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December 12, 2025Weight loss can change the appearance of the face in a way that is not always flattering for the person experiencing it. This is because, especially after the age of 40, excess fat “fills in” wrinkles and “erases” many signs of aging.
“As with all parts of the body, the face has fat, which gives it a youthful appearance,” says Dr. Markos Michelakis, Dermatologist-Venereologist (Aesthetic Dermatology-Dermatosurgery). “People with a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) generally tend to look younger than their actual age. Conversely, those who are very thin often appear older.”
As he explains, the skin is made up of collagen and elastin fibers, two proteins that play a crucial role in its appearance. Collagen makes up about 80% of its structure, giving it strength and firmness. Elastin makes it elastic and helps it stay tight. These proteins also help maintain the skin’s integrity. However, with certain events, such as aging and significant weight loss, the skin often fails to maintain its previous condition.
Another factor in this change is that most overweight people carry extra weight for many years. The skin has great adaptability and stretches as the body’s volume increases. However, when it remains stretched for many years, the collagen and elastin fibers are damaged and cease to function properly. This is why those who lose a large amount of weight (usually over 50 kg) are left with excess skin on the body, which in many cases requires surgical removal.
However, the face does not require such dramatic weight loss to start changing in appearance with slimming. A study from the University of Toronto, published a few years ago, showed that losing 3.5–4 kg is enough for the difference in the face to become noticeable. To make the face more attractive, however, the loss should reach approximately 6–8 kg. Greater losses cause even more pronounced changes and, depending on age, may produce the opposite of the desired effects.
Indeed, more and more middle-aged people, especially women, exhibit what is called “the diet face.” This refers to the change in facial appearance caused by dieting in individuals over 40 who lose significant weight or follow very restrictive diets.
Even without dieting, the face loses fat due to aging, as shown in a study published in February 2021 in the medical journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. According to this study, between the ages of 46 and 57, an average of 12% of facial fat is lost. This loss gives the face an aged appearance, as the eyes “sink,” the cheeks appear “hollowed,” and the skin in the lower face loosens and “sags.” Additionally, wrinkles appear that were previously “filled” by body fat.
An earlier American study from 2009 showed that if a middle-aged woman also loses weight on top of these changes, her face will appear much less youthful. Specifically, losing just 5 kg is enough to make her face look 4 full years older!
Significant changes in the face can also occur in older individuals, smokers (as smoking is a major cause of premature skin aging), those who have repeatedly lost and regained weight, and those who have suffered extensive skin damage from sun exposure. “The sun damages elastin fibers, which naturally decrease with age, making it harder for the skin to stay firm,” explains Dr. Michelakis.
All of this can happen even though the facial skin is more resilient than any other part of the body. This increased resilience means it is easier for the face to regain a normal appearance as we lose weight, but only to a certain extent.
How can weight loss cause all these changes? A critical factor is the diet followed by the individual. A “face-friendly” diet should include plenty of water (ideally eight glasses a day), no alcohol (in any form), moderate salt (no added salt to food and minimal processed foods), and abundant nutrient-rich foods (fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains, etc.).
To protect facial skin, weight loss should also be gradual. The goal should be to lose half a kilo per week or 2 kg per month. This is achieved by consuming 250 fewer calories per day and doing daily exercise that burns an additional 250 calories. Exercise also has the added benefit of gradually replacing body fat with lean muscle, resulting in a gradual and uniform change in the body. Don’t forget to include strength and flexibility exercises in your routine.
Women can also use special anti-aging products during weight loss. Creams and serums with ingredients such as retinol, growth factors, and peptides may stimulate collagen production. Moisturizers with hyaluronic acid can soften fine lines around the eyes, while retinol creams can reduce dark circles that become more pronounced in hollowed eyes.
Once weight loss is complete, women can consider additional options, such as hyaluronic acid fillers in the cheeks, under the lower eyelid, and around the mouth, or even more invasive solutions such as a facelift.
Visiting a dermatologist for skin evaluation before and after weight loss is a good first step in finding the best solution for each individual, concludes Dr. Michelakis.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1948550615599829
https://www.livestrong.com/article/314328-how-losing-weight-affects-your-face/
https://www.carolynsfacialfitness.com/faq/skin-change-lose-weight-affect-skin-face-neck/
https://www.biodermis.com/blogs/biodermis-blog/how-does-weight-loss-affect-the-skin-biodermis-com
https://www.verywellfit.com/how-to-fix-loose-skin-after-weight-loss-3496411
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty/a28785158/weight-loss-effects-skin/
