Too thin face at 40, nice big bum - help please

[IBlameJulieBindel]

I am turning into a triangle. My face has always been a bit thin, but God in Govan it looks bloody grim right now. I look like I've had a 'hard paper round'. I could put on more weight (I'm the right weight for height right now) and that does add a little on my face, but it disproportionately goes on my saddlebags for about 10lb before you see any small difference at all to the face, and the extra 10lb on a 5 foot nothing woman adds up to quite a tummy and not fitting into clothes too. It also makes running harder (I run twice a week - not far). I'm not hugely vain, but this is stinging a bit. I feel a bit ugly so would massively appreciate tips.
I have a chin length dark bob, which doesn't help but I can't get the hang of doing a curl/wave and my hair doesn't hold it. Very short hair (which I adore the look of and have tried twice now) looks awful on me. Can't dye it either as a) it's not for me, b) allergic to hair dye. Will consider anything short of surgery. Sorry, doesn't seem to be giving you much to work with!

Fillers? I am sure someone expert will advise in a mo...

What don't you like about your hair? I have very straight hair too that won't hold any curl and the length that works best for me is a long bob/just above shoulders, blunt cut. And are you sure you won't consider dye? Darker colours are much more likely to cause allergic reactions, so it may be that you could go lighter, worth asking a good colourist (if you are keen that is)

And fillers might be worth looking into - have a look online for very subtle examples near where you live - I've recently considered it now that I've found someone who is keen on 'fillers that don't look like you've had anything done'. And they last much longer than botox, so not bad value if your face is thinning. They can really help the hollowing out that comes with age (not just to give people puffy overdone plastic faces, they also put just a bit in the temples or the cheeks etc. A school mum recently told me she had them because her face looks too thin, I would never have guessed)

You didn't mention clothes, but a free high street styling session could be worth it. You only need 3-4 items to make your wardrobe feel rejuvenated (if they are the right items)

And maybe worth working with a trainer in the short term - they can do targeted weights and exercise to balance out your shape and work on saddlebags - I am overweight but when I had one for three months (only once/week) it did make a difference :-)

I really like my hair, I just think that straight hair against a thin face may not be doing it favours (according to the world of Google!). I do like the dark too because I like my silver strands coming in, but it does look a wee bit Morticia.

I need to be able to put on weight and have it go to my face! I don't have too big saddlebags at the mo, but will if I eat enough for it to start filling out my face. Gah. I'm stuck for life with either a skinny face or never fitting trousers. :-(

Thanks for replies, much appreciated.

I'd have a fat arse over a thin face a y day, but before you eat cakes maybe try facial exercises to build up the muscles.

I'm like you OP! I have grown my hair a bit longer which helps - used to love my sharp chin length bob but it made me look to pointy. Slightly longer hair is also easier to curl, although I usually just try to put a bit more volume in it rather than straighten it flat.
Also, a subtle bit of tan/bronze makes my face look a bit fuller - using those Clarins bronze drops at the moment.
If I put on weight, it goes on my tummy, and no way am I doing that! Might look into fillers instead....

You sound like you're west of Scotland. Pm if you want a recommendation for fillers op.

I have a naturally very slim face which has got very gaunt looking as I have aged. I am 10 years older than you and for the last 5 years have been having treatments with a product called Sculptra which is brilliant and perfect for this type of problem, it's injected under the skin around cheek area and then over a period of time stimulates the body to produce its own collagen giving a very natural look. I look 100% better and much healthier. Its also long lasting so a treatment lasts me around 18 months before it needs topping up again. It costs around £350 per vial and I have an average of 3 vials every 18 months.

Try facial exercises

I don't think facial exercises would make a lot of difference. The hollowing and gaunt appearance of the face is caused by the loss of the subcutaneous cheek fat which is a normal part of ageing but can also be accelerated through illness and genetics.

Does it matter what you look like, OP? Surely these days women have moved on from just being ornamental?
I’d start loving yourself the way you are, and focus on more important things! God values your soul, not your looks, and your brain is far more use to you in life than looks, which are temporary at best.

It's about more than simple vanity though. When my face was super gaunt I just looked really ill and people were often concerned about me. It really affected my self esteem. Treatments like Sculptra have been successfully used with patients suffering from diseases such as Aids where the illness and some of the medication causes facial wasting. It was acknowledged that the psychological effects of their illness was also significant. Its very easy to dismiss something that you have never been affected by.

I'm the same OP. No advice but solidarity.

Yoga?? Allbtjose Downward Dog poses sends blood rushing to my face.

After a year of yoga my face looks plumped and healthy. And I swear it has reduced some wrinkles and jowls.

What are your teeth like? They are the scaffolding for our face so having a very narrow jaw can make you look a bit haggard and drawn. Lots of my friends who had lots of teeth out before having braces fitted in the 80s not look very drawn.