Adipocyte: the fat cell and the fat of the face
Quick facts
- Definition
- A cell specialized in storing energy in the form of fat.
- In the face
- Organized into superficial and deep compartments separated by septa.
- With age
- Some compartments lose volume, others descend or shift.
- Visible effect
- Loss of projection in the cheekbone area and temples, more pronounced folds.
- In HOF
- Explains why restoring volume at support points can soften a tired look.
The adipocyte is the cell specialized in storing fat. In the face, adipocytes do not form a single layer: they group into compartments bounded by fibrous septa, and each compartment ages in its own way.
How is facial fat organized?
Facial fat is described in superficial compartments, just under the skin, and deep ones, closer to the bone. This division appears in studies of the layers of the face and gives its name to structures such as the nasolabial compartment, the fat pads and the buccal fat pad.
What changes with aging?
Over time, some of the deep compartments lose volume, and this removes support from the layers above. Some superficial compartments, on the other hand, tend to descend. The result is usually:
- less projection in the cheekbone area and temples;
- deepening of folds, such as the nasolabial fold;
- formation of jowls and loss of jawline definition.
Not everything is fat: bone, muscle, ligaments and skin change too. That is why reading the face needs to consider the whole picture, and facial lipodystrophy is an extreme case, in which fat loss is marked.
How does it relate to HOF?
Restoring volume at support points can soften a tired or lax look, at the discretion of the qualified professional, after assessment. In the cheekbone area, the temple and the chin, the reasoning is to give support back, not to fill the fold that appears further down. Fat is also used in other ways, such as autologous fat and nanofat, procedures that follow the rules of each professional's council in Brazil.
Also known as: fat cell, adipose cell.
Frequently asked questions
Does facial fat disappear with age?
It does not disappear uniformly. Some compartments lose volume and others shift downward, which changes the contour of the face. Weight, genetics and habits also play a role.