Saggy Cheeks: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

"Saggy cheeks" are a facial condition that develop when cheek skin elasticity weakens and the firmness and fullness typically associated with the cheek area begins to disappear. 

As cheek skin begins to droop, it collect in the formation of saggy cheeks, jowls, deep nasolabial folds and a weak jawline. 

This is a very common sign of ageing (not to be confused with Sunken Cheeks) and can occur naturally in anyone over the age of 30, with the condition typically continuing to develop as gravity takes its toll. Several lifestyle factors can contribute to a decrease of cheek collagen and elastin such as smoking, excessive sun exposure and poor diet. 

There are several cosmetic treatments that can target saggy cheeks and restore a youthful contour. These range from non invasive treatments for saggy cheeks such as dermal fillers to surgical interventions such as face and neck lifts.  

The most popular and best treatments for sagging cheeks at the Cadogan Clinic are Fat Transfer to Face and the Mini-Facelift.

The primary cause of saggy cheeks is ageing.  

This is because the body’s production of collagen and elastin decreases over time, leading to weakened skin elasticity and reduced skin firmness. With less skin support, the facial skin begins to sag and form saggy cheeks. 

This process is catalysed by the fact that facial bone structures also gradually begin to resorb, or erode, with time, meaning the less elastic skin also hangs on a less contoured frame, contributing to the sagging cheek effect. 

Saggy cheeks typically develop as time passes and the constant pull of gravity downward encourages the ongoing drooping of facial tissue.  

Genetic disposition plays a large part in how much and how quickly this effect occurs, as it does in all areas of ageing. That said, some lifestyle factors such as prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun accelerates the breakdown of collagen and elastin, and can speed up the aging process. Smoking has also been linked to accelerated ageing, skin damage and a reduction in collagen production. Excessive or repetitive facial movements, such as smiling or squinting, can also have an impact.  

Finally, significant face sagging after weight loss is a common cause of saggy cheeks. Facial fat and volume is being lost naturally as we age, but this can be exacerbated by sudden weight loss that results in excess sagging skin on the lower face, including the cheeks. You can try to avoid sagging cheeks after weight loss by adopting gradual weight loss regimes.  

Addressing saggy cheeks often involves a combination of preventive measures, lifestyle changes, and cosmetic procedures. Non-surgical options like dermal fillers, Morpheus 8 treatments, or thread lifts can provide non-invasive solutions, while surgical procedures like facelifts offer more comprehensive and long-lasting results. 

While exercise, in general, is recommended as part of any wellbeing programme, there is very little evidence that you can get rid of saggy cheeks with exercise.  

Facial exercises may help improve muscle tone and could contribute to a very subtle cheek lift, but are unlikely to address significant sagging cheeks as facial aging involves many factors beyond just muscle tone that exercise cannot address, such as loss of skin elasticity, collagen, and facial fat.  

If you are targeting improvements in muscle tone, then you can research several facial exercises such as Cheek Lifts, Fish Face or Puffy Cheeks.  We would strongly recommend that these are integrated into a wider programme to address saggy cheeks if you are seeking material results, and that you seek the advice of a healthcare professional for best results.  

Finally, face sagging can actually occur after rapid weight loss, so any weight loss regime involving exercise should be done gradually with steady weight loss targets. If facial fat deposits disappear too quickly, this can cause facial skin to sag.  

You can see sagging cheeks before and after photos as part of our fat transfer before and after gallery and mini facelift before and after gallery. 

Assessing sagging cheeks before and after photos is a crucial part of evaluating the potential success of your future cheek lift surgery, as these before and after images provide visual evidence of a surgeon's skill, as well as what you can expect before and after your cheek lift.  

You should always consult directly with a surgeon, however, before making a final decision on their potential suitability for your unique situation. 

Given the variety of invasive and non invasive options available to target saggy cheeks it is hard to give precise cheek lift costs. 

Non invasive cheek lifts typically cost less per treatment, but may require more over a lifetime to deliver results. 

Cheek lift surgeries are typically cost more but results are long lasting and you are unlikely to require a second treatment. 

Fat Transfer to Face costs from £4,000 and Micro Facelift costs from £6,000, however, so surgical cheek lifts start at restively affordable levels. 

We also offer 0% finance options for all our surgical patients.