Do chubbier faces age better? The truth about facial fat and aging

Facial volume loss is a primary driver of the physical signs of aging, such as sagging and hollowed cheeks. With this in mind, many wonder: do chubbier faces age better? The answer is nuanced, as facial fat plays both a protective and potentially challenging role in the aging process.

Quick Summary

Fuller faces may retain a more youthful appearance for longer due to higher facial volume, which can camouflage fine lines and hollows. However, this same volume, combined with gravity and decreased skin elasticity over time, can lead to more pronounced sagging and jowls.

Key Points

• Facial Volume is Key: The even distribution of facial fat in youth helps create a plump, youthful look that camouflages fine lines and wrinkles, giving the impression of aging better.

• Gravity Affects All Faces: As skin loses elasticity with age, gravity takes a toll. Fuller faces have more mass, which can lead to more pronounced sagging and jowl formation over time.

• Fat Changes Location: Aging involves fat pads shifting and descending. This can lead to a thinner upper face and a heavier lower face, known as the 'pyramid of aging.'

• Bone Structure Plays a Role: Changes in the underlying facial bones, like resorption in the maxilla and orbits, also contribute to volume loss and sagging, regardless of facial fat.

• Overall Health is Paramount: Factors beyond facial fat, such as sun protection, hydration, nutrition, and genetics, are critical for determining how gracefully any face ages.

• Proactive Care is Best: For both fuller and thinner faces, proactive steps like using sunscreen, staying hydrated, and maintaining good skin health are key to defying visible aging.

The Role of Facial Fat in Aging

As we age, the distribution and volume of fat in the face change significantly. In our youth, fat is evenly distributed in distinct pads that provide plumpness and contour to the cheeks, temples, and under-eye area. This balanced distribution creates the smooth, convex curves associated with a youthful appearance. For those with naturally fuller faces, this initial abundance of fat can be a protective factor against visible aging.

The Youthful Advantages of Facial Fullness

• Natural Plumping: A thicker layer of subcutaneous fat acts as a natural filler, keeping the skin looking smooth and full. This can effectively mask or delay the appearance of fine lines and superficial wrinkles that often plague thinner faces sooner.
• Reduced Hollowing: With age, fat loss in the mid-face is common, leading to hollowed cheeks and more prominent nasolabial folds (the lines running from the nose to the mouth). Fuller faces have a larger reserve of fat, which can delay the gaunt or sunken look that often affects leaner individuals.
• Softened Features: A fuller face retains soft contours, which many people associate with youth and vitality. The subtle convexities created by fat help maintain a rounded, refreshed look.

The Challenges of Facial Fullness with Age

While extra volume offers initial benefits, it is not without its drawbacks as time progresses. The same fat that provides youthful plumpness can, under the influence of gravity and diminishing skin elasticity, contribute to more noticeable sagging later in life.

• Increased Sagging Potential: The greater the tissue mass, the more susceptible it is to the downward pull of gravity once skin elasticity begins to decline. This can cause the malar fat pads in the cheeks to shift and slide forward and down, accentuating the nasolabial folds and creating a heavier, less-defined jawline.
• Prominent Jowls: The redistribution of fat often leads to accumulation in the lower third of the face, resulting in the formation of jowls along the jawline. This can create a scalloped, rather than smooth, jawline and disrupt the youthful facial contour.
• The "Pyramid of Aging": As the face loses fat in the upper regions (around the eyes and temples) and gains it in the lower regions (jowls, submental area), the overall shape of the face can reverse from a youthful "triangle" to a more aged "pyramid," or heavier bottom half.

Comparison: Aging in Fuller vs. Thinner Faces

Feature	Fuller Faces (Youthful)	Thinner Faces (Youthful)	Fuller Faces (Aging)	Thinner Faces (Aging)
Mid-face Volume	Retains volume well, resisting hollowing.	More prone to early hollowing and sunken cheeks.	Mid-face volume can descend, creating nasolabial folds.	Less descent, but prominent hollowing around cheeks and eyes.
Fine Wrinkles	Extra fat and collagen can delay their appearance.	Fewer fat reserves mean fine wrinkles may appear earlier.	May have fewer wrinkles, but deep folds (nasolabial) can form.	Fine lines around eyes (crow's feet) and lips more visible.
Jowls & Jawline	Potential for more pronounced jowl formation due to heavier fat pads.	Less mass to sag, resulting in less prominent jowls.	Increased risk of a sagging jawline due to fat descent.	Jawline may remain defined, but can appear more angular or gaunt.
Overall Appearance	May appear youthful longer due to maintained fullness.	Can appear older prematurely due to volume loss.	Can develop a heavy, sagging look if not cared for.	Can look delicate and elegant if volume loss is managed.

Beyond Fat: Other Factors in Facial Aging

Facial fat is just one piece of the aging puzzle. Other factors play a significant role, influencing how gracefully any face shape, full or thin, ages over time.

