What is Volume Loss?

If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and thought something about your face looks older or more tired but you just can’t seem to put your finger on exactly what that something is, you could be experiencing facial volume loss. As you age, you lose the collagen and fat pads that once gave your skin a youthful appearance (think of a baby’s face, round, full and smooth).

Facial volume loss may appear as hollow temples, sunken-in eye sockets, flattened cheeks, or loose sagging skin around the jawline also known as jowls.

The natural aging process and your genetics are the major causes of facial volume loss. However, certain medications, weight loss, stress and other lifestyle factors may contribute to exacerbated facial volume loss.

While every person ages differently, many patients begin to notice signs of facial volume loss starting in their 20s. In your youth, fat in the face is evenly distributed, with pockets that plump up the forehead, temples, cheeks, and areas around the eyes and mouth. As you age, the natural supports of the skin begin to break down and fat pads may shift downward. This process accelerates as you age and can be influenced by a number of environmental or behavioral factors.

Treatment Options for Volume Loss

There are several options to help with facial volume loss. HA fillers are composed of synthetic hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring plumping substance in skin, that gives you results in a few short weeks.