What Causes a Gaunt Face & How Do You Get Rid of It?

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Learn home & medical remedies for sunken cheeks and Ozempic face
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A gaunt face is typically characterized by features like hollow cheeks and sunken eyes that are framed by a prominent bone structure. If you feel like your face is getting thinner, slimmer, or bonier, that’s not necessarily a bad thing! It’s likely just a normal part of your bodily changes as you age or adjust your lifestyle habits. That said, we’ll still help you understand everything there is to know about gaunt faces, including what they are , what causes them , and how to treat them if desired. We’ve also interviewed a team of dermatology and medical aesthetics experts for additional insights on treatment and prevention.

Having a Gaunt Face or Sunken Cheeks: Overview

Gaunt faces have a bony and “malnourished” look with sunken cheeks and eyes. Gaunt features are a natural part of aging, but they can also be caused by tobacco use, excessive weight loss, low-calorie diets, and medical conditions. Treatments include fat transfers, fillers, facial exercises, and lifestyle changes.

Section 1 of 6:

What is a gaunt face?

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  1. As opposed to a slim but healthy-looking face, the term “gaunt” usually applies to people who appear sick, malnourished, or otherwise “unhealthy.” Gaunt faces are characterized by hollow cheeks, prominent cheekbones, sunken eyes, a prominent jawline, loose chin skin, and dark undereye circles. These features are usually caused by a lack of elasticity in the face, which can lead to sagging skin, facial jowls, and an ashy or dry complexion. [1]
    • It’s important to note that you can’t tell if someone is healthy or unhealthy based on their appearance alone , so it’s best not to make judgments or assumptions about anyone’s health besides your own.
    • Is having a “gaunt face” the same as having sunken cheeks? Pretty much, but not quite. Having sunken cheeks and a lack of volume in the mid-face is just one component of a gaunt face, but the two terms are not strictly synonymous.
    • What about Ozempic face? Ozempic face is essentially the same as having a gaunt face, but Ozempic face is a new term that has come about since the same-named weight loss drug became popular. Ozempic can lead to significant weight loss, which often results in a gaunt appearance. [2]
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Section 2 of 6:

Causes of a Gaunt Face

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  1. 1
    Aging Under your skin, there’s a layer of subcutaneous fat, which is what gives your face volume and plumpness. As you get older, however, you naturally lose some of your subcutaneous fat. As a result, your face may appear to be thinner, bonier, or more gaunt. Your skin will also lose elasticity as you get older, due to a loss of proteins like collagen and elastin in the skin, explains board-certified dermatologist Dr. Kaveri Karhade, MD. The reduction in these proteins and overall skin elasticity may lead to the development of sagging skin, wrinkles, or a gaunt appearance in the face. [3]
    • Keep in mind that genetics also plays a huge role in how your face appears throughout your life, including as you age. If your relatives all have slimmer faces with hollower cheeks, you’re more likely to have the same traits. [4]
  2. 2
    Diet & Lifestyle Your overall diet and lifestyle habits can affect your body and, in turn, affect the appearance of your face. If you’re eating fewer calories than you're burning during the day, you may be losing fat from your face and body, which can result in a gaunt look. On the other hand, if you’re eating a diet that’s high in sugar, your skin might age prematurely due to a reduction in collagen and elastin. [5] Ultimately, if you’re not eating a balanced and nutritious diet with enough calories to replace those you lose throughout the day, your face may appear more gaunt. [6]
    • Other lifestyle factors that may give you a gaunt face include: [7]
      • Dehydration
      • Smoking tobacco
      • Stress
      • Low sleep quality
  3. 3
    Weight Loss A significant amount of weight loss in a short amount of time can result in a gaunt appearance in the face. If you recently started an intensive exercise program, for instance, you might notice a fat reduction in your face—this look is often known as “gym face” or “runner’s face.” The same thing can happen if you start taking a semaglutide medication, which is intended for diabetics but has recently become popular as a rapid weight loss drug. These medications (such as Ozempic and Wegovy) can cause rapid fat loss in the face, which may result in a gaunt appearance with sunken eyes or sagging skin. [8]
  4. 4
    Illness & Health Conditions There are several medical conditions that may lead to significant weight loss, including cancer, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, major depressive disorder, and many digestive conditions. If you have any of these conditions and have experienced a drop in your overall body fat percentage, you may notice a slimmer appearance to your face. Here’s a list of the most common illnesses and health conditions that could lead to a gaunt face: [9]
    • Cancer: The disease itself can cause weight and appetite loss, as can treatments like radiation and chemotherapy.
    • Eating disorders: People with illnesses like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa can experience excessive weight loss because they aren’t eating enough protein to renew the collagen and skin cells in their bodies. [10]
    • Digestive conditions: Conditions that affect digestion can impact your appetite and lead to unintentional weight loss. Some common digestive conditions include cirrhosis, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, pancreatitis, colitis, parasitic infections, and viral gastroenteritis (the stomach flu).
    • Depression: In some people, major depressive disorder can cause a reduced appetite, which leads to unintentional weight loss that may thin out the face. However, other people who experience depression may experience food cravings and weight gain.
  5. 5
    Sun Damage If your skin is regularly exposed (without protection) to damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays, it may age faster and make your face appear thinner over time. UV rays can reduce your skin elasticity and speed up your face’s fat loss, all of which may lead to wrinkles, saggy skin, and a gaunt appearance. Wearing SPF 50+ sunscreen on your face every day can help you avoid fat loss and aging skin in the face. [11]
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Section 3 of 6:

