Finding a healthy, sustainable weight is a wonderful feeling. But for some, especially if the weight loss was rapid, an unexpected side effect can occur: sagging, drooping skin on the face and neck. While this “saggy face after weight loss” can be frustrating and disappointing, there are many ways it can be addressed and improved. Learn more from Miami Plastic Surgeon Dr. Jose Rodríguez-Feliz about the science behind weight loss and facial sagging, and some popular treatments to correct it.

How Weight Loss Affects the Face

When the body burns fat, it doesn’t just target common places for deposits like the abdomen and buttocks. Areas around the face, neck, and chin are also storage spots for fat deposits. If fat loss happens quickly due to illness, injury, or assistance of weight loss medications like semaglutide (sometimes sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro), the fat could disappear faster than the skin can adapt. When the skin doesn’t “snap back” to its previous location, this is known as skin laxity. This lack of elasticity can lead to sagging skin on the face, neck, or other areas of the body. Aging and fat loss can also lead to a reduction in collagen, which further amplifies skin laxity.

Popular Treatments to Combat Facial Fat Loss

The good news is, there is a solution! In fact, using modern facial plastic surgery techniques, Dr. Rodríguez-Feliz offers multiple treatments that can renew a saggy face after weight loss. These techniques are not just for women; men who have dropped weight and are seeing negative effects on their faces can also greatly benefit from these techniques.

Facelift

A cornerstone in facial plastic surgery, the facelift can transform sagging skin and reveal a tighter, smoother appearance. The facelift can lessen or eliminate the appearance of wrinkles and deep creases and remove excess skin. Dr. Rodríguez-Feliz takes great care to plan his facelifts in a way that hides visible scars and preserves the existing facial structure while still tightening the skin and eliminating laxity. The result is an appearance that looks 10-15 years younger while still looking “like you.”

Neck Lift

When a patient also has noticeable sagging around the jawline and neck, a neck lift may be performed alone or along with a facelift. With a neck lift, sagging skin in the jowls, chin, and neck area can be removed, and the skin tightened. If weight loss also revealed muscle banding in the neck, a neck lift can be used to correct this issue as well.

Blepharoplasty

A blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, can be performed on either the upper or lower eyelid to remove excess skin and reverse a sagging appearance. This surgery can also help to address crow’s feet and give the eye a generally wider, brighter look. A relatively minor, minimally invasive surgery, blepharoplasty can transform the look of the eyes and upper face with minimal downtime and a fairly easy recovery period.

Brow Lift

A brow lift procedure is often performed along with blepharoplasty but can also be a great standalone surgery. A sagging browline can become even more prominent after weight loss, and a brow lift is a great way to subtly elevate the upper portion of your face for a more vibrant, awake look by removing any excess, sagging skin. A relatively easy recovery, brow lift comes with minimal scarring and low downtime for most.

Facial Fat Grafting

Part of what makes the face look youthful is volume. Using a facial fat transfer technique, Dr. Rodríguez-Feliz can very strategically replace lost fat in sunken or hollow areas of the face. This method is essentially bringing balance back into the face after too much fat may have been lost.

There is Hope

For many patients, it can be devastating to put so much time and effort into getting back to a healthier weight, only to be rewarded with sagging, uncomfortable skin along the face and neck. But there is hope. Contacting a qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Jose Rodríguez-Feliz to schedule a facial plastic surgery consultation is a great first step. A skilled and knowledgeable plastic surgeon will be able to assess saggy face after weight loss and answer any questions or concerns. They can help determine which procedure or combination of procedures would be best. Dr. Rodríguez-Feliz is highly experienced and has an adept artistic eye. Facial plastic surgery patients across Miami trust his expertise and ability to provide flawless and natural-looking results.

Saggy Face After Weight Loss: How It Happens — and How to Fix It!