Regain Facial Fullness Following Weight Loss

Regain Facial Fullness Following Weight Loss

If you have had an illness, or successfully lost weight through dieting, it is quite possible that you might have lost weight from your face. Unfortunately, losing facial fat can sometimes result in an aging appearance, because plump cheeks and a firm facial contour are often considered synonymous with youth. A cosmetic surgeon can insert facial implants or inject temporary fillers to give the appearance of a more youthful fuller face, or you can practice exercises to help regain a more healthy and youthful appearance. This post will focus on the latter solution.

Expert Insight

According to Louise Annette, who was a facial resistance trainer and went on to write the book "Ageless If You Dare," to give the face a fuller appearance, it is of most importance to work the muscles in the cheeks. Annette says that much of what we think to be cheekbones are actually muscles, and by training the cheek muscles, not only will they regain a more plump appearance but the face will also automatically lift up and outward along various gradients.

Facial Yoga

New York yoga instructor Annelise Hagen recommends a facial yoga exercise she describes as the "smiling fish face" to build cheek muscles. Purse your lips, and smile widely. At the same time, draw your cheeks in, pressing them against your teeth and making hollows in your cheeks. Repeat five times. Hagen also suggests filling both cheeks with as much air as possible and transferring it from one side of the face to the other to firm the cheek area. Continue until you are out of breath, and repeat three times.

The Wink

Deborah Crowley recommends a facial exercise named "The Wink" for filling out the cheeks. To perform the wink, you need to work each side of the face separately. Place your middle and ring fingers directly below where crow's wrinkles commonly form at the outer corner of the eye. Apply slight pressure and press downward. Draw the corner of your mouth up, as though attempting to meet the corner of your eye. When the corner of your mouth is raised, hold the position for a count of six. You will likely feel the pulsating of a muscle beneath your fingers. Repeat on each side 10 times.

Makeup

If you have a wide or chubby face, you can make it appear slimmer by applying blush powder just below the cheekbones to add contour. If you have a gaunt face, instead of applying the blush under the cheekbone, apply it to the apples of your cheeks being careful to blend it well. Do not blend it out toward your temples because this will make your face appear slimmer.