Options for a Slimmer Face - Lip Filler Dreams, One Click Away!

Having a slimmer, more sculpted facial appearance is an aesthetic goal for many people. Chubby, full cheeks or overall roundness in the face can be caused by various factors. Luckily, there are several options available if you want to slim down and enhance the definition of your face.

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What Makes The Cheeks Chubby?

There are a few key reasons why someone might have a chubby or full face:

Genetics and natural bone structure. The size of your cheekbones and the natural structure of your face is determined by genetics. Some people are just born with wider cheekbones or fuller faces that can be hard to slim down.
Weight gain and excess fat on the face. When we gain weight, the face is often the very first place it shows up. Excess fat deposits around the chin, cheeks, and neck can give the entire face a chubby or rounded look.
Aging and loss of collagen. As we age, we lose collagen in the skin which leads to sagging. Loss of collagen and elastin fibers causes fat in the face to droop and sag, especially around the chin and jowls. This contributes to bottom heaviness, jowls and chubby cheeks in older adults.
Too much sodium intake leading to water retention. Eating a diet too high in sodium causes the body to retain extra fluid. This can lead to temporary puffiness, bloating and swelling that gives the cheeks a chubby appearance.
Alcohol consumption. Drinking alcohol, especially in excess is very dehydrating for the body and also leads to inflammation. This combination can cause visible bloating, puffiness and fluid retention around the cheeks and rest of the face.
Lack of exercise. Not getting enough physical activity means we burn less calories. This makes it easier to gain weight and store excess fat on the face.
Genetics and ethnicity. Some ethnicities like South Asian and Latin American tend to naturally have fuller faces and more buccal fat on the cheeks.

As you can see, there are a wide variety of reasons why one might struggle with chubby cheeks or a round facial appearance. The good news is there are also many options available to slim the face down naturally or via cosmetic procedures.

Natural Ways To Slim Chubby Cheeks

Do Cardio Exercise

Getting in consistent cardio exercise is one of the most effective ways to slim down overall body fat, including on the face. Good options include jogging, cycling, swimming, dance cardio classes and HIIT workouts. Aim to get in 150 minutes minimum of moderate intensity cardio per week.

Or 75 minutes of high intensity cardio. You’ll burn calories and also boost circulation, tone muscles, and support healthy fluid balance in the body. Make sure to also stay hydrated and replenish electrolytes after intense bouts of cardio. Overtime, regular cardio workouts can lead to noticeable facial slimming effects.

Try Facial Exercises

Although weird sounding, facial exercises and facial yoga can absolutely help tone, strengthen and slim the facial muscles over time. Exercises like sucking in your cheeks, puckering your lips, or blowing air out force the facial muscles to contract.

Holding these facial poses for several seconds tones the complex network of muscles in the face and neck. When done regularly, facial exercises improve muscle tone which pulls excess fat and skin more taut for a naturally slimmer visage.

Just keep in mind that facial exercises require consistency and patience to see results. It may take several weeks or months of daily facial workouts to see noticeable improvements in facial muscle and overall facial appearance.

Drink Plenty Of Water

Staying properly hydrated is key for keeping the complexion looking healthy, glowing and free from puffiness. When the body is dehydrated, it retains extra fluid in an attempt to prevent water loss. This leads to bloating and swelling, especially visible in the face and around the cheeks area.

Aim to drink at least 64 ounces or more of plain water each day. Carry a bottle with you to motivate constant sipping throughout the day. Also try to limit intake of dehydrating caffeinated beverages like coffee and soda. Keeping your water intake high prevents fluid retention so the face stays slim versus puffy.

Reduce Alcohol Intake

Consuming alcoholic beverages can be very dehydrating for the body. Alcohol is also an inflammatory agent, meaning it triggers swelling and fluid buildup. This combination leads alcohol to puff out the face and cause bloating around the cheeks. To keep the face slim, limit alcohol intake to special occasions or one to two drinks maximum per day. Avoid going overboard at parties or events which can take a very visible toll on facial bloating the next day. Instead of alcohol, reach for water or seltzer with lime to prevent retaining fluids.

Cut Back On Salt

Eating too many salty foods causes the body to retain extra water in order to dilute the high sodium concentration in the blood. All this excess fluid held onto causes swelling and puffiness, especially visible in the face and cheeks region.

