Losing weight can leave you looking older as fat loss accelerates the ageing process by deflating the cheeks and hollowing the eyes, a new study revealed.
It is a phenomenon known as ‘Diet Face’ and was previously thought to be due to gravity taking its toll on the body in later years, causing the skin to sag.
Researchers from the Medical College of Wisconsin studied the CT head scans of 19 middle aged volunteers taken on two occasions at least a decade apart.
They found that rather than gravity sagging the skin, weight loss caused the ageing process to accelerate, deflating cheeks and making the jowls look heavy.
The team behind the study say their discovery could lead to better facelifts and explain why a host of celebrities look up to a decade older after they trim down.
They gave the examples of Simon Cowell, Dawn French, Davina McCall, Renee Zellweger, Celine Dion, Lenny Henry and former Chancellor Nigel Lawson.
These images of Simon Cowell were taken two years apart – in November 2018 (left) and in July 2020 (right). This study found that rather than gravity sagging the skin, weight loss caused the ageing process to accelerate, deflating cheeks and making the jowls look heavy
Dawn French famously lost more than 7 stone. These two images were taken seven years apart – in 2012 (left) and in 2019 (right). Lead author Dr Aaron Morgan says deep facial fat loss removes support from overlying fat, sinking the eyes
Facial fat reduced by more than 12 percent over the decade gap between the two CT scans – confirming the ‘volume loss’ theory of facial ageing – shedding fresh light on why patients seek rejuvenation.
Lead author Dr Aaron Morgan, of Medical College of Wisconsin, said: ‘In particular, we think deep facial fat loss removes support from the overlying fat.
‘That causes deepening of the nasolabial fold, which runs from the nose to the mouth. Meanwhile, fat loss closer to the surface makes the cheeks appear deflated.’
It means the jowls descend – and you lose definition around the jawline. Volume loss around the eyes means they may look hollow and sunken.
Explained Dr Morgan: ‘The upper face has less fat to begin with, so fat loss is more apparent.
‘In contrast, the cheek or buccal area has relatively little fat loss, so that area appears fuller as changes occur in other areas of the midface.’
The 19 participants – who averaged 46 and 57 years of age at each scan – were not undergoing facelifts or any other cosmetic procedure.
But it enabled the US team to measure changes in fat deposits in the midface – the area between the eyes and mouth – although the results varied among individuals, they showed ‘definite and measurable loss of midface fat volume.’
It decreased from about 46.50 cc at the initial scan to 40.8 cc at the follow-up – a fall of about 12.2 per cent over the course of a decade.
But the amount wasn’t the same at all levels. In the superficial compartment, just under the surface, it fell by an average of 11.3 per cent – compared to 18.4 per cent less deep below the skin.
The study, published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, shows fat is effectively the scaffolding that holds the face up.
These images of actor Lenny Henry were taken in 2013 (left) and in 2017 (right). Researchers say when people lose weight jowls descend – and you lose definition around the jawline
It could identify techniques to replace or reposition the midface fat in a more ‘physiologic’ way.
Dr Morgan said: ‘We think our findings will help plastic surgeons design more natural approaches to facial rejuvenation, with the aim of recreating the facial fat distribution of youth.
‘This proves there is volume depletion and not just laxity of tissues with ageing. So, volume replacement should be used in addition to surgical procedures to attempt to recreate the youthful face.’
Renee Zellweger famously gained weight to play Bridget Jones in the Bridget Jones Diary movies. Researchers previously believed ‘diet face’ from losing weight was caused by gravity over time – but the study shows it is due to changes in underlying fat scaffolding on the face
The traditional theory is sagging – the facial soft tissues simply yield to the effects of gravity over time.
The idea weakening ligaments in the midface could result in soft tissue descent still has merit, said Dr Morgan. But the evidence points in another direction.
He added: ‘Perhaps the real culprit behind facial ageing is the loss of fat – both near the surface of the skin and in deeper areas.’
Taken just a year apart, these images are of Celine Dion in 2016 and in 2017 (right). The study, published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, shows fat is effectively the scaffolding that holds the face up
With two-thirds of Britons obese or overweight, dieting is vital for good health. But it can speed up wrinkles.
Understanding the causes is paramount in plastic surgery.
Experts advise people to lose weight gradually – and eat plenty of oily fish, Omega 3 fats, fruit and vegetables as well as key vitamins.