15% off £25 OR 20% off £35
Have you looked in the mirror lately and thought your face looks a little fuller?
It’s possible for people to gain weight in their face, just as much as it is to carry some extra pounds around their waist or on their hips or thighs.
For some, the facial weight increase is so slight it’s something only they could possibly notice. But for others, it can mean their cheeks look fuller or they develop a double chin.
Face fat can be frustrating and potentially impact your confidence because our faces are always on show. But if you can understand why it happens, then you’re part of the way to helping get rid of it, and potentially preventing it from developing in the first place.
As with our bodies, putting weight on in our faces is a result of a build-up of fat deposits.
This excess fat is usually caused by overall weight gain, which is typically linked to one or more of these factors – poor diet, lack of exercise, ageing or genetic conditions. Facial bloating is another face fat culprit; one that tends to fluctuate from day-to-day.1
Fortunately, you don’t just simply have to live with face fat, there are some things you can do to help slim down the fat from your cheeks, your jowls or underneath your chin and neck.
Face fat is caused by a build-up of fat deposits that’s usually the result of overall weight gain. Some people also experience facial bloating that varies on a daily basis.
There are lots of different things you can do to try and slim your face down to your desired size. They range from re-thinking what you are putting into your body (and, in turn, your face) to reassessing how active you are.
There are also certain tools you can use on your face to help bring any puffiness down. Plus, there are also specific face weight loss exercises you can do to help tone and work off that excess fat, just as you would with your body. While we’re on the subject, some people find that exercise helps them lose weight from both their face and their body.
Face weight loss exercises can tone your facial muscles, which then helps make your face look slimmer. And believe it or not, there are a fair few facial exercises out there, although there is limited evidence to back up the effectiveness of face fat workouts.2
Here are some exercises you can easily try right away - it’s said to be able to tone up 40+ facial muscles:
There are lots of exercises you can do that are specifically aimed at firming up your facial muscles and potentially streamlining your face in the process.
The length of time it takes to lose weight from your body applies to your face. And because there are so many different factors at play – how often you work out, the type of work out, your calorie intake, etc. – means that how quickly you lose weight will be different to the next person.
Weight fluctuation isn’t as noticeable on a larger frame. If you have a small build and lower BMI, weight may come off more slowly, but be apparent more quickly. However, when your starting size is larger, you’re likely to lose more weight at a faster rate, especially during those early days.
Some people immediately see a change in the size of their thighs, belly or face, which may be genetic.8
A week may be a bit ambitious but, following on from what we’ve just said above, everybody loses weight at different rates, depending on their own individual factors. While it’s not guaranteed to happen, it’s most certainly not impossible. People may certainly find their face looks and feels more toned, especially if they’ve been doing facial exercises.
The amount of time it takes to lose facial fat varies from person to person. Some people may start to see a difference within a week, but it’s not guaranteed. What’s more, their face may have toned up, as opposed to having lost weight.
The more you work at slimming your face, the more you potentially may be able to get rid of the extra weight.
You may want to just stick to the facial exercises or incorporate lots of other face fat-busting practices into your life too. They include:
Facial, chin and neck exercises aside, there are several other good habits you can adopt to help improve your chance of seeing some facial fat loss results. They include eating more fibre, doing cardio exercise and reducing your refined carb intake.
There are certain exercises that are specifically aimed at tackling double chins. They include:18
Exercising regularly - around 45 minutes of moderate physical activity a day – and strength training twice a week can also help. Meanwhile, eating a healthy and balanced diet that limits sugar and food consumption that can lead to fat build-up and weight gain can also help.19
Again, there isn’t an overall solution. A combination of healthy eating and exercise can certainty help. So too can neck exercises like this one that’s designed to firm up neck muscles:20
Tilt the head in all directions while applying minimal resistance in the opposite direction from your hand.
Ideally, you need to do this exercise three times a day and seven times a session to help strengthen the muscles within your neck. Neck exercises aren’t designed to burn neck fat, but help develop muscles in the area, which will give a more toned appearance.
There are several measures you can take to help combat and reduce face fat. The results are very much down to the individual and you may not necessarily lose any weight, just simply tone your facial muscles instead.
The main thing is, face fat isn’t something you just have to put up with, there are targeted ways to help sort it. In the meantime, for more practical insight on face weight loss, check out this article, ‘How to reduce puffiness on your face’.
Last updated: 19 April 2021
Joined Holland & Barrett: April 2019
Masters Degree in Toxicology and BSc Hons in Medical Biochemistry