What is a sagging face?

Sagging face is a cosmetic “condition” that occurs naturally in many people as they age. The skin loses its youthful appearance as it loses elasticity and volume over time, which causes it to droop, resulting in jowls and eye bags.

What are the symptoms?

The skin of the face can sag in different ways. The most common things are jowls, wrinkles, bags under the eyes, drooping eyelids, deeper nasolabial folds, a “double chin” (where fat collects beneath the chin), and other parts of the face where the skin visibly sags.

What causes your face to sag?

One of the substances that gives the skin its elasticity is collagen. This structural protein is found throughout our bodies – in fact it is the most common protein in mammals. Together with elastin, it provides firmness and structure to the skin, but as we age, we naturally lose collagen.

The loss of collagen is mirrored by the loss of facial fat, which reduces the volume of the face. The loss of both substances causes the matrix of collagen, elastin and fat to break down, resulting in a loss of elasticity, and subsequently, the skin sags.

How can it be prevented?

Ageing is inevitable, and everyone’s skin loses its youthful appearance eventually. As we age our skin doesn’t renew itself as often, allowing for loss of collagen and fat. Quite when the skin starts to lose its ability to bounce back depends a lot on your genes. Other factors include UV damage (i.e. from the sun), and weight changes. These are things we can control more.

Protecting your skin by applying sun cream throughout your life can help preserve the collagen in your skin, and therefore prolong its youthful appearance.

When we put on weight, the skin stretches to accommodate the extra fat. Losing weight, particularly if it happens quickly, often leaves behind this excess skin. The older we get, the less likely the skin is to bounce back into place, due to the reduction in elasticity. Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle can help us to maintain a consistent weight throughout our lives.

What is the treatment for a sagging face?

Sagging face is simply a natural part of the ageing process, but there are several cosmetic treatments that many people choose to undergo to keep their youthful looks a little longer.

Injectable fillers can help boost volume, while collagen supplements are also available to replace the lost collagen. Botox is also an option for rejuvenating the face.