Social Media Claims Sleeping Like This Will Make Your Face Sag

Could preventing premature aging of the face be as simple as changing the position you sleep in?

Over the last couple of months, multiple self-proclaimed social media skin experts have pinned changes in their facial aesthetic on side sleeping, claiming that the position is causing their faces to sag on one side.

“Your face 1,000% gets lopsided when you sleep on your side,” one TikToker posted. Another claimed that her esthetician told her that Botox wouldn’t fix the lines on her face, that her face “was drooping on the left side because you sleep on your left side.”

But is there any merit to this claim?

Not really, Danny Del Campo, M.D., board-certified dermatologist at Chicago Skin Clinic, tells The Messenger.

“While your go-to sleep pose might contribute a tad, it's far from the main cause of enduring facial sag,” Dr. Del Campo says.

What causes facial sagging?

Sagging on one or both sides of the face is caused by a number of factors — some that can be controlled and some that, unfortunately, cannot.

“While age does play its part, there's more to the sagging story,” Dr. Del Campo says.

Skin starts to lose its elasticity typically in a person’s late 20s. In the subsequent years, this starts to happen a little more as time passes for most people, resulting in more visible fine lines, wrinkles and sagging.

Genetics are another factor that contribute to facial sagging that cannot be controlled, Dr. Del Campo says.

“Some folks, thanks to genetics, may have skin that's a touch less bouncy or thinner.”

Other things that could accelerate facial sagging are excessive sun exposure, a history of smoking, significant weight loss and exposure to environmental pollutants.

Can facial sagging be prevented?

Although aging is a natural process that no one should ever be ashamed of, many people would prefer to delay the physical evidence of growing older. For those people, Dr. Del Campo says there are a few strategies that can help preserve facial laxity.

Skincare routines should include retinoids, which Dr. Delcampo calls “magic for the skin.” Broad-spectrum sunscreen should also be a part of any daily skincare ritual.

A well-rounded diet can aid in the preservation of skin’s elasticity as well, as can staying adequately hydrated, Dr. Del Campo notes.

That said, everyone is different, so keeping skin in its prime will look a little different for everyone depending on their needs, goals and expectations.

“Skincare, at its heart, is all about individual needs. Regular conversations with a board-certified dermatologist are your best bet to chart a personalized course.”