Want to lose fat in your face? Unhappy with that fat chin? Feel like those fat cheeks are making you look "chipmunky?"

First, let's acknowledge that spot reduction of fat, through exercise or dieting anyway, is not possible. It would be nice if we could target our problem areas -- thighs, a spare tire, flabby arms, or in this case a chubby face -- and concentrate our efforts on melting the fat from those specific places. Nice, but not realistic.

That doesn't mean the situation is hopeless. Here are all the ways that I am aware of for helping to get rid of a fat face, or at least diminish its plump appearance.

1. Exercise and diet to lose overall body fat.

When we lose weight we tend to lose fat from over our whole bodies. If you are overweight, then sensible dieting along with a regular cardiovascular workout will burn fat from all areas, including your face. For some people the difference will be dramatic, for others less so, but all should enjoy some improvement in facial appearance. Remember: Spot fat loss through exercise isn't possible, but fat loss is.

2. Drink more water.

Drinking eight big glasses of water a day has been proven to aid in weight loss. Sometimes when we think we're hungry, our body is actually just thirsty. Drinking lots of water can take the edge off our "hunger" and keep us from overeating, thus helping us to lose fat.

There's another reason to drink water, though. Sometimes a fat looking (or puffy) face is caused by bloating, the body's retention of fluid as a response to being water deprived. If you're a woman--especially if you've just come through a pregnancy or are experiencing menopause--this could be part of the problem. So drink up! Good ol' H20, that is.

3. Firm up your face.

Some people swear by facial exercise; others consider it silly and question it effectiveness. It won't hurt to try it for a few weeks or a couple of months to see if it works for you. Remember, your aim here is to tighten and firm your skin, not to try to spot-reduce the underlying fat (since that's impossible anyhow).

Here's an old one for firming up a double chin: Using the back (top) of your hand, slap/tap the bottom of your chin rapidly yet firmly. Do this often, whenever you think of it.

For cheeks: Sit. Relax. Smile, keeping your lips closed. Now suck in your cheeks and hold them in while you count 8 seconds. Relax and repeat at least ten times. This is a good one to do while driving, as it requires no hands to perform. Another exercise for your cheeks is simply to smile as wide as you can (lips closed) as you imagine you are trying to touch your ears with the corners of your mouth.

4. Get older.

This is the easiest way of all to lose fat from the face -- it only requires patience!

If you're in your teens, twenties or even thirties, your roundish face might be caused by baby fat that has yet to melt. Give it some time, and meanwhile be sure to work on reducing your overall body fat if need be. As people age they tend to lose a lot of their facial fat. The drawback to this natural process is that by their fifties, some people end up with excessively gaunt looking faces. That's a problem to tackle another day, though.

5. Lose face fat the magician's way.

Magicians use misdirection to deceive. You can "lose" the fat in your face the same way -- by misdirecting the viewer's attention and by disguising the roundness.

Sorry, guys -- these are women-only subterfuges ... unless you are into makeup or have long hair. And so, ladies ...

If you have a double chin you want to camouflage, I'm told that adding some blush along your jaw line will do the trick. Start from just below your ears and brush it all the way to your chin, making sure to blend. If you also put a spot of white powder on the tip of the chin for a highlight, the overall effect will be dramatically slimming.

Similarly, to make your face look thinner, just brush bronzer over your cheekbones and temples, as well as under your chin. Boost the effect with white-powder highlights on chin tip, cheeks, forehead and the bridge or your nose.

Finally, ask your hairdresser for a style that will either hide or draw attention away from a round face. Hairdressers are experts in knowing which styles are best for which face shapes.

6. One word: Ultrasound.

Ultrasound is increasingly being used for cosmetic purposes. A special ultrasound machine can be employed to send energy deep beneath the skin, where it liquifies underlying fat cells without harming tissue or nerve cells. The liquified fat is then expelled naturally by the body--or at least that's what proponents and practitioners of ultrasound therapy claim.

7. One other word: Liposuction.

Liposuction is more invasive than ultrasound therapy by itself. It can also be combined with ultrasound. As you probably know, liposuction involves making one or more small incisions in the skin, inserting tiny "vacuum hoses" and suctioning out the fat. It works particularly well on double chins and jowls, and can be used to "deflate" fat cheeks, too.

8. Two words: Cosmetic surgery.

Celebs do it. Average people do it. For some, results are stupendous. For a few, they're a nightmare. Botched jobs do happen. And in any case, facelifts and similar cosmetic procedures are expensive.

This article on ways to lose fat from the face wouldn't have been complete without mentioning ultrasound, liposuction and cosmetic surgery. I deliberately did not go into detail about them.

If you are considering having any costly or invasive procedure to reduce facial fat (or for any other purpose), you need to do your own due diligence. Talk to people who've had the same procedure. Research it through the Internet. Get your doctor's opinion, advice and perhaps a referral. Learn about costs, side effects, recovery time and possible complications. Most importantly, gain a realistic understanding of what the procedure can and cannot do for your appearance. That way you'll avoid disappointment.