Does running make your face sag? Two things to look at before the running itself
These days I often hear in the treatment room, “Doctor, people say my face has aged since I started running.” That is what the people around them are telling them. At first I laughed it off, but I heard it so often that I felt it was worth setting out properly.
The short answer
I could not find a human study showing that the impact of running itself makes the face sag. When a face looks older after someone takes up running, two things usually overlap. One is facial fat being lost along with body weight, and the other is long hours of outdoor UV. In a study of 186 pairs of identical twins, after 40 the twin with a slightly higher body mass index actually looked younger, and the twin with more sun exposure looked older. Exercise itself may even be good for the skin. So the answer is not to give up running, but a hat, sunscreen and losing weight slowly. At Miso Clinic, 4F Bombom Building, 125 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu (Exit 1, Kyungpook Nat'l Univ. Hospital Station), +82-53-428-2700, we look at what has hollowed and what has sagged separately.
Does the impact of running really make the face sag?
“Your cheeks bounce every time you run, so they stretch” sounds plausible. But as far as I could find, there is no human study that has measured this directly. Nor is there one comparing facial sagging in people who walk with people who run.
So I do not say “the impact is the cause”. Instead, I think it is right to start with what has been confirmed in numbers.
So why do runners’ faces look older?
| Cause | What changes | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Loss of facial fat | The front of the cheeks, temples and under-eyes hollow and shadows form | 186 twin pairs: after 40, the twin with a BMI 4 higher looked younger |
| Rapid weight loss | Hollowing plus leftover skin that looks loose | 40 papers on GLP-1 drug weight loss: volume loss and reduced elasticity, rapid loss and older age as risk factors |
| Outdoor UV | Fine lines, pigmentation and loss of elasticity build up | Twin study: the twin with more sun and no sunscreen looked older |
| Running impact | Not confirmed | No human study comparing it directly |
As I see it, much of “runner’s face” is hollowing. It looks like sagging, but in fact the fat that used to give support has shrunk. If you do not tell these two apart, you end up with the wrong treatment.
Is exercise bad for the skin?
The opposite. In a study where 56 sedentary middle-aged women did aerobic or resistance exercise for 16 weeks, both kinds improved skin elasticity and the structure of the upper dermis, and resistance exercise also increased dermal thickness. It was run with a cosmetics company and the group was small, so these are not numbers to expect much from, but at least they do not point to “exercise ruins your skin”.
How can I protect my face while running?
- A brimmed hat and sunscreen — in a randomised trial that followed 903 people for 4.5 years, those who applied it daily had 24% less skin ageing. Sweat wipes it off, so reapply on long runs
- Lose weight slowly — many reports say the faster the loss, the more noticeable the loss of facial volume
- Time of day — where possible, early morning or evening rather than midday when the sun is strongest
- Protein and fluids — these are also mentioned as risk factors for facial skin changes during weight loss
What if my face has already hollowed or sagged?
| Condition | Considered first |
|---|---|
| Hollowing at the front of the cheeks or temples | Dissolvable hyaluronic acid filler |
| Thinning over a wide area with less firmness | Collagen boosters or skin boosters |
| Jawline and cheeks coming down | RF lifting |
| Hollowing and sagging together | Restore volume first, lifting afterwards |
Strong lifting first on a hollowed face can make it look even more gaunt. That is why I decide the order first.
→ More: Facial sagging consultation: telling hollowing from sagging
Running and facial sagging: frequently asked questions
Do I have to stop running for my face to age less?
No. There is no study showing that running impact makes the face sag, and exercise may be good for the skin. Sun protection and losing weight slowly matter more.
Why does my face look older after losing weight?
Because the facial fat that used to give support is lost too. It may look like sagging, but it is often hollowing.
What is used to fill hollow cheeks?
At Miso Clinic we consider dissolvable hyaluronic acid filler first. Collagen boosters come into the conversation after that.
Where can I get a facial hollowing or sagging consultation in Daegu?
At Miso Clinic, 4F Bombom Building, 125 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu (Exit 1, Kyungpook Nat'l Univ. Hospital Station), +82-53-428-2700. Weekdays 11:00–19:00, Saturday 10:00–16:00, closed Sundays and public holidays.
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Related treatments: Lifting · Fine lines · Facial sagging consultation
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by Lee Chi-Hak, MD, director of Miso Clinic, Daegu. The treatment standards and injection design set out here are the ones we use in practice.
| Medical director | Lee Chi-Hak, MD |
|---|---|
| Address | 4F Bombom Building, 125 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, South Korea · Exit 1, Kyungpook National University Hospital Station |
| Phone | +82-53-428-2700 |
| Hours | Weekdays 11:00–19:00 (lunch 13:00–14:00) / Saturday 10:00–16:00 (no lunch break) / Closed Sundays and public holidays |
| Columns | All clinical columns |
| Reference library | All booster and device references |
References
- Twin study — Guyuron B et al. Factors contributing to the facial aging of identical twins. Plast Reconstr Surg 2009;123(4):1321-31. PMID 19337100. 186 pairs of identical twins.
- Randomised sunscreen trial — Hughes MCB et al. Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med 2013;158(11):781-90. PMID 23732711. 903 people, 4.5 years.
- Exercise and skin — Nishikori S et al. Resistance training rejuvenates aging skin by reducing circulating inflammatory factors and enhancing dermal extracellular matrices. Sci Rep 2023;13:10214. PMID 37353523. 56 middle-aged women, 16 weeks (conducted with a cosmetics company).
- Rapid weight loss and skin — Barone M et al. Effects of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Skin Quality: A Comprehensive Literature Review. Aesthetic Plast Surg 2026;50(13):5403-7. PMID 42162206. 40 papers.
- Korean medical advertising law — Korean Medical Service Act Article 56(2) (no treatment testimonials, no comparisons with other clinics, no superlatives). This is why this column carries no prices, reviews or before-and-after photos.
- Miso Clinic practice guidelines — for hollow cheeks, dissolvable hyaluronic acid filler is considered first; no RF treatment that day if there are metal or electronic implants, pregnancy or skin inflammation; botox is offered for all areas of the face.
Everything in this column is general information and does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment. Effects and side effects vary with individual skin condition, age and underlying illness, and the same result is not guaranteed for everyone. Any decision to proceed should be made in an in-person consultation with a physician.