big cheeks face - #16489
I am really worried about my face because I have big cheeks that just seem to get bigger every year. Like, I never really noticed it before, but now in photos, they seriously stand out, and I can't help but feel self-conscious about it. My friends joke about it, but sometimes I think they don't get how it bothers me. I went to see a doctor a few months ago because I've noticed some tightness and fullness around my cheek area, and they mentioned it could be something to do with my diet or water retention. I've tried cutting salt, increaseing my water intake, but honestly, nothing seems to work! I tell myself maybe it’s genetic or something. My mom also has big cheeks face, but I really don't want to look like her at this age! Is there a way to reduce the fullness? Are there exercises that actually help with big cheeks face? I read somewhere about cosmetic procedures, but I'm not ready for that. Is there a way to live with big cheeks face without hating it? Just feeling kinda frustrated. Any thoughts, fellow doctors?
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Doctors’ responses
Facial fullness can be due to a mix of genetic factors, lifestyle, and sometimes health conditions. If you’ve noticed a progressive increase, it’s good to consider underlying causes. Besides genetics, weight gain, fluid retention, or hormonal imbalances might contribute, so it’s important to look at your entire lifestyle and health. For fluid retention, continue drinking plenty of water and avoid excess salt; you might also want to watch for high-sodium processed foods. Sometimes just simple stress-management can also make a difference in water retention, so incorporating techniques like meditation or yoga might help. Regarding facial exercises, while there’s no robust scientific evidence that they alone can significantly reduce facial size, they might help tone the muscles in that area, potentially offering some degree of change. Try gentle facial exercises, like inflating your cheeks and then releasing, or making “fish face” movements—it’s low-risk, and might add a bit of muscle tone. However, maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise routine which focuses on overall fitness is more effective at body fat reduction. If you’re concerned about medical issues like thyroid dysfunction or another condition possibly affecting your facial appearance, check back with your doctor. They can rule these out with appropriate testing and advice. With cosmetic procedures to consider as well—those are best approached with caution—ensure a consultation with a board-certified expert to discuss realistic outcomes and risks if you do opt that way in the future. For now, awareness and acceptance can go a long way. While it might be frustrating, let your self-perception include appreciating what’s unique to you.
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