50 Faces Project: The Sagger Face

Over time, the face can slowly change its shape: the jawline becomes less clear, the tissues in the lower third move down, and the cheekbones lose their defined look. We classify this condition as Sagger Face — one of the five types in the Lymface methodology.

If you notice these changes in yourself, you do not have to immediately consider a surgical facelift. It is important to first understand what exactly affects the changes in the face contours and what methods can work with the tissues without surgery and invasive procedures. Today, in the 50 Faces project, we will talk about exactly this.

What is Sagger Face?

This condition appears as a result of natural age-related changes. In the article about Wrinkle Face, we already explained that over time the skin loses collagen and other proteins responsible for its elasticity. When not only the skin but also the facial tissues start to move down, this process is called gravitational ptosis. The ligaments become stretched and fix the tissues less effectively, the fatty tissue becomes thinner and moves, changing the shape of the face, while the bone tissue of the jaw and cheekbones slowly disappears, making the facial framework smaller. The muscles also change: some of them become weaker, while others, on the contrary, become too tense. This additionally pulls the tissues down and creates deep and visible folds [1].

For some people with a natural predisposition, these processes are stronger. Sagger Face is more common in women with dense skin, well-developed subcutaneous fat tissue, and a tendency to swelling. However, there is nothing scary about it — the process of facial tissue changes is as natural as wrinkles or gray hair and can be corrected if you want to do it.

Usually, the first noticeable signs appear after 35–40 years, but the timing is individual and depends on anatomy, genetics, skin condition, and other factors.

Women often use surgical methods, including a facelift. They really can significantly change the contours of the face, but these are invasive procedures with surgical risks, a recovery period, and possible complications. Therefore, before choosing a procedure, it is worth determining which changes are the main ones and what result you want to achieve.

Why does the face start to move down?

There is no single reason for Sagger Face. Genetically determined facial anatomy plays an important role: the shape of the bone structure, the amount of subcutaneous fat tissue, and the features of connective tissue. With age, as we already said above, several structures change at the same time.

Another factor is problems with blood and lymph circulation. When the normal movement of fluid in the tissues is disturbed, their volume can increase, which can make the face look less defined. In this case, it can be a combination of Sagger Face and Puffy Face, which we talked about in one of our previous articles.

Chronic muscle tension can affect the quality of the tissues, as well as spasms caused by incorrect work of the temporomandibular joint. Also face could sagging after weight loss, pregnancy and some illness [2].

What we do at Lymface

At Lymface, we offer a non-surgical approach that is aimed not at “lifting” one specific area, but at working with the condition of the facial tissues as a whole.

One part of this approach is tissue stimulation, which can support processes connected with collagen production. The main goal here is to support the normal condition of the tissues and the natural definition of the face contours without surgery.

We pay attention to the mobility and condition of the tissues, the balance of muscle activity, lymph circulation, and blood circulation. We use different manual techniques created by our specialists, combine them with hardware techniques and special cosmetic products.

What you can do at home

The ideal option for home is a gentle self-massage, especially gua sha. At home, you should make light and slow movements without strong pressure, without trying too hard to “lift” the tissues up. Otherwise, excessive rubbing can cause skin irritation and damage to the tissues.

It is also necessary to balance your lifestyle. Avoid alcohol and smoking, reduce foods rich in sodium in your diet, because they can cause swelling. It is also useful to add a simple lymphatic drainage routine: gentle exercise and morning warm-up.