Achieving a major weight loss milestone is always something to be celebrated and no doubt comes along with a myriad of health benefits. However, some people find that they suddenly notice wrinkles, loose skin and other signs of facial aging that did not seem so pronounced prior to their weight loss success.
Learn more about the correlation between fat loss and facial aging here, as well as how to reverse facial volume loss so you can fully enjoy the benefits of hitting your weight loss goal without feeling self-conscious about loose skin, jowls or wrinkles.
How Does Fat Loss Cause Wrinkles?
When we lose weight, we are unfortunately unable to choose which areas of our bodies shrink down in size. Often, the face is one of the first areas where fat loss occurs. This facial volume loss can result in skin sagging, wrinkles, jowls and other signs of premature facial aging when excess skin is left behind after fat loss.
The amount of facial aging that you might notice after significant weight loss can also depend on factors such as your age, genetics and lifestyle habits. These factors affect the amount of collagen and elastin that our skin contains, which, in turn, will affect the way our skin “bounces back” after weight loss. A person in their 20s, for example, may notice fewer effects on their skin after weight loss than someone in their 40s or 50s.
How to Reverse Facial Volume Loss
The good news is that there are ways to reverse facial volume loss after weight loss to achieve a smoother and more youthful-looking facial contour. Some of the most effective treatments for wrinkles, creases and sagging skin in the face and neck include fillers, fat grafting, radiofrequency microneedling, and a face or neck lift.
Facial Fillers
Injectable fillers restore lost facial volume in the mid-face area by plumping your skin from the inside out. Similarly, by “filling in” wrinkles and creases, fillers are able to smooth away these signs of skin aging. Hyaluronic acid fillers generally last for 6 to 18 months, depending on the specific filler you choose.
Fat Grafting
Fat grafting, also referred to as fat transfer, is similar to fillers in that it is an injectable procedure that aims to restore lost facial volume. The primary difference is that fat transfer uses natural fat cells from your body to create a plumper and more youthful appearance in your face, rather than synthetic fillers. Because of this technique, fat transfers are generally very long-lasting.
Vivace® RF Microneedling
Vivace® combines radiofrequency energy and LED therapy with microneedling technology to spur collagen production and cell renewal. Thus, this revolutionary skin treatment not only improves the appearance of lines and wrinkles but also tightens and tones loose skin on the face, neck, hands and body.
Facelift Or Neck Lift
In some cases where significant excess skin is creating jowls and/or deep creases and folds, a surgical cosmetic procedure such as a facelift or neck lift may be the most effective solution. While these procedures are more involved than their non-surgical counterparts, they can yield more dramatic and longer-lasting results.
Dr. James Koehler at Eastern Shore Cosmetic Surgery provides today’s most popular cosmetic surgery and nonsurgical options. Choose from breast enhancement procedures such as breast augmentation, body sculpting procedures including liposuction and tummy tucks, and facial procedures such as facelifts, BOTOX® Cosmetic, and much more. We are dedicated to providing outstanding care and results. Come in for a visit and see our difference for yourself!
