Fat Loss and Facial Aging

As we age, our faces begin to sag and we lose volume around our eyes. 

Traditionally, facial sagging has been attributed to the face pulling down with gravity over time. The traditional theory is: the ligaments of the face weaken with age and time, contributing to the facial soft tissues being more readily pulled down by gravity. 

Recent studies about facial aging point in a different direction: that sagging skin is due to fat loss in the face, rather than gravity. This happens near the surface of the skin, but also in deeper areas. 

A study done at the Medical College of Wisconsin by Aaron Morgan, M.D.,  studied the change in fat deposits over time on the faces of 19 different patients. The results showed a 12.2% reduction in facial fat in the midface. Superficial fat, or fat loss directly under the skin, decreased by 11.3%. Deep facial fat decreased by 18.4%. 

This supports the idea that fat loss contributes to facial aging. The cheeks, however, showed less fat loss than the midface. Loss of facial fat contributes to deepening of the nasolabial folds, hollowing around the eyes, and jowl sagging. 

Fat transfer to the face to correct the loss of fat that occurs with natural aging can help give the face more youthfulness.  Even with facelift procedures, fat transfer to the face is performed to restore a more youthful appearance. Some patients can benefit from fat transfer only to help restore youthfulness. This procedure can be performed under local or general anesthesia. Contact our office for more details