As nice as it might be to stay young forever, aging is an inevitability. While there are many benefits to becoming wiser and more mature, you may be less excited about the physical changes that occur on your face. In this blog, Dr. Lloyd Landsman, an elite board-certified plastic surgeon in Long Island, discusses some of the changes you can expect to see on your face with age.
1. Skin Laxity
As you get older, your body gradually produces less collagen and elastin, two proteins that play a major role in the tautness of your skin. Without these proteins, your skin becomes looser and may even start to sag. Loose skin is most noticeable at the bottom of the face, where jowls can weaken your jawline and even exaggerate the appearance of a double chin.
2. Lines and Wrinkles
In your younger years, lines appear on your face when you make certain expressions and then promptly vanish while your face is at rest. Unfortunately, on looser skin, these lines can linger for longer and longer until they are effectively permanent fixtures on your face.
3. Volume Loss
Are you familiar with the term “baby fat”? When you are young, your face has deposits of fat that give your face a pleasant shape. This “volume” is one of the biggest distinctions between a young face and an old face. With age, facial fat usually droops, leaving a gaunter appearance. This is especially visible in the undereye area (tear troughs) and cheeks.
4. Larger Ears
Although most parts of your body are done growing by the time you finish puberty, your ears are on a different trajectory. The cartilage in your ears gets bigger throughout your whole life, such that they may no longer seem proportional to your head by the time you are a senior.
5. Nasal Projection
For women, the projection of the nasal tip is usually slightly upward, while for men it tends to be at a right angle. That said, both sexes are likely to notice a downward shift in nasal projection as they get older. This drooping effect is common because the cartilage that holds the structure of your nose gradually weakens.
What Can You Do About These Cosmetic Concerns?
If you are dissatisfied with any of these signs of aging, the good news is that there are several procedures to enhance and rejuvenate your face:
- Facelift tightens lax skin and reduces jowls.
- Botox and dermal fillers minimize unwanted lines.
- Facial fat grafting restores volume to the cheeks and tear troughs.
- Rhinoplasty adjusts the projection of the nasal tip.
- Otoplasty can reduce the prominence of the ears.
To discuss your options with a leading plastic surgeon, please schedule a consultation at Landsman Plastic Surgery by calling (631) 864-4111.
