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Volume Loss

If your face looks a little less full than it used to, you’re not imagining it. This is something many people notice gradually, often without being able to pinpoint exactly when it started.

Volume loss is a normal part of aging, and it happens to almost everyone in some way. For most patients, the goal isn’t to look younger — it’s to look like themselves again, just a bit more refreshed.

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At a Glance

Condition Type

Progressive structural change

Common Areas

Cheeks, temples, under-eyes, lips, jawline

Goal

Natural-looking restoration of facial balance

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Facial volume loss happens when the natural support structures in the face slowly change over time.

As we age, the fat, collagen, and bone that give the face its shape can diminish. When that support decreases, the skin has less structure underneath it, which can lead to a flatter or more hollow appearance in certain areas.

As a full and round face begins to lose volume, the face can appear older and thin. Facial skin may begin to sag, wrinkles form, and the skin under the eye might appear hollow.

On average, people can lose 20% to 50% of facial fat as they age. These changes are gradual and very common.

Volume loss is influenced by several factors, many of which are outside your control:

  • Reduction in collagen production — Collagen provides support for the skin and gives it a plump, firm look. As collagen reduces over time, the elasticity of the skin decreases and causes it to sag
  • Shifting facial fat — Fat around the eyes, cheeks, forehead, temples and mouth may start to shift or disappear. “Apple” cheeks can fall downward, causing a hollow look under the eyes. Fat may gather in the lower face, contributing to a double chin or sagging neck
  • Weight loss — Losing weight, especially quickly, can make the face appear thinner and leave hanging skin on the cheeks and neck. People who frequently do cardiovascular exercise may also experience facial volume loss as they burn fat
  • Sun exposure — UV rays penetrate deeper tissues and speed up the breakdown of collagen and elastin. As these skin structure components decrease, facial fat can be lost. Frequent tanning also damages collagen over time
  • Natural aging process — Volume loss becomes more noticeable in certain areas such as around the eyebrows, lips, and cheeks as we age
  • Genetics and hormonal changes — Some people are predisposed to losing volume earlier or in specific areas

 

Even people who take excellent care of their skin experience volume loss. It’s not something you caused, and it’s not a reflection of how well you’ve cared for yourself.

Volume loss affects different areas of the face in different ways:

Cheeks

Cheeks may sag and appear flat, with loose skin developing near the jawline. This can contribute to nasolabial folds (smile lines) and a less defined facial structure.

Under the Eyes

Losing volume under the eyes can result in a hollow appearance with dark circles. This often makes people look more tired than they feel.

Lips

As volume is lost, full lips appear thinner and smaller. Fine lines can appear around the mouth, and the overall lip shape may become less defined. Learn more about thin lips.

Temples

Temple hollowing can make the upper face appear more angular and aged.

Jawline

Loss of definition along the jawline can contribute to jowls and facial skin laxity.

When volume decreases, it can subtly change how the face looks overall.

Patients often tell us they feel like they look:

  • More tired than they feel
  • Less defined, especially in photos
  • A little less like themselves
  • Older or more worn-out than expected

 

These feelings are common and completely understandable. Addressing volume loss is about restoring balance, not changing who you are.

A consultation at Lazaderm is designed to be comfortable and informative.

During your visit, your provider will:

  • Listen to what you’ve noticed and what concerns you
  • Evaluate facial structure and skin quality
  • Review your medical history
  • Explain treatment options clearly and honestly

 

You’ll have time to ask questions and decide what feels right for you. Each patient receives a personalized treatment plan based on their skin needs and aesthetic goals.

Treatments for volume loss offer improvement, not permanent change.

Dermal fillers are temporary and may require maintenance over time. Results vary from person to person, and your provider will help you understand what kind of outcome is realistic for you.

The goal is natural-looking enhancement that still looks like you.

Treatment Options

There is no single approach that works for everyone. The right treatment depends on where volume has been lost and how it affects your facial structure. A consultation allows your provider to evaluate your face and discuss options with you.

Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Fillers

Hyaluronic acid fillers volumize different areas of the face and provide immediate, natural-looking results. HA is a naturally occurring substance found in the body.

Juvéderm — A wide variety of treatment options customized to individual needs:

  • Voluma XC — works best in the cheek area
  • Vollure XC — designed for parentheses lines and wrinkles around the mouth
  • Ultra XC — used for lip augmentation
  • Ultra Plus — corrects deeper facial wrinkles, deep nasolabial folds, and marionette lines
  • XC — used for nasolabial folds (smile lines)

Restylane — Helps replace facial volume with precision and structure while maintaining natural expression:

  • Silk — designed for lip enhancement and smoothing wrinkles around the mouth
  • L — used for nasolabial folds and lip volume
  • Lyft — provides fullness to cheeks and smooths smile lines
  • Refyne — corrects nasolabial folds and marionette lines
  • Defyne — corrects deep lines

Collagen-Stimulating Treatments

These treatments encourage your body to produce its own collagen for gradual, long-lasting improvement:

  • Sculptra — Stimulates collagen production over time. Enhances lips, fills laugh lines, and improves deep nasolabial folds with results that can last up to two years
  • Bellafill — Long-lasting filler that also stimulates collagen for sustained improvement

 

Lifting and Skin Tightening Treatments

For volume loss accompanied by sagging or skin laxity, these treatments can help restore structure:

  • PDO Thread Lift — Uses temporary sutures to lift the skin in areas such as the neck, jowls, and mid-face. Also encourages collagen production. Results last up to 2 years
  • Vivace RF Microneedling — Uses tiny needles and radiofrequency heat to target deeper layers of skin, encouraging new collagen production. Results visible in 3 to 6 months
  • Microneedling — Punctures the skin to encourage collagen production with minimal downtime

Fat Transfer

For patients seeking a more permanent solution, fat transfer uses your own fat to restore volume to the face.

Fat is harvested from another area of the body, purified, and carefully injected into areas that have lost volume. This approach provides natural-looking, long-lasting results.

Talk With a Provider Near You

If volume loss is something you’ve been thinking about, a conversation with a qualified provider can help clarify your options.

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