I wonder if my face will look older?

I hope this topic does not seem too frivolous but I have noticed that when people lose weight (people in their late thirties onward that is) their faces can appear older when they are slim....I was just looking at some before and after pics for inspiration (on another site) and I was struck by how many women's faces actually looked much younger when they were overweight....I suppose the amount of weight might be significant but I wonder if I'll find 40 lbs from now that my lines are deeper or that I will look more haggard or something....I am willing to trade though--I would be more comfortable with a slimmer body and aged face....I guess....sorry to be a downer--I guess maybe I am not as comfortable with my 42 years as I thought I was....

I've noticed the same thing too. I am a little afraid that as I lose weight I'll age significantly. The best thing about my physical appearance is that I look quite a bit younger than I actually am (at least thet's what I'm told). It may be vain but I like that and am worried about losing it.

ah yes... it sure is possible you'll look older in the face.  I guess it depends on where you tend to lose weight first.  I'm in my forties and now that I've lost 30 pounds the lines have deepened.  My body looks really young but first thing in the morning when my eyes are puffy the lines under them make me look so haggard! It's very dismaying.  I could actually stand to lose another 5 or 10 pounds around my lower body but I'm afraid my face would slide right off my skull!

All that said though, I'd never go back to being 30 pounds over-weight.  If it really starts to bother me maybe I'll get a face lift or restalyn or something in a couple of years.

that the same comment i got when i lose weight like... are you into drugs... i like you better when your chubby.  i still have to lose 6lbs more. i will looked more haggard by that time. some say drink lots of water to look more puffier.

My skin had fewer wrinkles 60lb ago but I believe I actually look much younger now than I did back them.  But it doesn't really matter -- reversing is not really an option, so I'd rather be old and thin than old and fat....

From your Pic I can't imagine you being 60 lbs heavier.

You look good!

Was it Coco Chanel who said that, after 40, a woman has to choose between her face and her figure?  I lost 10lbs about six months ago and looked old and deeply furrowed, esp from my nose to lips. Awful!  I actually considered Botox for my forehead as the creases were really pronounced.  Then, guess what? I gave up exercising and put it all on again in six weeks. I'm a big blob, now, but my skin is gorgeous!  I'm starting again, today, but I'm going to try to increase my exercise so that I become toned rather than thin, if that makes sense.

I am not sure I agree with having to choose.  I have lost 95 lbs to date and will be 43 in 4 days and I get told all the time since I have lost the weight that I could pass for 20-ish.  Now it may be later 20's but I am okay with that.

Health tends to come through in our faces, bodies, etc.

Great sucess!!!!

I have actually seen where people look younger when they loose weight. However, it appears that it often depends on how rapidly the individual looses weight. If they loose weight fast, others can tell it in their face. But, if the progression is slower, it doesn't seem much of a drastic change. So, please be encouraged. You are still young and you can still look young. After you loose some of your weight, just visit the MAC counter for some tips on how to wear your makeup and cover up any aging spots (or Bare Minerals seem to help my neighbor). Feel good about your weight loss accomplishments and do what you can to make yourself feel good! 

Interesting replies everyone...(for some reason I did not realize people had responded--I guess I did not flag to receive reply notifications or something)...

In any case I am starting to lose and will let you all know how it affects my face...I have a before pic and will take an after....After looking at my family over the holidays I doubt that I will ever have a gaunt looking face--my family tends to be "saggers" vs. "sinkers" (I recall once a doctor on Oprah talking about the two styles of aging on a face...sinking vs. sagging...very depressing the show was)....

Anyway, I looked back in some photos and noticed that even at a weight of 99 lbs (don't worry...I am only 5'1 so this is not super slim and was a freakish occurance in my 20s after having my wisdom teeth removed...normally I would weight around 120 or so) my face still looked quite full (I can recall back then wishing for cheekbones to show because I always had chubby cheeks and a full face....)....

I was not too impressed with the photos from over the holidays...for a few years now I have not been in them (I tend to be the one to take the photos and so I am not actually in any of them) but my parents were taking some and so I got to see myself....it is amazing how one can not actually realize how big they are!  I guess because what I see everyday is just a quick snapshot of my face in the mirror...believe it not we don't even have any full length mirrors in our house yet (we just moved here a year ago and things are still a mess)...so I actually thought I was not as chubby as I am.... ah well....

