Volume Loss and Facial Hollowing

Facial volume sits in pads of fat, supported by bone and held in place by ligaments. All three shift over time, so the face gradually loses fullness and definition.

The area that looks hollow is often not the area a provider would treat, because those pads support one another. That is why volume is assessed across the whole face.

How this is usually described

• Shadowing that reads as fatigue even when you are well rested
• Shadowing under the eyes that makeup does not settle over
• Flatness through the cheek
• A softer line along the jaw
• Folds running from the nose toward the mouth

What contributes to it

• Natural descent and reduction of the facial fat compartments
• Remodeling of the underlying facial skeleton over decades
• Slackening of the ligaments that separate the fat compartments
• Cumulative sun exposure affecting skin quality and support
• Significant or repeated weight loss

Why does my face look shadowed even when I have slept well?

Shadowing through the midface is usually structural rather than related to rest: it comes from how light falls across the face as the underlying fat compartments shift. A provider will assess this in person at a consultation.

How long does dermal filler last?

Filler results are not permanent. How long a result lasts varies with the product, the area treated and the individual, and your provider will discuss what to expect at your consultation.

Should filler go where the hollow is?

Not necessarily. Because the facial fat compartments support one another, the area that reads as hollow often takes its appearance from a neighboring compartment. This is why a full-face assessment matters.

Helpful resources

• Filler vs. biostimulator: what is the difference?