Bones, Fat & Muscles: The True Foundation of Facial Ageing
- assistant0102
- May 22
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 4
As women age, the face undergoes significant transformations, primarily due to the loss and redistribution of facial fat. This process contributes to the development of fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin, often giving the appearance of accelerated aging.
In youth, facial fat is evenly distributed across various compartments, providing volume and contour to areas like the cheeks, forehead, and around the eyes and mouth. This distribution maintains the skin's smoothness and tightness. However, with age, this fat loses volume, clumps, and shifts downward, leading to sunken features and sagging skin.
At What Age Does Facial Fat Loss Begin?
Facial fat loss typically begins in the mid-30s, although the exact onset can vary based on genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Initially, the changes are subtle, but over time, the cumulative effect becomes more pronounced, leading to noticeable alterations in facial structure and appearance.
The Process of Facial Fat Loss:
Volume Reduction: The deep fat compartments in the face diminish, leading to a loss of support for the overlying skin.
Fat Redistribution: Fat migrates from areas like the cheeks to the lower face, contributing to jowls and a heavier jawline.
Skin Elasticity Decline: With reduced collagen production, the skin becomes less elastic, exacerbating the effects of fat loss and leading to wrinkles and sagging.
Bone Structure Changes with Age:
Beyond fat loss, the facial skeleton also undergoes changes that affect appearance. As we age, bones such as the maxilla (upper jaw), mandible (lower jaw), and orbital bones (around the eyes) experience resorption, leading to a decrease in bone density and structural support . This bone loss contributes to a receding chin, sunken cheeks, and a more pronounced nasolabial fold.
The process of bone resorption, known as retrusion, results in the facial bones shrinking and shifting, further exacerbating the signs of aging.
The simultaneous loss of facial fat and bone density leads to a decrease in structural support and volume, causing the skin to sag and wrinkles to form. These changes are compounded by the natural decline in collagen and elastin production, essential proteins that maintain skin elasticity and firmness.
Additionally, repetitive facial expressions and muscle movements contribute to the formation of dynamic wrinkles, such as crow's feet and frown lines
The Role of Muscles in Ageing & Facial Support:
As we lose the puppy fat from youth, we must also work to keep the skin and muscles beneath lifted, toned, and sculpted to make up for the lost volume that once created a soft, full face.
Facial muscles act as scaffolding that holds up the skin. As we age, these muscles elongate and weaken, causing the skin to droop and contributing to deeper lines and folds. Without strong muscles, even the best skin treatments may not provide long-lasting lift or structure.
This is why addressing muscle tone is essential in any serious anti-aging plan. Strengthening facial muscles can lead to:
Improved facial contour and symmetry.
A lifted, firmer appearance.
Reduced puffiness and sagging.
A mature woman's face will usually be more sculpted and have sharper features than a younger woman's face. This is natural and it's why we need to keep the skin as thick, plump, and firm as possible, as well as care for the muscles underneath, which serve as the base for everything we see on the surface.
Understanding how fat and bone change as we age is only half the battle, addressing these changes with the right treatments is just as important.
Thankfully, advanced non-invasive technologies are now available that support the skin, muscles, and even bone health, helping to slow and reverse visible signs of aging.
Medical-grade Red and Near-Infrared LED Light therapy is one such innovation. When applied appropriately and regularly using the correct device, it has been shown to improve the health and integrity of the body's bones, muscles, and skin. These wavelengths penetrate deeply into the tissues, stimulating cellular repair and increasing circulation, which supports collagen production and bone metabolism.
Microcurrent therapy is another powerful treatment that dramatically strengthens and restores the skin and muscles of the face.
However, it’s essential to differentiate between types: while many at-home devices only reach the skin’s surface, clinic-grade microcurrent therapy —like that used in professional treatments—can penetrate deeply enough to affect both the skin and underlying facial muscles. These muscles serve as scaffolding for the face, so maintaining their strength and tone is critical for a lifted, youthful appearance.
To further repair and rebuild aging skin, Radio Frequency (RF) technology has become a cornerstone of modern aesthetic treatments. Devices like Exilis Ultra 360 Monopolar RF stimulate dramatic collagen, elastin, and blood vessel growth. When used at the correct settings and intervals, this technology can effectively plump and firm the skin, restoring lost volume and reducing fine lines and laxity.
Together, these therapies form a multi-layered approach to anti-aging, addressing not just surface concerns, but the deeper structural changes that occur with time. By combining them into regular care routines or structured clinical programs, clients can maintain facial integrity and slow the visible effects of aging at every level.
Injectable therapies are not the solution. Check out our blog to understand what ccan go wrong and why quick-fixes are a waste of time and money:
Interested in knowing what it takes to look timelessly youthful? Check out our blog:
I hope you find the info shared interesting and that it enables you to find the right treatments and devices to help you gain and maintain a timeless and youthful look. Jessicat.
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