Why is it so hard to lose face fat?
There are both modifiable and non-modifiable factors responsible for facial fat. Some of the non-modifiable factors include genetic factors (bone structure), medical condition and hormonal factors. Modifiable factors include a poor diet, weight gain, smoking, dehydration, alcohol consumption and lack of exercise.
Here's the truth. Losing face fat is similar to losing fat from any other place of your body. Adipose tissue (stored fat) on your face is identical to that on your belly, arms, legs, etc. Most weight loss protocols will result in a slimmer face.
Usually, when you lose the fat, it comes off in the opposite order that it was stored. If your body tends to store fat in your face or belly first, these will be the last places where it would shed from. The facial skeleton forms the foundation and shape of your face, and supports overlying soft tissues.
Generally, facial fat goes away at 20% body fat and a proper weight loss program can help individuals lose approximately 0.5-1% of their body fat per week. Therefore, it may take a few weeks to lose face fat completely.
A chin lift is an effective exercise to reduce cheek fat. Pull the lower portion of your face and chin upwards while flexing the jaw muscles. The movement increases blood circulation to these areas, resulting in fat burn. Repeat these at least 10 to 15 times in one set.
Aging is one of the most common reasons why you may lose weight in the face. During the process of aging, your body goes through numerous changes, and the fat in your face loses its volume and clumps up (12). Another thing that adds to that old look is reduced collagen production.
For a weight change to show up on your face, you'd need to change your BMI by 1.33 points, the study found. That means a woman and man of average height would need to gain or lose eight pounds and nine pounds, respectively.
The reason behind excess face fat is poor diet, lack of exercise, aging, or genetic conditions. Fat is usually more visible in the cheeks, jowls, under the chin, and neck. Facial fat tends to be more noticeable in people with rounded, less-pronounced facial features.
Although it's not possible to lose weight only in your face, losing weight in general may help to slim your face. There are also helpful lifestyle changes you can make to reduce weight and puffiness in your face, and you can incorporate facial exercises and massage to get a slimmer face.
While everyone loses weight differently, dropping as little as 3 to 5 pounds can show up on your face first, Eboli says.
Will my face get skinnier if I lose weight?
Although it's not possible to lose weight only in your face, losing weight in general may help to slim your face. There are also helpful lifestyle changes you can make to reduce weight and puffiness in your face, and you can incorporate facial exercises and massage to get a slimmer face.
The only way to lose cheek fat is to eat healthy and exercise regularly. Your face will become slimmer as you lose weight. Many people already see results after losing a few pounds. If you commit to a healthy and active lifestyle, those chubby cheeks will eventually become a thing from the past.

Face fat is often the result of excessive accumulation of body fat giving you a fuller puffier appearance. Regular workouts and adding cardio to the routine can promote overall weight loss, improve body metabolism and show effective results in slimming down both the face and body.
#1 Drink more water
However, if you want to lose fat in your face, it's time to drink up! Drinking water also reduces puffiness in bloating not only in your face but also in your body because it reduces fluid retention.
If you are a beginner, walk at a slow-to-moderate pace five times each week for at least 30 minutes. Once your stamina increases, walk for at least one hour and pick up your pace to burn more calories. Eventually, your body-fat percentage will reduce, resulting in a thinner-looking face.
Including protein rich diet, cardio exercises and drinking plenty of water is the best way to reduce facial fat.” . Eating fresh fruits and veggies to your diet can help you lose that stubborn fat quickly.
Mostly, losing weight is an internal process. You will first lose hard fat that surrounds your organs like liver, kidneys and then you will start to lose soft fat like waistline and thigh fat. The fat loss from around the organs makes you leaner and stronger.
Yes, your face does become prettier when you lose lots of weight. The human face is meant to have some shape to it. If you are overweight and then lose some weight, your facial features, such as your eyes, lips and nose, will look more in proportion. They will look how they should look.
Chewing gum does not reduce face fat.
