Why Your Face Changes Shape as You Age (And Why Skincare Works Best With Treatments)
Sometimes, it takes looking back at an old photo to realize just how much your face has changed. You recognize the person in the picture, but something looks different.
Maybe your cheeks aren't as full as they used to be. Your jawline looks a little softer, your skin has started to sag, or those stubborn bags under your eyes have become more noticeable.
The frustrating part? You feel like you're doing everything right. You've invested in good skincare, tried facial exercises, and stayed consistent with your routine. You might see some improvement, but something still feels different.
When your face changes shape with age, there's a lot more going on beneath your skin than you might realize.
Why Your Face Changes Shape With Age
There's a lot more holding everything in place than just your skin. The muscles, fat pads, and bones underneath all play a part in giving your face its shape.
As you get older, the fat pads that give your cheeks their natural fullness can shrink and shift. One study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery followed 19 people over more than a decade and found that the amount of fat in the middle of their faces decreased by an average of 12%. The deeper fat pads lost even more, around 18%. That's part of why your cheeks may look flatter or the area under your eyes more hollow.
Even the bones in your face change. The upper jaw, areas around your eye sockets, and parts of your lower jaw gradually change shape and lose some of their volume with age. That means less support for the tissues above them, which can contribute to deeper smile lines, under-eye hollows, and jowls.
Then there's collagen and elastin. Collagen helps give your skin its strength, thickness, and structure. Elastin is what helps it bounce back.
Think about a new rubber band. You can stretch it, and it snaps right back into place. After years of stretching, it starts to lose that ability. Something similar happens to your skin as you get older.
Medical-grade skincare absolutely has its place. The right products can improve skin texture, support collagen production, and help maintain a healthy skin barrier. But even the best skincare products have limitations. They can't replace lost facial fat, rebuild bone structure, or fully address changes in the muscles beneath your skin.
Good skincare still matters. But sometimes, you need to address what's happening underneath, too.
Wrinkles and Fine Lines
We don't all age the same way. Genetics, sun exposure, lifestyle habits, facial expressions, and how you've cared for your skin over the years all play a part.
You've probably noticed certain lines that appear when you smile, laugh, frown, or raise your eyebrows. These are called dynamic wrinkles.
But what about the lines that stick around even when your face is completely relaxed?
Those are static wrinkles. Years of repeated expressions, sun exposure, and changes in your skin can cause those lines to become more noticeable, even when you're not making an expression.
Skin Laxity
You may have heard the term skin laxity, but what does that actually mean?
Simply put, it's when your skin starts losing firmness and elasticity. As you get older, your skin doesn't bounce back quite like it used to. You may start noticing more sagging around your cheeks, jawline, and neck.
Facial Volume Loss
This is one that tends to sneak up on you.
Your cheeks may not look quite as full as they once did, or you might start noticing hollow areas under your eyes or around your temples. The fat pads that help give your face its natural shape can shrink and shift over time.
Significant weight loss can make these changes more noticeable, too. As facial fat decreases, areas that once looked full may appear thinner or more hollow.
You might think you need Botox when the concern is actually skin laxity. Or you may be looking for something to tighten your skin when what's really changed is the volume in your cheeks.
Treating Wrinkles and Fine Lines
You've probably heard of Botox, Dysport, or Daxxify, but do you know how they actually work?
These treatments are called neurotoxins. They temporarily block the nerve signals that tell targeted facial muscles to contract. When those muscles relax, the skin above them has a chance to smooth out, softening the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
Does that mean every wrinkle will completely disappear? Not necessarily.
Deeper lines that have developed over the years may still be visible, but many people notice an improvement in how pronounced they look. Results vary depending on things like muscle strength, skin condition, and the depth of existing lines.
And what about that frozen look everyone worries about?
With the right dosing and placement, neurotoxins can soften unwanted lines while still allowing you to look natural. That's why having an experienced provider who understands your facial anatomy and listens to what you're looking for is so important.
Treating Skin Laxity and Volume Loss
Neurotoxins can do a wonderful job of softening expression lines, but they don't replace lost facial volume or restore overall skin firmness.
So, what can you actually do about it?
triLift 2.0: Working Beneath the Surface
triLift 2.0 uses Dynamic Muscle Stimulation (DMSt), which sends controlled electrical pulses to targeted facial muscles, causing them to contract and relax without you having to consciously move them.
It's a little like giving your facial muscles a guided workout.
The treatment also uses TriPollar radiofrequency to deliver controlled heat into the skin, helping improve firmness.
Sculptra: Encouraging Your Own Collagen Production
Sculptra is an injectable treatment that encourages your body to produce more of its own collagen.
Unlike traditional fillers that add volume right away, Sculptra works gradually. Over the following weeks and months, your body begins building new collagen, helping improve the appearance of certain wrinkles and restore some of the fullness that's been lost over time.
It's a good example of why patience matters with some treatments. The results take time because your body is doing the work.
Dermal Fillers: Restoring Lost Volume
Hyaluronic acid fillers can help bring back some of the fullness you've lost over the years.
If your cheeks have become hollow, tightening your skin alone may not give you the result you're hoping for. Sometimes, restoring that missing volume is what helps bring back more definition.
Depending on your facial structure and concerns, fillers may also be an option for areas such as the under-eyes or jawline.
For some people, one treatment is enough. For others, a combination may make more sense. And while certain improvements can be seen sooner, treatments that rely on your body's collagen production take time.
It's also important to have realistic expectations. Nonsurgical treatments can make a difference, but they won't give you the same level of lifting or correction as a surgical facelift, particularly if you have significant skin laxity.
Start With a Consultation at The Spa by Sheena
Our providers take the time to listen to your concerns, evaluate your skin and facial structure, and talk through what you're hoping to achieve. They'll explain your options, set realistic expectations, and help you understand which treatments may be right for you.
Here at The Spa, we're big believers in natural aesthetics. We're going for the gradual, "What have you been doing? You look great!" kind of results, rather than the "Oh my gosh, what did you have done?" reaction.
Aging is part of life, and we can't stop it. But there's no shame in wanting to soften some of the changes that come along with it.
The best treatment plan isn't the one that does the most. It's the one that makes the most sense for you.
Aging gracefully doesn't mean you can't give Mother Nature a little help along the way.
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Book your consultation or call (806) 701-5840.
The Spa by Sheena
8713 Milwaukee Ave Suite 200
Lubbock, TX 79424
By Chelsey Zahn,
Marketing & Analytics
The Spa by Sheena is a Med Spa serving Lubbock and West Texas. Clinical treatments are performed under the supervision of our medical director by our licensed team.