Medical Treatments for a Gaunt Face

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  1. One of the most common medical treatments for a gaunt appearance or sunken cheeks are facial fillers. These gel inserts are injected underneath your skin in order to restore lost facial volume and smooth out wrinkles. The fillers are typically made out of hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxyapatite, or poly-L-lactic acid. While the price of the procedure depends on where you live and the type of fillers you want, the general price range is between $540 and $1,680. [12]
    • Dr. Ellen Turner, a double board-certified dermatologist, emphasizes that “filler can have an immediate impact,” so it’s a good option if you want to see results quickly.
  2. 2
    Fat Transfer Fat transfer (also known as fat grafting) is another common procedure that removes fat from one part of your body and injects it into your face. The goal of the surgery is to make your face appear fuller and more youthful. The fat that’s removed from your body generally comes from your stomach or inner thighs via a liposuction surgery. Like any surgery, the precise cost of the procedure depends on your location and precise needs, but most patients based in the U.S. can expect to pay about $5,000. [13]
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Section 4 of 6:

Home Remedies to Treat & Prevent Gaunt Face

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  1. 1
    Daily moisturizing Moisturizing your skin once or twice per day can help to give your face a fuller and less gaunt appearance. Facial moisturizers help your skin stay hydrated, says medical aesthetics expert Dr. Jessica Lu, which can lead to a plumper and more elastic look. In general, it’s recommended to moisturize your face twice a day, once in the morning and once at night, although you may want to adjust this frequency based on your skin type. [14]
    • If you have dry skin, for instance, you might want to moisturize more often.
  2. 2
    Eating a balanced diet You overall health impacts not just your skin but also the fat underneath (which is what makes your face look plumper and less gaunt!). If you want to address a hollow look in your face, try eating a balanced, nutritious diet that provides enough calories to sustain a healthy body weight. [15]
    • Eating a nutritious diet generally means eating an appropriate amount and balance of each of the major food groups. A healthy meal, for instance, would be made up of 50% vegetables, 25% whole grains, 25% proteins, and a small amount of healthy plant oils (e.g, olive oil, sunflower oil, canola oil). [16]
    • The amount of calories you need may vary, so it’s best to consult with a doctor who can tell you exactly how many calories you should be eating. That being said, the average adult woman needs 2,000 kcal per day, while the average adult man needs 2,500 kcal per day. [17]
  3. 3
    Facial exercises Some people claim that daily facial exercises can sculpt your face shape and reduce the look of a gaunt face. These exercises may enhance muscle tone in your face, stimulate blood flow , and restore volume to your cheeks. According to one study, people who did these exercises for 30 minutes each day had firmer facial features with a more youthful look. [18] Here are some facial exercises that may prevent or treat a gaunt face:
    • Mewing : Press your tongue flat against the roof of your mouth. Hold this position for 3-4 seconds, then release and repeat for at least 10-20 seconds. [19]
    • Pufferfish Press: Purse your lips tightly and fill your cheeks with as much air as possible. Move the trapped air from one cheek to the other, then back again. Continue for 30 seconds. [20]
    • Cheek Squeeze: Place your fingertips on your cheekbones and gently move them upwards to stretch the skin. Hold your fingers in place and shape your mouth into an “O” until you can feel your cheek muscles tighten. Hold for 3-4 seconds, release, and repeat for about 30 seconds total.
    • Keep in mind that these exercises are not backed by scientific or medical evidence, so they’re not guaranteed to improve your facial structure. If you notice any adverse effects or irritation from these exercises, you should stop practicing them immediately.
  4. 4
    Eating aloe vera Some studies suggest that ingesting aloe vera can improve facial elasticity, reduce wrinkles, and restore plumpness to the face. [21] If you want to combat your hollow or sunken cheeks, consume 1 teaspoon (5 grams) of edible aloe vera gel each day for 90 days. You may want to take a photo of your face once a week to see if you’ve gotten noticeable results after 90 days.
  5. 5
    Plumping skin serums Certain skincare products and serums—like those focused on hydration, collagen boosting, and sun protection—may help to reduce a gaunt look. Try hydrating serums that contain hyaluronic acid and follow them up with a daily glycerin-based moisturizer . You can also try creams and serums with collagen-boosting ingredients, such retinol , peptides , and vitamin C . [22]
    • Keep in mind that you should always use sun protection with at least SPF 30 on your face, regardless of the weather outside.
    • Dr. Turner describes the holy trio of cosmetics and aesthetics as “collagen stimulators, proper hydration, and proper sunscreen, which is typically going to be a physical block sunscreen, as opposed to a chemical sunscreen.”
    • Make sure to look for “reputable [skincare] brands that use quality ingredients…and have evidence-based ingredients that work,” instructs board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Barrett, MD. “If you want the most effective products, visit a skin care physician to have a custom-tailored skincare program developed for you.”
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Section 5 of 6:

