After a Facelift, Can Your Face Get Thinner? Does Any of the Fat on Cheeks Get Absorbed?

Fat does not dissolve after a Facelift. If fat was removed during a Facelift that area-usually the neck-will look thinner. It is rare and very unlikely that fat has been removed from the cheek and jowl area-this can be risky to facial nerves.

Most likely you are seeing the effect of the Facelift.

As we age fat and skin move downward creating fullness due to loose tissue around the mouth, lower cheeks and jowls.

A good Facelift elevates the lax skin and fat by pulling them upward. thus the lower face almost always looks thinner after a Facelift. The cheeks are typically fuller with a good Facelift result.

Whether or not any fat is lost during a face lift depends to some extent on the technique used.  We typically add fat to face (fat grafting) at the same time as the face lift

There is a miniscule amount of fat that is absorbed along the area of the surgical facelift where the incisions and elevation of the SMAS is performed. Only the areas that are undermined will get a very slight resorption of fat.