I’ve lost 2 stone, but now I just see my face looking saggier! What has happened?!
It’s unfortunately a catch 22 situation for many - weight loss and a healthier you. But conversely all that loss of fat has caused you to visibly age, almost overnight! What is with that?! In this article, Dr Adam Cheong explains why this is one of the most common presenting complaints he sees in his aesthetics clinic in Tarporley, and what the secret is to effectively treating this.
“Facial fat” - is it actually useful to prevent ageing?
In many people, the simple answer is yes. Our supportive layers are called “fat pads” and these hold up our ligaments and keep our skin taut - think of them like an inflated balloon, full and bursting with volume as a baby, and from mid to late 20s air is gradually escaping year by year. This is what happens to our fat pads. Excess weight keeps them fuller for longer, hence why a sudden and drastic weight loss program deflates the fat pads and causes drooping and sagging of the face.
So why are some slim people in their 40s still looking so young and fresh??
I’d personally give 3 answers to this
1) Genetics - some people are blessed with good skin and supportive tissues that do not sag until much later. Certain ethnicities may hold their youthful features for longer also.
2) Lifestyle choices - from smoking to sunbeds to junk food and even excessive jogging - these are just a few of the choices we make which will influence ageing on a cellular level. (Jogging?? Yes indeed, it’s thought the excessive up and down motion of long-distance runners can cause chronic tugging on the ligaments of the face causing slightly earlier sagging than would otherwise happen)
3) Cosmetic treatments - if done properly, you actually won’t realise that people have had treatments. Pretty much everyone who leaves my clinic (aside from the occasionally younger girl who wants fuller lips) will have results that settle so naturally that no one can notice, other than that they look fresher, or the skin looks better. How do I achieve this? Have a read here.
So remember just because you think other people haven’t had work done, that may actually be a very false preconception. Trust me…more people than you think are having little tweaks!
Ok, so losing weight along with normal ageing causes fat pads in the face to shrink, causing sagging. What can you do about it?
1) I love to first explain exactly what is causing ageing - everyone’s face is different. Some people start to sag in the mid-cheek first. Some develop a deep groove under the eye, others get a deep nasolabial fold, or sunken temples. And often the culprit is the loss of fat. By demonstrating where the issue is I can highlight the shadows and grooves causing the tired or sagging appearance. Without explaining this it is hard to then proceed to the solution.
2) Secondly, I explain where dermal fillers would be helpful, and why they are. In a nutshell, fillers act to replace the tissue that has been lost. And if done correctly, the right filler can be chosen to match the exact tissue you are replacing. The deep fat of the cheek needs a thick dense filler to provide structural support. The fine lines around the lips need a light, smooth filler that will settle quickly, integrate well, and move dynamically with your tissues.
Choosing the correct filler comes from years of experience and a good knowledge of your products - hence why I recommend doing some research on your practitioner beforehand as I wrote about here
3) Lastly, by manipulating the skin on your face I can give a realistic expectation of the results to expect based on how filler will support your skin/tissues and create lift. As I point out to my patients, the difference won’t be drastic, nothing like having a facelift- but that’s often the point! Most people don’t want to look drastically different, just a subtle freshen up and lift is what we are aiming for.
In my aesthetics clinic in Tarporley I would say dermal fillers are the most commonly performed treatment, along with BOTOX perhaps. You can view some of the work I have done here.
If I just put the weight back on, won’t that improve the situation?
In theory yes. In practise, no! Excessive weight gain after losing it, will likely just lead to the formation of jowls which is one of the areas of the face that doesn’t respond well to weight gain. And of course, being a GP, I love to discuss health and well being, so the benefits of being slim far outweigh any cosmetic improvement you might get facially. So I don’t recommend it!
Final thoughts
There are many benefits to being slim and losing weight, but it is dramatic or sudden weight loss that people often notice the most and the areas we target with fillers include the temples, nasolabial fold, cheeks (laterally and anteriorly), jawline, marionette, chin and lips to name a few.
All of this can be much easier to explain in person, especially for those new to cosmetics. If you want any reassurance, have a look at some of my reviews on google, some of which explain individual stories of what my patients came to see me with.
I offer free consultations, so why not book in with me in one of my clinics? I cover Tarporley and the Chester area, Hale and Manchester.
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About Skinphinity
Skinphinity is a cosmetic practice in Tarporley, run by the cosmetic GP, Dr Adam Cheong. Dr Adam is a qualified GP, GMC registered doctor and specialist in non-surgical facial aesthetics. He is passionate about natural-looking enhancements and works hard to give the industry a good name, built on ethical, qualified and honest practices.
Skinphinity provides a range of non-surgical aesthetic treatments for patients in Tarporley, Chester, Northwich, Hartford, Hale, Manchester and across Cheshire.
