The phenomenon of having prominent or “fat” cheeks when smiling is a common experience. This temporary bulging is not a flaw but a simple mechanical consequence of complex facial muscles contracting. It occurs when a full smile causes the soft tissues of the lower cheek to gather and push upward. Understanding this process involves recognizing that the appearance is a result of movement and underlying anatomy, rather than simply a measure of body fat. This natural aesthetic variation is rooted deeply in the mechanics of expression and the unique composition of each individual’s face.
The Anatomy Behind Cheek Prominence When Smiling
The appearance of a full cheek during a smile is a direct result of several muscles working in concert. The primary muscles involved are the zygomaticus major and minor, which originate near the cheekbone and pull the corners of the mouth upward and outward. When these muscles contract, they shorten, pulling the overlying skin and soft tissue towards the center of the face.
This upward pull causes the skin and fat to bunch up, creating the rounded mound that is commonly referred to as the “apple” of the cheek. Deeper within the cheek structure lies the buccal fat pad, one of several encapsulated fat masses. While this fat pad is deep, the muscle contraction can compress the surrounding fat and tissue against the deeper structures.
The buccinator muscle, which is situated deeper and forms the muscular base of the cheek, also influences this process. The presence and size of the buccal fat pad, which rests between the buccinator and more superficial muscles, contributes to the overall volume of tissue available to be displaced by the smiling action. Therefore, the prominence is a combination of skin bunching, fat displacement, and muscle contraction.
Factors That Influence Cheek Fullness
The degree to which a person experiences this cheek fullness is influenced by a combination of genetics, overall body composition, and the effects of aging. Genetic factors dictate the foundational architecture of the face, including the size and position of the cheekbones, or zygomatic arches. A more forward-projecting bone structure can provide a scaffold that makes the overlying soft tissue appear less bulky when compressed.
Overall body composition plays a role because the face contains general subcutaneous fat. Individuals with a higher percentage of general facial fat will have more soft tissue volume available to gather when they smile. This general fat influences the surrounding tissue, making the resulting bulge appear larger, even if the primary cause is muscle movement.
Age and skin elasticity also modify the appearance of cheek fullness over time. As a person ages, there is a gradual loss of collagen and elastin, which are the proteins responsible for skin firmness and recoil. This loss causes the skin to “drape” differently, and the facial fat pads may also descend. The skin’s reduced ability to snap back smoothly can exacerbate the appearance of soft tissue gathering during a smile.
Non-Surgical Ways to Adjust Appearance
For those who wish to minimize the appearance of cheek fullness when smiling, several non-surgical techniques can be employed. Adjusting your smile technique can immediately change how the facial muscles engage and how much soft tissue is gathered. A more restrained smile that focuses on the eyes, often called a Duchenne smile, or a smile with slightly less horizontal stretch may reduce the upward displacement of the lower cheek.
Makeup contouring is a visual technique that manipulates light and shadow to sculpt the face. By applying a darker shade, or contour, in the hollow beneath the cheekbone, a shadow is created that visually recedes the area. Conversely, applying a light-reflecting product, or highlight, along the top of the cheekbone draws attention upward and defines the bone structure.
This strategic placement of makeup creates an illusion of greater definition, making the soft tissue below the cheekbone appear less prominent. Applying blush or bronzer while the face is relaxed, rather than smiling, helps ensure the product settles where the cheekbone is highest, avoiding the “apple” that forms when the tissue bunches.
Focusing on hydration and lifestyle factors can also play a supportive role in managing facial fullness. Optimizing fluid intake can help reduce generalized facial puffiness or swelling caused by fluid retention. Maintaining healthy skin and tissue can contribute to a smoother appearance overall.