Katy Winn/Getty Image
This "choose your ass or your face" dilemma was first expressed publicly, weirdly, I think by Mae West, and has been voiced recently by super-fit stars like Madonna (it's also one of the cornerstones of Howard Stern's "butter face" theory). But I always remember it from Courtney Cox, who once said:
“In Hollywood, you get your bottom half to be the right size, your face may have to be a little gaunt,” says Cox. “You choose your battles.”
Hollywood wisdom aside, a new study out of University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center proves Cox's theory true. Turns out, by examining the facial fat compartments in, of all things, cadavers, scientists found that a lack of fat in the cheeks is definitively what makes humans appear older.
According to a story on MSNC, the study also uncovered:
"Cheeks are vital to what we consider beautiful — from chubby-cheeked infants to Hollywood stars like Angelina Jolie...[we've identified] specific fat compartments that are key to facial rejuvenation involving the cheeks, and as a consequence, the overall look of the face."
The research additionally proved:
"Restoring these compartments also improves volume loss under the eyes, helps eliminate lines around the nose and mouth and gives more curve to the upper lip, all of which restore a more youthful appearance to the face."
Fascinating. And kind of depressing. You know why? Because, instead of suggesting to skeletal faces that they should perhaps gain five pounds (the horror!), this research is being used to promote "injectable fillers," the artificial and sometimes natural (your own fat!) stuff that's syringed into cheeks and brows to give a temporary appearance of smoother skin.
Of course it is. Why can't we just love ourselves and eat something? Sigh.
Source: MSBNC
Maybe you'll also like this stuff:
Big Mistake: St.John replaces spokesmodel Angelina Jolie with, um, just some models
Are drugstore products more effective than fancy-schmance brands? One dermatologist says absolutely, yes
Beauty in a bad economy: The many, many uses for Epsom Salts
The economy is in the toilet—naturally, you'll start wearing lipstick
