Sagging face and 45. What would you recommend? (Unflattering anonymised photo attached!)

[Annoymousy]

I’m 45 and have lost volume in my face giving me quite deep circles under my eyes and lines from my nose to my mouth with marionette lines developing underneath. My pores are quite big and visible too.

I don’t get enough sleep - so that’s number one - but what else would you recommend?

Do collagen supplements actually work? Face massage?

I run, that’s my only exercise. Are things like yoga good for your face?! (All that upside down blood flowing etc).

What would a mini face lift do for me? Feels drastic but honestly, I’d love to lose those hollow eye bags forever!

Or expensive facials? A change of diet? I eat pretty well already. Lots of fresh food.

Help! I want to feel good about the way I look again!

Please excuse the absolutely awful photo!!

Allow yourself to age OP, our bodies are constantly changing from the moment we are born, don't buy into all this rubbish about having an unlined face, the multi million beauty business relies on fear, relax and don't pay any attention to aging, you will feel much happier for it than having chemicals injected into your face.

Has Sophie Raworth got runner's face too?

Posted message before finishing. Actually laser eye surgery (and it was still in it's early stages when I had it - 1997) was probably one of the best things I've ever had done. Nowadays plain glasses are fashionable, but they certainly weren't when I was young. The time when I was in my early 50s and going through the menopause was when I felt most unattractive. I now look back and realise some of those feelings were about what my body was going through, rather than how I really looked. Now I've got through that I think, it doesn't matter really. It's hard to lose your looks but somehow it's a bit of a release when other people don't notice you for your looks. I still care about how I look,but I concentrate on me, not others' viewpoints on how I look.

After spending time in the Canaries in places that are popular with German people I've been inspired by them - they're all about, 'Dance like no one is watching ... sing like nobody's listening ...'. They seem to love life and don't have this same obsession with youth we have. Even stand there on the beach showing people everything you've got when you don't have a 'Love Island' body 🤔.

Your skin glows, you don't look like you need face yoga!

I used to use the videos of Eva Fraser on youtube, I can definitely tell when I go for long periods without doing any, as like any set of muscles the facial ones too need maintenance! I have just checked on youtube and all of her vids appear to have gone. That's sad. I wonder if she is holding them back so you will buy the books.
I recall them so don't need the videos now, but have a search to see if any appeal to you. They are all much of a muchness really. And they only take 5 mins out of your day.

I think you have a runners face. I am sure your body is lean and with little fat. Its the same in your face, no fat to plump up the cheeks and lower face leading to sunken cheeks and a drawn face. I dont think theres much you can do about the eye hollows, as they hollow with age anyway, but you could try fillers like restylane which will minimise this and draw the eye away from the hollow areas. basically just readd collagen to the areas you have lost

Nice post and inaccurate.

Or mid 40s face + genetics + bone structure to be more precise. There have been many posters on here of a similar age, or younger, who have already started with the face sagging, some have had lower face lifts by that age. No running in common.

The yoga, all that downward dog (I joke to make a small point) will be worse for sagging than any running.

Get some advice on fillers from someone who knows what they're talking about, OP.

You look fine. FWIW, if you can run to it, CACI facials keep me looking a bit younger. These days I just have the eye area, cos of cost, but it's worth a course of whole face ones for the results. It's an electrical facial via a machine originally developed to correct facial palsey, so the results are damn good.

if Sophie Raworth hasn’t had Botox on her forehead then I’m Claudia Schiffer…

Botox isn't to target sagging and gauntness, though (which people are claiming running causes) - it's just to the stop the lines which come from facial expressions.

Yep!

I'm 54 and my face is seriously sagging. I've started doing face yoga (google it) and I do think it's helping firm things up. I think your skin looks good, to be honest. Personally don't want (and can't afford) surgery or fillers. Decent make up can achieve a lot - maybe go somewhere like Bobbi Briwn for a free lesson, you don't have to buy their products but they show you how to apply them.

@goodgoodday How do you know Sophie rayworth hasn't had fillers? Forgive my stupidity but you run and exercise to build lean muscle and get rid of fat. OPs face has lost volume from her cheeks which look hollow along with her eye area. This cheek volume is fat pads. Fillers that build volume are her best bet.

