It's a question surely as old as vanity itself: how can you look young forever? A forthcoming study in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery offers one surprising idea: as you age, don't be afraid to put on a few pounds. Fat, it turns out, can significantly smooth out wrinkles and give you a younger-looking face.

The authors of the new study, a team led by Dr. Bahman Guyuron of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, are plastic surgeons who study faces for a living. They analyzed photographs of the faces of 186 pairs of identical twins taken at the Twins Days Festival, a sort of twins' pride event held every summer in (naturally) Twinsburg, Ohio. Because the pairs had identical genetic material, differences in how old they looked could be attributed entirely to their behavioral choices and environment. Guyuron's team had the twins fill out extensive questionnaires about their lives - everything from how many times they had married to whether they had regularly used sunscreen. Then a panel of four judges independently estimated the twins' ages by looking at photos taken in Twinsburg.

The Guyuron team's most interesting findings had to do with weight. Many of the twin pairs were of similar weight, but differences in how old they looked began to appear when one had a body mass index (BMI) at least four points higher than her sister. For twin pairs under 40, the heavier one looked significantly older. But surprisingly, after 40, that same four-point difference in BMI made the heavier twin look significantly younger.

The study's authors theorize that "volume replacement" - that is, fat filling in wrinkles - accounts for the rejuvenated appearance of the older twins. This theory was supported even more dramatically among twins older than 55. For them, having as much as an eight-point higher BMI than their twin was associated with a younger appearance in the face.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/t...9187771700

Interesting.

"You can either keep your face or your figure, but my advice is to keep your face--which people look at first--and sit down."--Barbara Cartland

my mom is pushing 60 and i swear she looks like she's only in her 30's

Efan said:

That´s a good one.

The secret of not to look old is to die young.

Dayclear said:

Efan said:

She is absolutely right.

I have a sister who's seven years younger than I. She's about four sizes smaller - but I look younger because her facial skin has no underlying fat to fill it out.

You can always have INJECTIONS in your face. I'd rather stay a size 0 and then get shots in my face. I eat all the right foods and stay a size 0 cause I exercise. Exercise is the key.

MRGee said:

How old are you?

Trust me...if you don't have a fat layer under your face, no amount of Botox or Restylane will help you. Some areas (like cheeks) are just too big to be "filled."

And exercise helps a lot when you're young...but when your hormones tank later on, you fight an ever-harder uphill battle.

But why listen to me? You'll learn it on your own...

Genesia said:

if you have pancake ass they can create a bountiful booty with fat down in mexico, so why would it be so hard to fill in cheeks?

You can get wrinkles just worrying about this shit.

I notice a person's sense of style waaaaay before the thought of age comes into play.

It's not True... How old are you Genesia? And who cares anyway? I would Never gain weight for my face. I believe in Exercise . Athletic people don't have much body fat and lower blood pressure. Shots in the face work as does Botox,but loose skin anywhere requires PLASTIC SURGERY. I don't starve and I'm 110 at the DRS office. In fact most people couldn't follow my diet and stay thin. But I Exercise ALOT. Plus, it's in my GENES.

You wrote ALOT in all caps.

Like compulsively or excessively???

My style. Don't try to ANALYZE me....

MRGee said:

You're offering up this info, stressing how much you work out and all about being size 0. I'm just asking based on what you're posting. If you don't want to discuss something or get defensive about someone asking you...why post that stuff in the first place?
[Edited 2/10/09 16:02pm]

johnart said:

I went to school with a girl, same age as me. Admittedly she is very fair and hasn't stayed out of the sun. She is painfully thin now, and she looks like she is in her 50s, when she isn't even 40 yet

johnart said:

you would just hate me, I have none

as cliched` as it sounds, keep a young mind, a good sense of humor, stay as active as you're comfortable with, eat sensibly without becoming the kind of person that eats leaves and blades of grass, and most importantly, JUST HAVE FUN!! I met a new guy at my unit yesterday who's 2 years younger than me and looks like



...what also works for me is that I work with and around young troops, so the challenge of keeping up with and surpassing them also contributes to not looking old.....little fuckers are ruthless if you start slippin'...

Cuddles said:

my mom's 60 next month and she looks great too

people never think she's her age

ZombieKitten said:

Nah...I've got plenty of friends who lack style. I love 'em just the same.

No secret. Don't smoke, don't drink too much, moisturize, exercise a bit, and try not to eat too much.

Now if only it were that easy.

johnart said:

Prevention is key.

Avoid excessive sunlight or solariums.

Moisturise face & body twice a day with a proven label that works for ur skin type.

Eat healthy, drink water, exercise daily and maintain a healthy weight for ur height.

Meditation or yoga is beneficial.

Detoxify every now and again, keeps the impurities at bay.

And, be happy with ur life. If ur not, change it!