How to lose weight in your face: 7 tips to make it slimmer

How to lose weight in your face

The good news is that when you start losing weight, it should become noticeable on your face right away. The bad news is that you can’t spot-reduce fat, meaning you can’t target it in a specific area.

And there's more good news. Fat on your face helps you look youthful, so don’t demonize it (or fat anywhere else).

By the way, many people try to add volume to their faces by using fillers, hoping to look younger.

What causes fat on the face

The accumulation of disproportionate weight on the face can be caused by several factors, including fat distribution patterns, hormones, fluid retention, and genetics. All of these play a role.

Some people gain more weight on their faces.

"Your genetics play a major role in where your body stores fat first, so some people naturally have rounder faces with more fat storage, while others tend to store fat in their abdomen, hips or thighs," explained Dr. Lydia Alexander.

Some people accumulate fat more evenly throughout the body, while others may gain it disproportionately in certain areas, she says.

Can facial exercises help you lose weight in your face

Facial exercises, or face yoga, won’t help you lose weight in this area, experts say.

The purpose of facial exercises is to make your face appear fuller and, therefore, more youthful.

As you age, the fat in your face, known as fat pads, becomes less plump, and facial exercises may help compensate for the lost volume.

"The purpose of the facial exercises seems to be to help to grow muscles under the fat pads such that, as you exercise them, they become larger in size and begin to perform some of the functions the fat pads were performing before to make your face look fuller," experts explain.

Tips for slimming your face

In addition to starting an overall weight loss program, you can reduce facial bloating, which might be mistaken for fat.

"You may be retaining fluid in the face and neck area, and there are quite a few things you can do to limit this," says Lydia Alexander.

The doctor shares several tips for slimming your face:

Cut back on sodium

A high salt intake makes the body retain water to dilute excess sodium.

Limit carbs and processed foods

Refined carbohydrates found in pasta, crackers, bread, and many snacks can make the face look puffy.

Drink more water

Staying hydrated prevents the body from holding onto fluid. If the body lacks water, it retains what it has.

Reduce stress

Stress increases cortisol levels, which in turn raises insulin resistance and can lead to additional fluid retention.

Avoid alcohol

Alcohol can dehydrate you, causing fluid retention. It can also trigger an inflammatory response in the body.

Improve your sleep

Poor sleep can cause inflammation in the body, which may be especially visible on the face.

Move more and stay active

Exercise helps reduce fluid retention and boosts circulation, including blood flow to the face, improving skin appearance.

This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.