Summary

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  1. Having a gaunt face can be caused by completely normal factors like genetics, aging, and standard lifestyle habits. Over time, it’s natural for the skin in your face to lose elasticity, so there’s nothing wrong with having hollower cheeks or looser skin as you grow older. [23] However, if you’d like to prevent or reduce the look of gauntness in your face, you can take certain steps like using a daily facial sunscreen, moisturizing regularly , and eating a balanced diet.
    • There’s nothing inherently wrong, unhealthy, or unattractive about having a gaunt face, but you can address it surgically with facial fillers or fat grafting, if desired.
    • More rarely, a gaunt face or sunken cheeks can be the result or symptom of an underlying disease. If your face is becoming slimmer without any discernible reason, it may be wise to speak with a medical professional.
Section 6 of 6:

Frequently Asked Questions About Gaunt Faces

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  1. 1
    Is a gaunt face reversible? Yes, a gaunt face can be reversible through both surgical and non-surgical methods, including dermal fillers, fat grafting, and facial exercises . You may also be able to reverse a gaunt face with skincare products that promote collagen production, or with lifestyle changes like eating a balanced diet, drinking enough water, and ceasing tobacco use . [24]
  2. 2
    Is a gaunt face attractive? We want to make it clear that there’s nothing inherently wrong with having a gaunt face, and beauty is subjective in all ways. It’s also completely natural for your face to become slimmer as you age. That said, gaunt faces are sometimes considered unattractive because they’re associated with being ill or malnourished. On the other hand, some features of a gaunt face, including high cheekbones and narrow jawlines, appeal to conventional beauty standards. [25]
    • If your gaunt face is a result of illness or undereating, it’s recommended to seek treatment from a medical health professional (if you haven’t already).
  3. 3
    Why is my face getting skinny but not my body? It’s not unusual for your face and body to respond differently to sudden weight loss or changes in your overall health. Your face may be losing fat as part of the natural aging process, which doesn’t affect your body in the same way. You also may be experiencing hormone fluctuations (like those associated with menopause) that are shifting the way fat is distributed in your body. [26]
    • In other cases, your fat storage and placement can come down to simple genetics—some people just store more fat in their body than they do in their face. [27]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-your-face-ages-and-what-you-can-do
      2. ↑ https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/ozempic-face-and-other-glp-1-side-effects
      3. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-your-face-ages-and-what-you-can-do
      4. ↑ https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/articles/facial-fat-the-good-the-bad-and-the-confusing
      5. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5706759/
      6. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7146365/
      7. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-your-face-ages-and-what-you-can-do
      8. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/glp-1-diabetes-and-weight-loss-drug-side-effects-ozempic-face-and-more
      9. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/unexplained-weight-loss/basics/causes/sym-20050700
      1. ↑ https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/eating-disorders/what-are-eating-disorders
      2. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5723114/
      3. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-your-face-ages-and-what-you-can-do
      4. ↑ https://www.seattleplasticsurgery.com/facial-fat-transfer-seattle-tacoma/
      5. ↑ https://www.utmedicalcenter.org/blog-post/importance-moisturizing
      6. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-weight-growth/healthy-eating/index.html
      7. ↑ https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/healthy-eating-plate/
      8. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/managing-your-weight/understanding-calories/
      9. ↑ https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/article-abstract/2666801?redirect=true
      10. ↑ https://www.vogue.com/article/how-to-mew
      11. ↑ https://www.lorealparisusa.com/beauty-magazine/skin-care/skin-care-essentials/facial-exercises-and-face-yoga
      12. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2883372/
      13. ↑ https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-anti-aging-serums.html
      14. ↑ https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/articles/facial-fat-the-good-the-bad-and-the-confusing
      15. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-your-face-ages-and-what-you-can-do
      16. ↑ https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/articles/facial-fat-the-good-the-bad-and-the-confusing
      17. ↑ https://drterryloong.com/top-3-causes-of-volume-loss-in-the-face-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/
      18. ↑ https://www.cadoganclinic.com/ask-the-expert/facial-treatments/chubby-cheeks-how-to-get-slimmer-face

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