Something many of us wish for – fat loss – contributes to aging skin. I know this may make some of you happy (yay, no more dieting!), but unfortunately this is not something that is under our control.
The supple faces of youth are in some part due to proper fat padding in all the right places, not too much and not too little. Just the right amount. Aging brings about a redistribution of facial fat (and fat in other places too). If it accumulates in the lower eyelid, the result is permanent puffiness. If it thins out or migrates to other areas, deep creases and sunken cheeks may arrive. Nasolabial folds (deep laugh lines) are the result of the malar fat pad – the triangular fat pad next to the base of the nose – thinning and shifting.
While it’s not exactly clear what causes facial fat to redistribute, hormones, repetitive facial movements and certain medical conditions may be responsible.
While topical treatments are unlikely to be of any help, cosmetic procedures are probably your best bet. Fat injections, which rely on taking fat from one part of your body and injecting into the face have been used with mixed results because only a small amount of the fat stays where it has been injected. Dermal fillers and implants help to fill up the space left by lost fat. It tends to be more reliable than fat injections. Lastly, facial surgery (i.e. a facelift) can reposition fat pads to more closely resemble that of youth.
Cosmetic surgery does come with risks (and benefits). It also isn’t cheap. Still, if this is an issue that bothers you about your appearance and you can afford it, by all means investigate. Whatever you do, work with a highly skilled and experienced practitioner to deliver the results you want with minimal side effects.
