When we think about what makes a face look young, we often focus on smooth skin and the absence of wrinkles. But there’s much more to youthfulness than that. One of the most important factors in a youthful appearance is volume. The fullness and support that comes from the underlying structures of the face. Understanding facial anatomy and the role that volume plays in facial beauty can provide valuable insight into why our faces change as we age and what can be done to maintain or restore a youthful appearance.
The Three-Dimensional Structure of the Face
The face is not a flat surface, it’s a complex three-dimensional structure composed of multiple layers. Understanding these layers is key to understanding facial aging and rejuvenation.
- The deepest layer is the skeletal structure! The bones of the skull and face. The facial bones provide the foundation for everything else. They determine the overall shape of the face, the position of the features, and the structure that everything else is built upon.
- Above the bone is a layer of deep fat pads. These are distinct from the subcutaneous fat that lies just beneath the skin. The deep fat pads are compartmentalised, they’re separated into distinct regions that provide volume and support to different areas of the face. There are fat pads in the temples, the cheeks, the lower face, and other areas.
- Above the deep fat pads is the superficial fat layer, which lies just beneath the skin. This layer provides a soft cushion and contributes to the smooth contours of the face.
- Finally, there’s the skin itself, which is the most visible layer. The skin provides the final surface and is affected by factors like hydration, sun exposure, and collagen content.
The Role of Bone Structure
The bones of the face provide the fundamental architecture. A youthful face typically has well-defined cheekbones, a strong jawline, and a well-supported orbital area (the area around the eyes). These features are determined largely by the underlying bone structure.
As we age, the facial bones undergo a process called resorption, where they gradually become smaller. This is particularly noticeable in the jaw and around the eye sockets. The cheekbones may appear less prominent, the jaw may become less defined, and the area under the eyes may appear more hollow. This bone loss is a natural part of aging and is influenced by genetics, hormones, and other factors. While we can’t change the bone structure itself, understanding how bone loss contributes to facial aging can help us appreciate the importance of supporting the structures that sit on top of the bone.
The Importance of Deep Fat Pads
The deep fat pads are crucial to facial volume and support. These compartmentalised fat pads provide the bulk of facial volume and help to support the overlying skin and soft tissues. When these fat pads are full and in their proper position, the face appears full, lifted, and youthful.
One of the most important deep fat pads is the malar fat pad, located in the cheek area. A full malar fat pad creates prominent cheekbones and provides support to the mid-face. It also helps to support the lower face and reduce the appearance of jowling. Another important fat pad is the temporal fat pad, located in the temples. A full temporal fat pad provides support to the lateral brow and the upper mid-face. When this fat pad deflates with age, the temples become hollow, the brow descends, and the lateral cheek appears to sag.
Volume Loss and Its Effects
As we age, the deep fat pads gradually deflate and shift downward due to the effects of gravity and the loss of elasticity in the supporting structures. This process is called fat pad ptosis (ptosis means descent). The result is a loss of volume in the upper and middle face, with a corresponding increase in volume in the lower face.
This volume loss has several visible effects:
- The cheeks appear flatter and less prominent.
- The temples become hollow.
- The area under the eyes becomes more sunken.
- The nasolabial folds (the lines from the nose to the mouth) become deeper because there’s less volume in the cheek to support them.
- The jawline becomes less defined as the cheek volume that was supporting it diminishes.
The loss of volume in the temples is particularly significant. The temples are one of the earliest areas to show signs of aging, but many people don’t realise how important they are to the overall appearance of the face. When the temples are full, they provide a smooth transition from the forehead to the cheek, and they support the lateral brow. When the temples are hollow, the brow appears to drop, and the overall face appears more tired and aged.
The Role of Superficial Fat and Skin
The superficial fat layer, which lies just beneath the skin, also plays a role in facial volume and appearance. This layer provides a soft cushion that smooths out the contours of the face. As we age, this layer can become thinner and less uniform, contributing to a loss of smoothness and definition. The skin itself is affected by aging as well. As discussed in our previous blog post on skin aging, the skin loses collagen and elastin, becomes thinner, and loses its ability to hold moisture. This results in a loss of plumpness and a more wrinkled appearance.
The Concept of Facial Support
One of the key concepts in understanding facial anatomy is the idea of facial support. The face is supported by the underlying structures, the bone, the deep fat pads, and the ligaments that hold everything in place. When these supporting structures are compromised, the overlying skin and soft tissues sag and lose their definition. This is why simply treating the skin, for example, with skincare products or skin-resurfacing treatments is often not enough to address the signs of facial aging. If the underlying support structures have been compromised, the skin will continue to sag and lose definition, no matter how well it’s treated topically. This is also why restoring volume to the face can have such a dramatic effect on the overall appearance. By restoring volume to the deep fat pads and supporting the underlying structures, we can lift and support the overlying skin, resulting in a more youthful and refreshed appearance.
The Importance of Facial Proportion
Beyond just volume, the position and proportion of facial features also play a crucial role in youthfulness. A youthful face typically has certain proportions: the cheekbones are the widest part of the face, the eyes are positioned in the upper half of the face, and the jawline is well-defined and relatively square.
As we age, these proportions change. The cheekbones become less prominent, the eyes appear lower (because the brows descend and the area under the eyes becomes more hollow), and the jawline becomes less defined. Understanding these proportions can help a qualified practitioner develop a treatment plan that not only addresses volume loss, but also restores youthful proportions and facial harmony.
Respecting Individual Facial Anatomy
While there are general principles of facial anatomy and youthful proportions, it’s important to remember that every face is unique. Different ethnicities have different facial structures and proportions. Different individuals have different facial shapes and features.
A skilled aesthetic medicine practitioner understands these differences and respects the unique anatomy of each individual face. The goal is not to force every face into a single mold, but rather to enhance the natural beauty of each individual face by restoring volume, supporting the underlying structures, and maintaining facial harmony and proportion.
Conclusion
The anatomy of a youthful face is complex, involving multiple layers and structures working together to create fullness, support, and definition. Volume plays a crucial role in this equation. By understanding facial anatomy and the importance of volume, we can better appreciate why our faces change as we age and what can be done to maintain or restore a youthful appearance. If you’re interested in learning more about your own facial anatomy and how to maintain or enhance your appearance, I encourage you to schedule a consultation with a qualified aesthetic medicine practitioner.
Dr Tina Fang MBBS FRACGP FACAM is a cosmetic physician with 10 years of experience in aesthetic medicine, with experience in facial anatomy and volume restoration. To book a consultation and learn more about facial rejuvenation, contact us at 07 3472 7477 or book online. We are located at Level 2, 1808 Logan Rd, Upper Mt Gravatt, QLD 4122.
