What Causes Sagging Facial Skin?

I get many questions from patients on what to do about sagging skin, usually around the jaw line or the cheeks. I’d like you to think about a balloon. A balloon generally loses it’s shape and sags because it loses air/volume.

 

For an aging face, the same is true – sagging occurs mostly due to volume loss in the bone, fat, and deep skin layer (dermis). Wrinkling occurs when you lose volume (like the balloon deflating) and also when there is sun/environmental damage to the outer layer layer (the epidermis), like a leather chair exposed to long days of sun. This is why caucasians (especially redheads) have so much trouble with wrinkling due to much less natural protection in their skin. Everyone though, loses volume as we age.

 

What can you do about sagging facial skin?  See Dr. Irwin’s articles on:

Sagging Skin and Cheek Issues

Sagging Skin and Jaw Line Issues

Understanding Wrinkles

Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

Ask me your skincare question!

Hi, I’m Dr. Irwin. I believe that consumers deserve a medically trained and unbiased skin care advocate.

  • All our content is written and researched by myself.
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