances better fluid circulation and reduces bloating and puffiness.
The reason behind excess face fat is poor diet, lack of exercise, aging, or genetic conditions. Fat is usually more visible in the cheeks, jowls, under the chin, and neck. Facial fat tends to be more noticeable in people with rounded, less-pronounced facial features.
Decrease Body fat percentage.
For a visible jawline to humans, 12 to 14% of body fat is required. If you're determined to improve your jawline, you'll need to reduce your body fat.