Home / Media / Ageing & Anatomy / Sinkers and Saggers: Which Type of Facial Ageing Do You Have?
0:34 • Published 29 Apr 2025 • Dr Ed Robinson
Sinkers and Saggers: Which Type of Facial Ageing Do You Have?
The short answer
Sinkers usually keep their cheekbones but lose volume in the mid and lower face, becoming drawn and gaunt. Saggers see more skin laxity and drooping of the lower face, with jowls and sagging below the jawline. Most people have a bit of both. Sinkers tend to need volume and collagen stimulation; saggers, collagen stimulation and sometimes surgery.Founder and Medical Director • Last reviewed 19 October 2026
In brief
Key Takeaways
- 01"Sinkers" and "saggers" are two broad ways of describing how the face changes with age.
- 02Sinkers usually keep good cheekbones but become drawn in and gaunt through the lower face.
- 03Saggers see more skin laxity and drooping of the lower face, causing jowls and sagging below the jawline.
- 04Most people have aspects of both, which is why treatment is tailored to your anatomy.
- 05Sinkers generally need more volume replacement and collagen stimulation; saggers more collagen stimulation and skin tightening, and sometimes surgery.
Dr Ed Robinson explains
The Detail
Are you a sinker or a sagger? These are two terms used to describe how the face changes with age. Broadly speaking, we lose volume, our muscle distribution changes and our skin loses quality, but not everyone shows it in the same way.
Sinkers usually keep good definition of their cheekbones, but lose volume in the mid and lower face and become progressively more drawn in, with a gaunt appearance.
Saggers tend to see more skin laxity and more drooping of the lower facial structures. Fat pads in the mid and lower face can become heavier, causing jowls and sagging below the jawline.
Realistically, most people have aspects of both, but the two patterns call for slightly different approaches. In general, a sinker needs more in the way of volume replacement and collagen stimulation; Radiesse is one treatment that provides both. A sagger tends to need more collagen stimulation and skin tightening, for example with a device such as Morpheus8. Where there is a lot of skin laxity, surgery may be the most appropriate option.
This is another good reason why every treatment should be tailored to your anatomy rather than treating everyone the same. An assessment will show which changes are driving how you look, and which options make sense for you.
Video transcript
Edited from the video captions.
Are you a sinker or a sagger? Sinkers normally have good preservation of their cheekbones but become progressively more drawn in throughout the lower part of their face, and become a bit gaunt with age. Saggers, on the other hand, tend to see more skin laxity and more drooping of the lower facial structures, causing more jowls and sagging below the jawline. For sinkers, I tend to recommend more volume replacement and collagen stimulation. For saggers, I tend to prefer collagen stimulation, but it might be that a surgical option is more preferable. This is another good reason why all treatments should be tailored to your anatomy, rather than just treating everyone the same.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sinker?
Someone whose face ages mainly through volume loss in the mid and lower face, becoming drawn in and gaunt while keeping good cheekbones.
What is a sagger?
Someone whose face ages mainly through skin laxity and drooping of the lower face, leading to jowls and sagging below the jawline.
Can I be both?
Yes. Most people have aspects of both, which is why treatment plans are tailored to the individual.
Keep watching
Related Videos
Have a Question About Treatment?
Talk it through with a doctor who will explain your anatomy and every option, with no pressure to proceed.
Book a Consultation