Cheeks and lower face look different after weight loss - how can I fix this? (Photos)

Question

I lost alot of weight in 2 months, im only 20 years old and i was 65kg before and lost 13kg in 2 months and now my cheeks on the lower face looks like that when i push my head back or tilt my head down? It wasnt like this before, is it permanent? if i regain all the weight?

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

What you’re noticing is very commonly seen after rapid weight loss, especially when a significant amount of weight is lost in a short period of time like 2 months.

At 20 years old, your skin is still generally very resilient and has good collagen support, which is a big advantage. However, when weight drops quickly, the fat pads in the face—especially in the cheeks and lower face—can shrink faster than the skin can fully adjust. This can temporarily change how the face looks in certain positions, like when you tilt your head down or back, because gravity and skin movement make those changes more noticeable.

In most cases, this is not permanent at your age.

Why it’s happening:
Loss of facial fat volume (especially in the mid and lower face)
Skin temporarily “lagging behind” after fast weight change
Natural movement of facial tissues becoming more visible in certain angles
Early loss of soft support in the cheeks that normally smooths contours
Will it go back if you regain weight?

If you regain weight, the facial fat pads will usually increase again, and the fullness you remember may return. However, it’s not always perfectly identical, because the way fat redistributes in the face can change slightly over time and with repeated weight fluctuations.

The more important point:

At your age, the skin itself is still quite adaptable. In many people, some of what looks like “changes” at certain angles settles partially over a few months once weight stabilizes and the body adjusts.

What you can do now:
Avoid further rapid weight changes (this is the biggest factor for facial stability)
Allow time for stabilization—the face often continues to adjust for several months after weight loss
Support skin health with hydration, sunscreen, and a gentle skincare routine
If concerns persist after your weight stabilizes, subtle volume restoration options (like conservative filler in selected cases) can be considered, but only after things have fully settled

Right now, the most important factor is not rushing to “correct” it, because early post-weight-loss changes often evolve naturally over time.

Carl Truesdale, MD · Answer

Weight loss reshapes the face in ways that often surprise patients. The fat compartments don't shrink uniformly, so what shows up is asymmetric volume loss in some areas alongside skin laxity in others. The right approach depends on where you've lost volume and where the skin has become loose.
Three things that typically need addressing:
The midface (cheek and lateral cheek). Volume restoration with autologous fat transfer or hyaluronic acid filler is usually the first move. Fat transfer is more durable but requires donor sites. Filler works well for previewing the look and gives you reversibility if you don't like it.
The lower face and jowls. If you've developed loose skin or jowling, no amount of filler will lift it. A deep plane facelift addresses the descended tissue. For mild cases, RF microneedling or HIFU may help but won't replicate surgical lifting.
The neck. Often the most obvious change after major weight loss. Neck lift with platysmaplasty is the workhorse here.
Combined approach is usually what gives the best result. In someone who's lost significant weight, a deep plane facelift plus fat grafting addresses both the descent and the deflation in one operation, with a single recovery.
Conservative starting point: get evaluated by a facial plastic surgeon who does both surgical lifting AND fat grafting. They'll give you an honest read on which compartment needs which intervention. A surgeon who only injects will tell you filler is the answer. A surgeon who only operates will recommend surgery. You want the one who does both.

Wipanee Akarapusit, MD · Answer

Rapid weight loss can sometimes make changes in facial volume and skin support more noticeable, especially in the lower face and jawline. At age 20, the skin and soft tissues often still have good elasticity, so there is a reasonable chance that some of these changes may soften or improve as your weight stabilizes over time.
In many cases, this type of change is related more to facial fat loss and tissue adjustment than permanent structural damage. Whether regaining weight improves the appearance can vary from person to person, depending on facial structure, skin quality, and how the weight returns.
Since the weight loss happened fairly quickly, it may be worthwhile to give your face some time to adapt before considering aesthetic procedures.
Wipanee Akarapusit, MDMember, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS)

Cheeks and lower face look different after weight loss - how can I fix this? (Photos)

Answers (3)

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