On the topic of weight and age etc. my mom had a pic of my grandmother about a year before she died and in the two years before she died she was quite slim and trim (as it turned out it was because she had stomach cancer.. she was in her 80s...)  In this particular photo she was dressed very stylishly for my sister's wedding and she looked so much like her self in her thirties it was eerie....sure her face looked like she was in her 60s or 70s but the slimness made her look very young....for my family I think the age related weight gain is what makes us looked so much more aged....

I agree with dplatinum04 about how fast or slow you lose the weight having an affect on how it shows up in your face.  I started chewing gum again, feel like a teenager, to help to exercise my face and strengthen my face muscles. a year and a half ago I no longer had a chin, now I have an actual chin and a long neck. ( you all are welcome to look at my photos of before and after in my gallery.) I will also do  some facial exercise whenever I think of it to strengthen the musces in my face. every little bit helps. I think I look younger now.  what do you guys think. I have lost from 280 down to 210 and still have about 40 lbs to  go. I am in size 18/20. I am 41, will soon be 42.

I think your skin care habits have alot to do with what your face looks like after you have lost weight. Along with how fast or slow you lose the weight, now if you all of a sudden you drop 20 pounds in a couple of wees or so, your face is gonna look sunken in and haggard.

Original Post by cerene65:

I think your skin care habits have alot to do with what your face looks like after you have lost weight. Along with how fast or slow you lose the weight, now if you all of a sudden you drop 20 pounds in a couple of wees or so, your face is gonna look sunken in and haggard.

 Oh my, I'm in trouble then.  I'm not sure if anyone would even believe what my 'skin care' routine is.  Okay, here goes...I wash my face with bar soap when I shower..3-4 per week.  Then I dump some hand lotion on my face (you know the cheap kind that is in the huge pump dispensers)....

I guess I don't believe any of the products make any difference...maybe I should try and see if there is a difference...  I gave up after reading an article by a women celebrating her 102nd birthday and she said that all she ever used was a bit of olive oil...she looks pretty good...well, for 102 that is...

I dunno, do the products make any difference?

In my opinion I dont think the actual product makes the difference if you are refering to beauty shop products vs store bought. Although my teachers back when I attended cosmetology college would probably disagree. Bar soap can be very drying on your face. The hand lotion is probably better than no lotion. But in the cheap brand of hand lotion there is an alcohol type ingrediant, which is why the cheap brands absorb quicker.

Keeping your skin moisterized helps it keep its elasticity. If you dont moisterize then your skin is going to wrinkle as you become smaller.

I have always wondered what would happen to skin when someone loses a lot of weight.

Original Post by cerene65:

In my opinion I dont think the actual product makes the difference if you are refering to beauty shop products vs store bought. Although my teachers back when I attended cosmetology college would probably disagree. Bar soap can be very drying on your face. The hand lotion is probably better than no lotion. But in the cheap brand of hand lotion there is an alcohol type ingrediant, which is why the cheap brands absorb quicker.

Keeping your skin moisterized helps it keep its elasticity. If you dont moisterize then your skin is going to wrinkle as you become smaller.

 Thanks for the info...I did not realize about the alcohol thing...I use a proper face moisturizer.

Original Post by rick43que:

I have always wondered what would happen to skin when someone loses a lot of weight.

 

 I know about 3 or 4 people well who lost a great deal of weight and I found they did look older when they lost the weight--more facial lines etc.  Overall they look better though...I suppose a great deal of fat certainly does pad out the face and I guess as people get older there seems to be much less facial fat...and to think as a teenager and young adult I used to hate my chubby cheeks...

I've noticed that too. I have 2 sisters that are quite a bit overweight and they do look younger than the slimmer ones. Having been a yoyo dieter I know that when I get down to the weight I want to be my face sags really bad underneath my chin. I don't know they call it a rooster or turkey something. All I know is it looks really gross so I'm trying to see if there are any facial exercises that will help that at least a little. I've never thought I'd consider plastic surgery but if I get that back I'm going  ask for it for christma

I guess we will find out as we lose the weight. anyone else doing before and after photo's and one some where in the middle. I am 43 now and I will be 45 when my goal is suppose to be met.

Hello cerene65,

I have before and after pictures in my profile and I feel like since I have lost the weight I look younger.  I also seem to be taking more time with my face (skin) moisturizing and such so maybe that is helping.

Great success to all.

clangworthy--do you EVER look younger!  Way to go....