Why Do Our Faces Change Even When Our Weight Stays the Same?

Skin & Wellness Magazine

There is a moment when we look in the mirror and feel that something in our face has changed. Not necessarily a new wrinkle, not a spot and not a dramatic change. Simply, something in the overall look is no longer exactly as it was.

The cheeks look a little different, the jawline less defined, the eyes perhaps look more sunken, and even the smile feels different.

And then we step on the scale and discover that not even one kilogram has changed.

So how can our face change so much, when the weight stays exactly the same?

The answer is much more interesting than we think, because our face is not made of skin alone.

Our face is a whole structure that changes over the years

When we think about facial aging, we usually think about wrinkles and collagen loss.

But beneath the skin are muscles, fat layers, supporting ligaments and bones. Each of these tissues changes over the years, and not necessarily at the same pace.

Therefore, even if we keep the same weight for twenty years, our face will not necessarily keep the same shape.

Our bones change, in the face too

This is perhaps one of the things that surprised me most when I was exposed to the topic.

We are used to thinking of the facial bones as a fixed skeleton, one that accompanies us throughout our lives without changing.

But facial bones also undergo processes of change and reshaping.

Studies that examined the structure of the face at different ages found certain changes in the area of the eye sockets, the upper jaw and the lower jaw.

These changes are not identical in everyone, but they can affect the support of the tissues above them.

For example, a change in the structure of the area around the eyes may contribute to a more sunken look. Changes in the jaw area can affect the outline of the lower part of the face.

The meaning is that not every change we see in our appearance begins in the skin itself.

The fat in the face does not necessarily disappear — sometimes it changes place

In our face there are different fat compartments, some superficial and some deeper.

In our youth they contribute to the full, rounded look of the cheeks and to the smooth transitions between the areas of the face.

Over the years, some of the fat compartments lose volume, others change their relative position, and the tissues supporting them change.

This can create a situation in which the upper part of the cheeks looks less full, while in the jawline area a feeling of heaviness or laxity appears.

And this happens even without our losing weight.

In fact, our weight can remain completely constant, while the distribution of fat in the body and face changes.

And what happens to the muscles?

The facial muscles work almost without pause.

We smile, talk, eat, furrow our forehead and express emotions.

Over the years, changes also occur in the muscles and in the way they work together with the skin and the supporting tissues.

The effect on the appearance of the face is complex, and it does not amount to the muscles simply weakening.

A combination of repeated movements, changes in tissue tension and loss of skin elasticity can turn expression lines that were temporary into more permanent ones.

The skin no longer behaves exactly as it used to

Here collagen and elastin enter the picture.

Collagen gives the skin strength and support, and elastin helps it return to its shape after stretching.

With age, changes occur in the quantity, organization and quality of these fibers.

In addition, the skin tends to lose moisture, and the skin barrier may become more sensitive.

The result is skin that is less able to adapt to the changes taking place in the tissues beneath it.

Therefore, even a small change in the volume of the cheeks may be felt more when the skin is less elastic.

Why is the change felt especially around menopause?

During perimenopause and menopause, changes occur in estrogen levels.

Estrogen has an effect on skin function, on collagen content, on moisture and on other processes in the body's tissues.

The drop in its levels after menopause is linked to a drop in skin collagen and to changes in the elasticity and thickness of the skin.

This is one of the reasons why some women feel that the appearance of their face changed within a few years, even without a significant change in weight.

But it is important to remember that hormones are only part of the picture. Genetics, sun exposure, smoking, nutrition and lifestyle also have an effect.

Why does one side of the face sometimes look different from the other?

The truth is that our face was never completely symmetrical.

Almost all of us have small differences between the sides — in the height of the eyebrows, the structure of the cheeks, the shape of the eyes or the jawline.

Over the years, as the volume of the tissues and their elasticity change, some of these differences may become more prominent.

Expression habits, chewing and repeated postures may also affect the appearance to a certain extent.

Asymmetry that develops gradually is not necessarily a problem. On the other hand, a sudden change in the shape of the face, especially if it is accompanied by weakness or drooping of one side, requires urgent medical workup.

Can creams restore to the face the structure it had?

Here it is important to understand what skincare products can do and what they cannot.

A quality cream can improve moisture, support the skin barrier and reduce the appearance of fine lines that stem from dryness.

Certain ingredients, such as retinoids, can help improve skin texture and treat certain signs of aging over time.

But no cream is capable of restoring volume to the facial bones or rebuilding fat compartments that have lost their volume.

In my eyes, this distinction is important, because it allows us to choose skincare products out of a true understanding of their ability, and not out of unrealistic promises.

And what about facial massage, gua sha and facial exercises?

I know how popular these methods have become.

Gentle massage can feel wonderful, and sometimes it also temporarily reduces swelling and gives the face a fresher look.

But there is currently no strong scientific evidence that facial massage or the use of gua sha are capable of restoring lost fat volume, changing the structure of the bones or performing a permanent lift of the facial tissues.

The research on facial exercises is also still limited.

One can enjoy these actions as part of a pleasant skincare routine, without expecting them to change the deep structure of the face.

So what can really be done?

Not every change in the appearance of the face can be prevented, but it is definitely possible to keep the skin's health and reduce some of the factors that accelerate its aging.

Daily sun protection: UV radiation is one of the significant factors in premature aging of the skin.

Keeping up moisture: skin that receives sufficient moisture sometimes looks smoother and more elastic.

A balanced diet: protein and essential nutrients are important for maintaining the body's tissues.

Avoiding smoking: smoking harms processes related to skin health and accelerates the appearance of signs of aging.

Keeping a stable weight: significant weight fluctuations can also affect the volume of the face and the appearance of the skin.

A skincare routine suited to the age and state of the skin: not necessarily more products, but products that suit our changing needs.

And maybe we simply get used to seeing ourselves differently?

There is something else interesting in this whole story.

We see our face almost every day, and so we do not always notice the small changes that take place gradually.

And then we come across a photo from ten years ago.

Suddenly we understand that the change is not only in the wrinkles. It is in the structure of the cheeks, in the gaze, in the jawline and in the way the light falls on the face.

I think it is important to know these processes, not in order to start looking for every small change in our appearance, but to understand what is really happening in our body.

Because not every change in the face indicates weight gain, neglect, or that we do not care for our skin enough.

Sometimes it is simply the way our body ages.

And this knowledge can change not only the way we care for our face, but also the way we look at it.

Our faces change over the years, even when the number on the scale stays exactly the same. And it is not only a matter of skin — it is the story of everything beneath it.

Skin & Wellness Magazine | OrOrgani

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