Something I never see answered about facial fatpads

[assuming..]

It is said that fat fills the scaffolding between our facial ligaments to keep them rigid, like an inflate balloon. This is what makes our faces firm and springy in youth. When the fat dissipates with age, those "scaffold" ligaments have nothing to inflate the space between them anymore and sag, as shown in the photo. And once this fat dissipates in our late 20s into 30s it never comes back, no matter how much fat you gain

The question however is: It seems that if you lose all your facial fat in youth, teens and early 20s, you can gain it back and it will redisperse to the right places. And you'll get your young face restored again. Look at this anorexic who pretty much lost all their facial fat and looked like an old lady before 22.

When she started eating again however her face went back to looking young again. If a 33 year old lost all that fat in the face, even if they went back to a healthy weight their face would be left permanently gaunt.

So why is it that you can get as lean you want in your teens and early 20s, and your face will put the fat back in the right places when you regain it, but it wont restore the fat once you cross this late 20s threshold? What is the internal switch that happens here?....

 

[Wexilarious]

There isn't one, It just depends on how you lost that fat

Surgery - you can't restore it
Substances that make you dry out and lose fat fast - can't restore it
Even fasting without water can damage it

It just depends on the damage done to the skin and fat layer in that area