To avoid a bloated look, limit sodium intake to no more than 2,300 milligrams per day on average. Be sure to check food labels, as it’s easy to go over this limit without realizing it. Also avoid adding extra table salt to food. Instead use plenty of fresh herbs, spices, lemon and vinegar to add flavor. Steer clear of salty snacks like chips, pretzels and cured meats.

Avoid Refined Carbs

Refined carbohydrates like white bread, rolls, pasta, rice and baked goods cause fast spikes in blood sugar instead of a steady supply of energy. In response, the body releases insulin and inflammatory proteins. This often leads to fluid retention and swelling, especially in the face. To prevent inflammation and puffiness, avoid refined grains as much as possible.

Opt for whole grain varieties and limit sweets to occasional treats. Also be sure to eat plenty of lean protein and healthy fats at meals to prevent energy crashes. The more balanced your blood sugar and insulin response, the less likely you’ll retain facial fluid and bloat up.

Try A Facial Gua Sha Massage

Gua sha involves firmly stroking the skin of the face and neck with a smooth jade or rose quartz stone. This technique gently breaks up tense facial muscle, improves blood circulation and drains excess fluids like puffiness.

Regular gua sha leads to a naturally slimmer and more defined facial appearance over time. Always apply a facial oil before gliding the gua sha tool across the face using light pressure. Focus on areas prone to puffiness like cheeks, jaw and under the eyes. Use at least a few times per week for best slimming results.

Change Up Your Sleeping Position

Sleeping face down or pressed on a pillow can cause fluid accumulation while you rest. This leads to puffy eyes and swollen cheeks in the morning. Try changing your sleep position to back or side sleeping instead.

You can even use a cervical pillow to keep your head elevated and prevent gravity from pulling fluids down into the face. Getting enough quality sleep is also key. Aim for 7 to 9 hours restful sleep each night. Lack of sleep is a common cause of under eye bags, dark circles and puffy cheeks from fluid retention.

Watch Your Diet

A healthy, balanced diet is important for keeping the body and face slim. Make sure you’re getting enough protein, fiber and beneficial fats from whole foods. Limit sweets, excess carbs and salty foods which promote fluid retention.

Stay within your recommended daily calorie intake to avoid weight gain. Fad crash diets cause spikes in cortisol which leads to puffy cheeks. High cortisol also impairs collagen production. Instead, simply focus on eating a varied, nutritious diet of whole foods. Stay hydrated, manage stress, and your face will look naturally slim.

Plastic Surgery Procedures For Chubby Cheeks

If making facial exercises part of your routine, improving diet, cardio workouts and other natural tactics don’t give you the sculpted look you want, there are plastic surgery procedures that can effectively remove excess fat from the cheeks permanently:

Liposuction

Liposuction is one of the most common and effective procedures for removing small, localized fat deposits on the face like chubby cheeks. During liposuction, a tiny stainless-steel tube called a cannula is inserted under the skin. The doctor uses this cannula to manually break up and then suction away excess fat. Liposuction can precisely target and remove pockets of cheek fat that resist diet and exercise.

It permanently destroys and clears away fat cells in the treated area for slimming effects. There’s typically minimal scarring since the insertion sites are so tiny. Bruising, swelling, numbness and soreness may last for a few weeks during the recovery process. Results are visible after several months once swelling fully resolves. Aging face concerns like jowls may still return years later as collagen declines with age. But the treated cheek areas should remain nicely contoured provided your weight remains stable.

Buccal Fat Removal

This facial plastic surgery procedure is designed to remove fatty tissue located deep inside the cheeks between the muscles. These fat deposits are known medically as buccal fat pads. During buccal fat removal, a small incision is made inside the mouth near the upper cheeks. The buccal fat pads are then accessed and surgically extracted through the incisions. Removing the buccal fat leads to a more defined facial appearance and significantly slims the lower cheek area.

Swelling, numbness, and bruising may last several weeks afterward. Most patients are back to normal activities within a month. While ice packs and over the counter pain meds can provide relief, buccal fat removal typically involves more downtime, swelling and discomfort compared to a liposuction procedure. However, removing the buccal fat pad does lead to permanent fat loss in the cheeks. This can make a big difference in facial definition, especially combined with liposuction.