Skeletal Changes

Facial aging is also driven by changes in the underlying bone structure. With age, the craniofacial skeleton undergoes remodeling, with bone resorption in certain areas like the eye sockets and maxilla (upper jaw). This loss of skeletal support contributes to the loss of tissue volume and can make hollows and sagging more prominent, regardless of facial fat stores.

Skin Health and Elasticity

Collagen and elastin are the proteins responsible for the skin's firmness and elasticity. As we get older, the production of these proteins slows down, and existing fibers degrade due to factors like sun exposure and inflammation. Healthy, elastic skin can better resist the effects of gravity, even on a fuller face.

Protecting Your Facial Volume for Graceful Aging

No matter your natural facial shape, adopting proactive habits can help you age gracefully. These strategies focus on supporting both skin health and facial volume.

• Sunscreen is a non-negotiable. Chronic sun exposure accelerates the breakdown of collagen and elastin, directly contributing to wrinkles and sagging. Apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ daily.
• Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water is essential for maintaining skin elasticity and plumpness. Dehydrated skin can emphasize fine lines and make the face appear less full.
• Eat a balanced diet rich in nutrients. A diet full of fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats provides your skin with the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants it needs to stay healthy and resilient.
• Manage stress and get enough sleep. Chronic stress and lack of sleep can disrupt hormone balance and accelerate aging. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night.
• Incorporate facial massage or exercises. Gentle massages can improve circulation and tone facial muscles, helping to combat the effects of gravity over time. Facial yoga techniques can also promote firmness.

Professional Options for Maintaining Facial Volume

1. Dermal Fillers: Hyaluronic acid fillers, such as Juvéderm® or Restylane®, can be strategically placed to replace lost volume in the cheeks, temples, and under-eye area, restoring a more youthful contour.
2. Fat Transfer: This surgical procedure, known as autologous fat grafting, involves taking fat from one area of the body and reinjecting it into the face for long-lasting volume restoration.
3. Thread Lifts: This minimally invasive procedure uses dissolvable sutures to lift sagging tissue and stimulate collagen production, offering an immediate lifting effect.
4. Ultrasound or Radiofrequency Treatments: Technologies like Sofwave™ use targeted energy to stimulate collagen production deep within the skin, helping to lift and firm the face non-surgically.

Conclusion

The idea that chubbier faces age better is both true and false. The extra subcutaneous fat provides a cushion that can delay the onset of fine wrinkles and hollowness, giving a more youthful appearance in earlier adulthood. However, this same mass can become a liability later on, as gravity and reduced elasticity can lead to more pronounced sagging and jowls compared to a face with less volume. Ultimately, graceful aging is a complex process influenced by genetics, lifestyle, bone structure, and overall skin health, not just facial fat. The best approach is a holistic one that focuses on good skincare, a healthy lifestyle, and addressing volume loss as it occurs. For more information on the complexities of facial aging, consider reviewing the in-depth discussion on structural changes in the aging face by Oxford Academic: Anatomy of the Aging Face: Volume Loss and Changes in 3-Dimensional Topography.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you get fewer wrinkles if you have a fuller face?

Initially, yes. A fuller face with more subcutaneous fat provides a natural cushion that can prevent the formation of fine lines and superficial wrinkles. However, deep folds, like nasolabial folds, can become more prominent as the facial fat shifts downward.

Does having a chubby face prevent sagging?

No, a chubby face does not prevent sagging. In fact, the extra weight of the facial fat can exacerbate sagging once skin elasticity diminishes, leading to more pronounced jowls and a heavier lower face due to the effects of gravity.

Does losing weight make your face age faster?

Significant or rapid weight loss can sometimes make the face appear older because it causes a loss of facial volume and fat, which can reveal wrinkles and hollows that were previously camouflaged. However, this varies by individual.

Is facial fat loss a normal part of aging?

Yes, facial fat loss and redistribution are a normal and inevitable part of the aging process. It contributes to many visible signs of aging, such as hollow cheeks and temples, and can affect the overall facial contour.

What is the 'pyramid of aging'?

The 'pyramid of aging' refers to the change in facial shape with age. A youthful face is often described as a triangle with the point down. As fat is lost in the upper face and accumulates in the lower face, the shape can reverse, resulting in a heavier, wider base and a narrower top.

What can I do to keep my face looking plump and youthful?

Focus on a healthy lifestyle, including proper hydration, a balanced diet, and regular sun protection. Consistent skincare with ingredients that boost collagen and professional treatments like dermal fillers or fat transfers can also restore lost volume.

Are there any risks to having a fuller face later in life?

Beyond the cosmetic concerns of increased sagging, excessive facial fat, especially in the submental area, can contribute to a less-defined neck and jawline. Maintaining a healthy weight is key to balancing youthful fullness with the challenges of gravity.