As a person ages, noticeable changes impact their looks. Facial aging primarily occurs due to changes in the deeper soft tissues of the face, as well as to changes in the skin. Various factors influence facial aging, such as overexposure to the sun or the pull of gravity on the face.
Let’s take a closer look at the main causes of facial aging.
- Loss of collagen. Collagen is a structural protein, providing volume and firmness to the skin. Unfortunately, collagen in the skin usually diminishes as we age, causing the middle layer of skin (called the dermis) to become thinner. This significantly reduces the skin’s ability to retain moisture and elasticity. As collagen is lost, wrinkles will also begin to form.
- Uneven distribution of facial fat. When it comes to maintaining a youthful appearance, it is necessary to have a certain amount of facial fat. When facial fat accumulates in the wrong area, the face can look uneven and aged! Areas such as the forehead and the cheeks are prone to losing fat with age, while the mouth and jaw are prone to gaining fat. Any significant changes to facial fat can lead to an unflattering appearance.
- Bone loss. With age, facial bone becomes lost. This is caused by various changes, such as bone expansion and volume loss. When structural support of the bone decreases, there will be significant changes in skin and soft tissue. Bone loss can lead to numerous signs of facial aging, including the development of wrinkles, loose skin, and thinner lips.
- Changes in facial proportions. With age, changes occur in facial proportions. For example, the lower face becomes wider as jowls form. The goal of any treatment for this issue will be to restore symmetry to both sides of the face, and to smooth out facial contour.
Some popular nonsurgical methods for skin aging include chemical peels, and injectable fillers, to treat wrinkles, facial folds, and volume loss in skin. For other patients, procedures like liposuction may be an effective option.
Grosse Pointe Dermatologist
To find out more about what treatments we offer for facial aging, don’t hesitate to contact us today. Our offices are located in Grosse Pointe, and you can book an appointment at (313)886-2000. We look forward to serving you!
This entry was posted on Friday, April 4th, 2014 at 8:34 pm and is filed under Botox & Fillers, Cosmetic Dermatology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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