Combination Treatments

For optimal cheek slimming and facial sculpting results, plastic surgeons will often recommend a combination approach. First buccal fat pads are removed through small oral incisions for debulking the lower cheeks. Liposuction is then used externally to refine the upper cheeks, jawline and other areas with small fat deposits.

This dual procedure reduces fat from all layers of the face and enhances overall definition. It provides both internal and external facial fat removal. Be sure to choose a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in buccal fat extractions and facial liposuction for natural looking, proportional results if considering combo treatments.

Should I Get Buccal Fat Removal Or Liposuction For My Chubby Cheeks?

If you’re considering surgical cheek reduction methods, it’s important to assess your specific goals along with the pros and cons of each procedure. Here are some factors to help determine if buccal fat removal or liposuction is better for your needs:

First, try non-invasive natural options for a period of months like face exercises and improving diet before resorting to plastic surgery. In some cases, facial slimming is possible without going under the knife.
Buccal fat removal is more impactful for significantly reducing cheek fullness by removing the buccal fat pads. This leads to a very sculpted look by affecting overall facial structure.
Liposuction is preferable for small, localized areas of stubborn excess fat. It can refine smaller areas of the face without dramatically altering structure.
Buccal fat removal may not be advised for those with naturally thinner faces, as overly removing facial fat can lead an overly gaunt, hollow look.
Be sure your plastic surgeon assesses your facial anatomy and structure before recommending buccal fat removal, lipo or a combination approach.
Understand the risks and recovery involved with each procedure. Lipo requires a shorter recovery but buccal fat removal leads to more dramatic, permanent cheek reduction.

Ultimately there are pros and cons to each surgical method. Meet with a board certified cosmetic surgeon specializing in facial procedures to determine whether liposuction, buccal fat removal or a dual approach is optimal for achieving your cheek slimming goals.

FAQs about Chubby Cheeks

Does liposuction remove fat from the face?

Yes, liposuction is an effective procedure to permanently remove small pockets of excess fat from the face. It can target localized areas like chubby cheeks, double chin, jowls, jawline, neck and more. Liposuction slims fat just under the skin, so deeper buccal fat pads will still remain afterward. But it can nicely contour the upper cheeks. Recovery time is shorter compared to buccal fat removal.

Why is my face getting fat and not my body?

For some people, the face is the very first place excess fat storage shows up when gaining weight. Even a small amount of weight gain becomes noticeable in a fuller face. Genetics and ethnicity play a big role in where we store fat. Some ethnic backgrounds tend to store more fat in the face and cheek region. Hormones can also impact fat distribution patterns. So while your body may still be relatively slim, genetics can cause facial fat storage and lead to chubby cheeks.

Why are my cheeks chubby, but I’m skinny?

Even slim people can have naturally chubby or full cheeks due to bone structure, genetics, or simple aging. As we get older, we lose collagen which leads to sagging fat and skin in the face. So even without weight gain, cheeks can appear chubby. Retaining fluid, lack of sleep, alcohol intake, hormonal fluctuations and other factors can also cause temporary puffiness in the cheeks and face. So it’s certainly possible to have a slim figure but still contend with excess fat or puffiness in the cheeks area leading to a round facial appearance.

What are some foods that make the face fat?

Certain foods are common culprits when it comes to fluid retention and facial puffiness:

Salty foods – Excess sodium causes the face and cheeks to bloat up and look swollen. Avoid chips, soy sauce, canned items, cured meats and other salty fare.
Alcohol – Dehydrating alcoholic drinks lead to inflammation. Limit intake to prevent facial swelling the next day.
Refined carbs – Simple sugars cause blood sugar spikes, insulin response and inflammation. Minimize refined grains, cereals, sweets and sugary drinks.
Excess fat and calories – Taking in more energy than you expend leads to weight gain and face fat storage. Track your daily calories to maintain your goal weight.

Instead, choose a balanced diet focused on lean proteins, healthy fats and fiber-rich produce. Drink plenty of water and herbal tea. Limit sodium, added sugars and junk foods. Making better dietary choices helps support a naturally slim facial appearance.

In summary, there are many options both temporary and permanent for slimming a chubby face. Start with natural tactics like drinking more water, facial exercises, and improving your diet. For dramatic cheek reduction and sculpting, consult an expert plastic surgeon about procedures like liposuction and buccal fat removal. With consistent effort and the right approach, you may achieve the slim, sculpted facial appearance you desire.