Can You Keep Fullness in Your Face When Losing Weight?

Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is important for your overall well-being. But you may notice that when you lose weight, your face becomes less full, and it may look hollow or drawn.

Fat helps give your face its shape. And as much as you might like to choose which part of your body loses fat, it just isn’t possible, according to the University of Sydney. Where you store fat and where you lose it (or keep it) depends on a number of factors.

Can You Spot-Reduce Fat?

While you can tone and strengthen certain muscles by targeting specific areas, exercising one part of your body to the exclusion of others doesn’t reduce fat from that body part.

For example, even when men did a total of 5,004 sit-ups over the course of 27 days, they lost about the same percentage of fat from their shoulders and rear ends as from their stomachs, according to a classic study.

Where Does Fat Go When You Lose Weight?

Our bodies store energy in the form of carbohydrates and fat cells. When your body metabolizes or “burns” fat, it releases energy. When this process is complete, according to Cleveland Clinic, the byproducts of fat metabolism leave your body as carbon dioxide (which you breathe out) and water (which you sweat or pee out).

Factors That Affect Body Fat Distribution

Where and when you lose fat in your body can depend on several factors, including genetics, age, and sex.

Genetics and Body Fat Distribution

A research review suggests that a combination of genetics and environmental factors — and the complex interaction between genes and the environment, such as what and how you eat — plays a role in where fat is distributed in the body. More research is needed to determine which genes may regulate fat distribution.

Gender Differences in Fat Storage

Research has found that gender differences exist in body fat distribution and metabolism, according to a study.

In middle age, the proportion of fat to body weight tends to increase in women more than it does in men — and fat storage begins favoring the abdomen over the hips and thighs, according to Harvard Health Publishing.

Age and Fat Distribution

The amount of body fat in people increases steadily after age 30. According to MedlinePlus, fat tissue builds up toward the center of the body, including around the internal organs. But the layer of fat under the skin may become smaller — which is, in part, why you may lose facial fullness.

For women in perimenopause, decreases in estrogen and progesterone contribute to metabolic changes in the body. This includes a decrease in muscle mass, resulting in fewer calories being burned. If fewer calories are being burned, due to decreased muscle mass, and food intake and exercise remain the same, fat accumulates, according to University of Chicago Medicine.

Keep Your Skin Looking Healthy

If you’re losing weight, you can’t target where you’ll lose fat. While you can’t prevent the loss of fat that may keep your face looking full, you can protect and nourish your facial skin. These tips can help:

• Wear sunscreen, and try to avoid sun damage.
• Don’t smoke.
• Treat and cleanse your skin gently.
• Manage stress.
• Eat a balanced diet.

Mayo Clinic suggests that you eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Fresh fruits and vegetables may be especially helpful at preventing damage that can lead to premature skin aging. Also, limit foods and drinks with added sugar, processed snacks, and other refined carbs.

The Takeaway

• A number of factors, including genetics, age, and sex, help determine how and where your body stores fat.
• You can’t “exclude” your face from weight loss and target where you lose fat. But there are steps you can take, including eating a healthy diet rich in nutrients, to keep your face looking healthy.
• As current research highlights complex gene and environmental roles in fat distribution, embrace gradual lifestyle changes and realistic outcomes when it comes to weight management.