@krill Where did I say this loss of volume mid face was only confined to runners? Of course there are other reasons but lean muscle and little fat coverage, also have this effect. Younger runners can get away with running as they have plenty of collagen but as we age collagen reduces.

She might have, she might not have. If she has they are subtle. My point was really in defence of runners. I don't know where this 'haggard' cliche is coming from. Most runners look pretty good to me. It's a good form of exercise and one which is even promoted by the NHS. It protects against all sorts of metabolic diseases.

Regarding fillers, what I do know is that some celebrities are starting to have their fillers removed because as the skin ages it the structure to hold them in place weakens and they can migrate and look very strange indeed.

And running (+other forms of exercise) is far more affordable and accessible than fillers, Botox and other aesthetic procedures.

What's not to like?🤷‍♀️

This YouTuber's fillers migrated:

Forgive my stupidity but you run and exercise to build lean muscle and get rid of fat

I run for my cardio and to improve my stamina! I've never needed to lose weight or fat. Running has made my thighs bigger, though defined and muscular, and I find I eat more to fuel and I haven't lost weight I'm just more toned. It's improved my core and posture more than ballet! Though I also do other exercise like ballet, yoga, weights etc

I find running has been the best for the complexion, though I would add that we have to take SPF seriously as we're exposed to the elements. I've never personally seen'haggard' runners. I'd never want to put anyone off running, hence my post.

You were talking about runner's face? Apologies if I've misconstrued what you said.

Age and genetics and other factors are the main factors in mid face loss around mid/late 40s or early 50s. Also having more collagen and fat will do similar as the sagging occurs in some.
A *lot of weight loss can also result in face hollowing.

A good bone structure, for example if you're fortunate to have high cheekbones, will help will scaffolding and holding it all up. That's why cheek filler, in the first instance, has been suggested by a few of us. That's often better done before trough, cheek pad (tricky procedure, not as widely offered, needs someone experienced) and naso/marionette fillers. But I don't like to advise beyond basics, OP would to seek professional advice, not from a beauty salon place.

Age and genetics and other factors are the main factors in mid face loss around mid/late 40s or early 50s.

^This being the typical onset age. Obviously it can be lower or higher or not much at all if you're lucky.

And stress/weight loss plays a part. I lost nearly 2st in lockdown and sadly my little face looked scrawny and quite unwell. I’ve gained much of it back (ffs!) and my face has “filled out” nicely. Sadly, so has my backside!

You look lovely. Just use a little concealer under your eyes if you don't like that area. You're very pretty.

Interesting and what I always guessed!

For those saying collagen supplements - quite a few people have stated that they really don't do much.

Not read whole thread so apologies if repetitive advice.
Put on at least 7 pounds
Absolutely no sugar (including fruit) - sugar breaks down collagen
Good fats avocado, nuts, you know the drill.
Stop running - switch to strength training instead with weights. Can still get a cardio exercise in from doing weights.
Nu Face micro current device to lift
2 litres water.

If not improving with above, consider cheek filler first followed by tear trough filler if not enough improvement with just cheek.

Your skin is good though - just slippage of fat pads with age. Happens to us all unfortunately.

God imagine living like that! (I do some of those things eg lift weights but I couldn't cope with rules like 'no sugar including fruit' and 'stop running').

Life is not meant to be so joyless.

@goodgoodday Have you actually had fillers? I have and it's ridiculous to say celebs are having them 'removed'. You don't remove fillers, they dissolve in 6-12 months. The only thing you have removed are silicone implants or injected silicone, which is a massive no no. Restylane and sculptra make the body produce more collagen around the injectables so it's entirely natural looking. One was invented to fill out the hollows suffered by aids patients as they lost weight and body fat. These fillers are perfect for hollow cheeks. Botox is pointless in OPs case unless she has frown lines etc.

Agree @EarringsandLipstick

Also a case of should have read the thread first. Nuface isn't great for already present sagging either, threads here support that. Also the sugar 'fact' should be checked and taken with a pinch of salt etc etc. Threads discussing the very topic here.

Just for anyone reading to check any facts as most posters are clearly not experts. Though I'm sure they do.