How Your Face Changes As You Age
- Posted on: Oct 9 2018
We age, and our appearances change. And that’s just how life works. When you were younger (perhaps much younger!) this was an exciting prospect. Every thirteen-year-old wonders what they’ll look like at 17, or 23, or 31. But eventually—and unfortunately—for many of us, aging becomes less exciting. For some of us, the prospect causes dread or even panic.
But there are upsides to aging—even beautiful upsides! So let’s talk about the facial changes that you can expect (and in some instances, celebrate!) as you age.
First off, your facial bones lose volume, which causes them to subtly shift.
Your eye sockets will get larger over time, and your upper jaw will drop, while your lower jaw may protrudes, lending your chin a sharper appearance. Your forehead may recede a bit, and the angle of your nose may even shift. All of this means that your face is likely to appear longer as you age. (The latter is great news, if you’ve always wished your face was more “oval” than
round.)
These changes may begin to happen for women after the age of 40, but for men they becomemore pronounced about 20 years later, around 60. And while doctors can compensate for bone density loss with fillers, there may be changes that you appreciate about your new facial
structure. You may even gain those fabulous cheekbones that you never had before!
You probably already know that loss of fat and tissue, coupled with decades worth of repetitive motions lead to wrinkles, hollows, sagging skin, and unwelcome characteristics such as jowls. But did you know you’re facial muscles are actually atrophying?
Muscle loss, called sarcopenia, begins in your 30’s, and if you’re not active, you could lose 3-5 percent of your muscle mass each decade. (We’re talking all over your body, so hit the trail or the gym!) Your face is made up of about 50 muscles, which will lose tone and change the shape of your face as you age. But facial exercises may help keep your muscles in good shape, and
keep you looking youthful. (Guess what? Smiling is a facial exercise! So maybe up your daily intake of comedy…)
Aging should be exciting rather than a source of despair! Often it means more time for hobbies and for exploring the ways you want to spend your time. And the practice of aesthetics has come an astoundingly long way in the past decade or two, so there’s no time like the present to age!
Here are some facial signs of aging, and some solutions:
Forehead: Deep wrinkles or “worry” lines may form.
Fix: Neurotoxins (such as Botox) or dermafillers will smooth out your deepest facial wrinkle and plump and smooth the hollows.
Eyes: Your eyebrows may begin to sag, and the thin skin around your eyes will get even thinner, which can result in bunchy and wrinkling (crepe-lids and crows feet). Because your eye sockets get larger and the fat pockets beneath your eyes shrink, you may have the appearance
of dark circles. (But on the plus side, your eyes may also appear larger.)
Fix: Dermafillers are excellent at plumping under-eye hollows, and chemical peels or a microcurrent face lift can help banish fine lines.
Lips: As you lose collagen and elasticity, even your lips appear thinner.
Fix: Certain silky-smooth dermafillers are perfect to maintain soft, flexible, kissable lips!
Skin: Your skin loses moisture, collagen and elasticity—which makes it saggy and dull.
Fix: Make sure you’re using a peptide-rich moisturizer and drinking plenty of good water. Try taking a daily collagen supplement, or give your skin an amazing boost via a PRP facial. (The platelets will replenish and nourish your skin, encouraging new collagen growth.) And if you want more dramatic results for deep wrinkles, try Botox and dermafillers.
Bonus: Most of the time, aging skin means no more (or at least, greatly reduced) acne!
Posted in: Elizabeth Adams MD, Hydration, Mindfulness, Skin Health