Why do the cheeks sag with age?

The two leading causes of cheek aging are loss of fat deposits in the midface and structural deterioration of the skin envelope. As we age, we begin to lose fat volume in the cheeks, and, at the same time, changes in collagen and elastin cause the once-tight facial skin to sag. Consequently, the volume of the cheekbones shifts downward towards the mouth and the neck, deepening the nasolabial folds and creating jowls. Full cheeks are replaced by an empty, hollow look, which also makes the bags under our eyes more evident and distorts the youthful contours of the face.