It is a popularised myth that chewing gum reduces face fat. The simple fact is that you cannot reduce fat from one spot. Chewing gum can give your facial muscles a good workout but isn't effective in reducing face fat.
- Do facial exercises. Facial exercises can be used to improve facial appearance, combat aging, and improve muscle strength ( 1 ). ...
- Add cardio to your routine. ...
- Drink more water. ...
- Limit alcohol consumption. ...
- Cut back on refined carbs. ...
- Get enough sleep. ...
- Watch your sodium intake. ...
- Eat more fiber.
What foods cause face fat?
Foods you should avoid
Often processed foods are packed with ingredients that "could cause weight gain, water retention, and inflammation—such as added sodium, refined carbohydrates and sugars, and trans fats," says Poon. So if you're looking to reduce puffiness, best to steer clear of highly processed foods.
Studies have shown that by the age of 35, the natural aging process causes us to lose about 10% of the fat in our faces, and we lose an additional 5-10% of your facial volume every 5-10 years thereafter.
What exactly is runner's face? If you've been around the running community for any length of time, you may have heard the term “runner's face.” What your buddies are referring to is not the face you make when you cross the finish line. Instead, it's the look of gaunt or saggy skin that may make you look a decade older.
- Phase -1 – GLYCOGEN DEPLETION. Glycogen Depletion: ...
- Phase -2 – FAT LOSS. This is the sweet spot for healthy weight loss. ...
- Phase -3 – PLATEAU. ...
- Phase -4 – METABOLIC RECOVERY. ...
- All the Phases of Weight Management:
To put it bluntly: "Women and men of average height need to gain or lose about about 8 and 9 pounds, respectively, for anyone to see it in their face, but they need to lose about twice as much for anyone to find them more attractive," lead author Nicholas Rule told Medical News Today.
(28) found that a BMI of 20 was considered the most attractive, while Swami et al. (29), and MacNeill and Best (30), found that an underweight body was most frequently selected.
Doing cardio – several studies have found cardiovascular exercise can promote fat burning and increase fat loss. Ideally, you need to do around 20 to 40 minutes of cardio a day. Drinking more water – because when you're dehydrated, your body (and your face) tends to retain water, and therefore become bloated.
When you lose weight, you inevitably lose some fat, including that which naturally occurs in your face and neck. And when that happens, volume in your face and neck decreases, says Nina Desai, M.D., a dermatologist in Manhattan Beach, CA. That creates skin laxity (derm speak for sagging) and folds.
While everyone loses weight differently, dropping as little as 3 to 5 pounds can show up on your face first, Eboli says.
Yes, your face does become prettier when you lose lots of weight. The human face is meant to have some shape to it. If you are overweight and then lose some weight, your facial features, such as your eyes, lips and nose, will look more in proportion. They will look how they should look.
How can my face look slimmer?
- Wear long earrings. ...
- Go ombre with your hair. ...
- Keep hair higher at the crown of your head. ...
- Color your hair darker around your face. ...
- Apply contouring makeup. ...
- Choose a mid-height ponytail. ...
- Cut in long layers and side-swept bangs. ...
- Create cat eyes with eye makeup.
Muscle is denser than fat, and as it is more compact within your body, as you gain muscle mass, you end up looking thinner, no matter your physical weight. So, if you've been doing a lot of strength training lately, it's likely this is the reason that you're looking fantastic but not dropping those numbers.
Your face skin might start sagging.
When you drop pounds, you're also shedding the components that make your skin plump, like subcutaneous fat, collagen, and elastin, says Dr. Gohara.
Losing overall body weight will likely make your face thinner, but could also make wrinkles more pronounced.
Most people begin to notice a shift in the appearance of their face around their 40's and 50's, with some also noticing a change in their 30's. But with these physical changes brought on by aging also comes a change in the appearance of our face - Luckily, there is treatment available.
CDC further recommends that you need to lose around 5-10% of your total body weight to notice changes. For instance, if you weigh 170 pounds, you need to lose roughly 8.3-17 pounds to notice a difference. The results should also be measured after at least three months, for certainty.