Whether it’s our arms, thighs, or stomach, many of us have likely wished that we could lose a bit of body fat from one area or another at some point.
Many people may also want to lose some fat from their cheeks, neck, or chin in order to change their appearance.
Although there are many slimming straps and devices on the market that claim to boost facial fat loss, losing body fat typically requires making long-term changes to your diet and lifestyle.
Fortunately, there are plenty of strategies that can support sustainable weight loss and help your face appear slimmer in the process.
Here are effective methods to help you lose unwanted fat in your face, along with some simple strategies you can use to prevent fat gain in the long term.
Do facial exercises
Facial exercises can be used to improve facial appearance, combat aging, and improve muscle strength. Anecdotal reports claim that adding facial exercises to your routine can also tone facial muscles, making your face look slimmer.
Some of the most popular exercises involve puffing out your cheeks and pushing the air from side to side, puckering your lips on alternating sides, and holding a smile while clenching your teeth for several seconds at a time.
Although evidence is limited, one review reported that facial exercises may build muscle tone in your face.
Another study showed that performing facial muscle exercises twice per day for 8 weeks increased muscle thickness and improved facial rejuvenation.
Keep in mind that research is lacking on the effectiveness of facial exercises for fat loss specifically. More studies are needed to evaluate how these exercises may affect facial fat in humans.
Add cardio to your routine
Often, extra fat in your face is the result of excess body fat.
Losing weight can contribute to fat loss and help slim down your body and face.
Cardio, or aerobic exercise, is any type of physical activity that increases your heart rate. It’s widely considered a highly effective method for weight loss.
Multiple studies have found that cardio can help promote fat burning and increase fat loss.
What’s more, one study found that women with obesity experienced greater fat loss when they engaged in more cardio exercise. Some common examples of cardio exercise include running, dancing, walking, biking, and swimming.
Drink more water
Drinking water is crucial for your overall health and can be especially important if you’re looking to lose facial fat.
Studies suggest that water can keep you feeling full and enhance weight loss.
In fact, one small study found that drinking water before a meal significantly decreased the number of calories consumed during the meal.
Other research suggests that drinking water may temporarily increase your metabolism. Increasing the number of calories you burn over the course of the day can help boost weight loss.
Limit alcohol consumption
Enjoying the occasional glass of wine with dinner is fine, but excessive alcohol intake can be one of the biggest contributors to fat accumulation and bloating.
Alcohol contains mostly empty calories, meaning that it is high in calories but lacking in important nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals.
It also acts as a diuretic — a substance that increases the production of urine. This can lead to dehydration and water retention.
Some research also suggests that alcohol could influence levels of certain hormones that affect hunger and appetite. For example, it may reduce levels of leptin, a hormone that promotes feelings of fullness.
What’s more, studies show that heavy drinking could increase inflammation and may be associated with an increased risk of weight gain, increased belly fat, and obesity.
Keeping your alcohol consumption in check is the best way to avoid alcohol-induced bloating and weight gain.
Cut back on refined carbs
Foods containing refined carbs, such as cookies, crackers, and pasta, are common culprits of weight gain and increased fat storage.
These carbs have been heavily processed, which strips them of their beneficial nutrients and fiber and leaves little behind besides sugar and calories.
Because they contain very little fiber, your body digests them rapidly. This leads to spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels and may make you more likely to overeat.
One study in 277 women showed that a higher intake of refined carbs was associated with a higher risk of obesity and greater amount of belly fat.
No studies have looked directly at refined carbs’ effects on facial fat. However, replacing refined carbs with whole grains may help increase overall weight loss, which may also aid facial fat loss.
Get enough sleep
Catching up on sleep is an important overall weight loss strategy. It may also help you lose facial fat.
Sleep deprivation can cause an increase in levels of the stress hormone cortisol. High cortisol levels come with a long list of potential side effects, including weight gain.
Studies have shown that high cortisol levels can increase appetite and alter metabolism, resulting in increased fat storage. Furthermore, squeezing in more sleep may help you shed extra pounds.
One study found that better sleep quality was associated with successful maintenance of weight loss .
Ideally, aim for at least 8 hours of sleep per night to aid weight management and facial fat loss.
Watch your sodium intake
The main source of sodium in most people’s diets is table salt. You might add it to food from a shaker, but you may also consume it passively as part of processed or pre-made foods, sauces, and other everyday condiments.
One trademark symptom of excess sodium intake is bloating, which may contribute to facial puffiness and swelling.
That’s because sodium causes your body to hold on to extra water — this is called fluid retention.
Several studies have shown that a higher intake of sodium can increase fluid retention, especially in people who are more sensitive to the effects of salt.
Processed foods account for more than 75% of sodium intake in the average diet, so cutting out convenience foods, savory snacks, and processed meats can be an effective way to reduce your sodium intake. Reducing your sodium intake may make your face appear slimmer.
Eat more fiber
One of the most popular recommendations for slimming your face and losing cheek fat is to increase your intake of fiber.
Fiber is a substance in plant foods that your body doesn’t absorb after you consume it. Instead, it moves slowly through your digestive tract, keeping you feeling fuller for longer. In this way, it can help curb cravings and decrease appetite.
In one study in 345 people with overweight and obesity, higher fiber intake was associated with increased weight loss and helped people stick to a low calorie diet.
Another review of 62 studies suggested that eating more soluble fiber may reduce both body weight and waist circumference, even if you don’t restrict your calorie intake.
Soluble fiber is a type of fiber that forms a gel when mixed with water. One common type of soluble fiber in the diet is beta glucan, which is found in oatmeal, barley, and other cereals.
Fiber is naturally found in a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and legumes. Ideally, you should aim to consume at least 25–38 grams of fiber per day from these food sources.
How to prevent facial fat
There are several important long-term habits and broader lifestyle changes you can use to help prevent weight gain and fat accumulation in the long run:
Eat a balanced diet. Following a healthy diet that includes plenty of nutrient-dense foods — such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes — can help you maintain a moderate weight and support your overall health.
Exercise regularly. Experts generally recommend getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week to improve health and prevent weight gain.
Limit your intake of processed foods. Not only are processed foods typically high in calories, sodium, and added sugar, but they have also been linked to an increased risk of weight gain over time.
Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water is a simple but effective way to manage your weight and prevent excess facial fat.
Get plenty of sleep. Some research suggests that better sleep quality could improve long-term weight loss maintenance.
Try to manage your stress levels. Increased stress can increase appetite and cravings and make it more challenging to stay active, all of which can contribute to weight gain. Stress reduction techniques such as yoga and meditation may be beneficial.
Can you lose fat from just your face?
Although losing excess body fat could help reduce the amount of fat in certain body parts — including your face — there is little evidence to support the concept of spot reduction, or fat loss targeted to a specific area.
In fact, several older studies have found that spot reduction is not effective for increasing fat loss in a specific body part.
This is because fat cells are stored throughout your body and can all be broken down and used as fuel during exercise.
These fat stores can come from any part of your body, not just from the specific area you’re exercising.
Therefore, instead of aiming to lose fat only from your face, it’s best to focus on overall fat loss and weight loss, which can lead to a reduction in excess facial fat.
Takeaway
There are many strategies you can use to reduce the appearance of fat in your face.
Switching up your diet, adding exercise to your routine, and adjusting some of your daily habits are all effective ways to increase fat loss and weight loss, which may help slim down your face in the process.
For best results, be sure to pair these tips with a balanced diet and regular exercise to support weight management and improve overall health.
