chipmunk cheeks

[athena197]

I am not overweight (108lbs at 5'8"), but I've developed chipmunk cheeks, or rather jaws (like Marlon Brando in Godfather). What could I be eating that is causing this. I did have an alcohol problem, where I did experience this 'facial problem' too but have been clean over a year now, and still have these jaw fatty tissue. I'm wondering what I'm eating wrong, as I'm drinking at least 3 liters of water a day, so that cannot be the problem.

Hope you can help guide me, so I can take action immediately.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It can be a sign of renal disease. For which you need to undergo urine analysis, renal function tests and radio imaging of the kidneys to rule out the cause but usually both sides are involved. Other causes are diet, fluid retention, alcohol and tobacco use, allergies, skin disorders and thyroid disease.

Treatment is diagnosis specific and for this you need to get all these causes ruled out.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[maatson]

One should think of parotitis(Parotid gland swelling) also in relationship to oral hygene especially in smokers. Do you play wind instruments? (Pneumoparotitis).

[athena197]

well, I didn't use to have them. It's the jawline - am I eating something wrong that's causing this? So I can change my diet.

[allmymarbles]

Maybe you were born to have chipmunk cheeks. This is not necessarily an ailment. I notice that you are seriously underweight, presuming you have converted kilos to pounds correctly (49kg.?). Could malnutrition distort your form? I guess it is possible.

[meniere135]

It's possible your hormones are changing (the perimenopausal years) and your skin is losing its elasticity.  I'm getting them too.  I started a few years ago (I'm now 47).  I don't know for sure if that is what you are describing, but it's just one possibility.