Does your face become more angular as you age?

Facial aging is a multi-layered process involving not just the skin but also underlying fat pads and bone structure. For this reason, the idea that a face becomes more angular as you age is a common misconception, as the reality is far more complex than a simple sharpening of features.

Quick Summary

Facial shape changes with age, but becoming consistently more angular is a myth; while some fat loss can create sharper contours, overall, shifting fat and declining skin elasticity can lead to a less defined, more square-like appearance in the lower face.

Key Points

• Fat and Bone Loss: Aging involves both the loss of bone volume and the shifting of facial fat pads, impacting overall facial structure and contour.

• The Inverted Triangle: The youthful "triangle" of the face, with its high cheekbones and narrow chin, eventually inverts into a wider, less defined shape around the lower jaw.

• Jowls and Sagging: As facial fat descends and skin loses elasticity, jowls can form, leading to a loss of a sharp, angular jawline.

• Skin's Declining Role: Decreased production of collagen and elastin causes skin to become lax and sag, no longer providing the firm, taut structure of youth.

• Not Consistently Angular: While some fat loss might create sharper cheek contours initially, the overall effect of aging is typically a softening and broadening of the lower face, not a uniform increase in angularity.

The 'Triangle of Youth' to the 'Pyramid of Age'

In youth, the face is often described as having a "Triangle of Youth"—an inverted pyramid with the base formed by the cheeks and the apex at the chin, representing volume and fullness in the mid-face. As the aging process unfolds, this triangle inverts, becoming a pyramid with a wider, heavier base around the lower jaw and a narrower apex between the eyes. This shift is a direct result of changes occurring across all facial layers: bone, fat, muscle, and skin.

The Role of Bone Remodeling

One of the most profound, yet often unnoticed, changes that contributes to how a face changes is bone remodeling. The facial bones, which provide the essential framework for all overlying soft tissues, do not remain static throughout life. Starting in our 30s and 40s, the facial skeleton begins to resorb, a process of gradual bone loss that reshapes the face in predictable ways.

Specific bone changes include:

• Orbital enlargement: The eye sockets become larger, making the eyes appear more deep-set or hollow.
• Mid-face retrusion: The mid-face bones, particularly the maxilla and cheekbones, recede. This loss of projection contributes to the flattening of the cheeks.
• Jawline and chin changes: The jawbone can recede and lose volume, especially in the prejowl area, causing the jawline to lose its sharp definition and creating jowls. The angle of the jaw may also change, becoming more square-like.

The Migration and Loss of Facial Fat

Another key factor is the change in facial fat pads. Young faces have fat pads that are plump and evenly distributed, providing a smooth, voluminous contour. With age, these fat pads both atrophy (shrink) and descend due to gravity and weakening ligaments.

Fat changes and their effects:

• Cheek volume: Fat loss in the upper and mid-face causes the cheeks to flatten and the underlying bone structure to become more apparent, sometimes giving a more "angular" or gaunt appearance in the mid-face.
• Descent of tissue: The shifting fat pads move downwards, collecting in the lower part of the face. This accumulation of fat, combined with a loss of support, creates jowls and accentuates the nasolabial folds (the lines from the nose to the mouth).
• Eye hollowing: Fat loss around the eyes can cause them to appear hollow, and the tear troughs (the area under the lower eyelids) become more pronounced.

Declining Skin and Muscle Tone

Overlying the bone and fat are the skin and muscles, which also undergo significant changes. Reduced production of collagen and elastin—the proteins responsible for skin's firmness and elasticity—leads to skin laxity, wrinkles, and sagging. Simultaneously, the facial muscles can weaken and lose tone, further contributing to the gravitational descent of facial tissues.

The impact on facial definition:

• Skin laxity: Loose skin no longer holds its position firmly, draping over the changing bone and fat structure and creating a less taut appearance.
• Muscle weakening: Just as the fat pads descend, weakening facial muscles can no longer provide the support needed to maintain a youthful, lifted facial contour.

How Youthful and Aged Facial Features Compare

Here's a comparison of youthful versus aged facial characteristics, highlighting how the overall shape shifts away from classic "angularity."

Feature	Youthful Face	Aged Face
Face Shape	Heart-shaped or oval; broader at the cheeks, tapering to the chin.	Square or trapezoidal; wider at the lower jaw due to sagging.
Cheeks	Full, high, and round.	Flatter and hollowed, with descending tissue.
Jawline	Defined and contoured.	Less defined, with the formation of jowls.
Eye Area	Tight skin, less apparent tear troughs.	Deep-set or hollow eyes, prominent tear troughs.
Fat Distribution	Plump and evenly distributed.	Shifting and clumping downwards in the lower face.
Skin	Firm, elastic, and smooth.	Thinner, with reduced elasticity and more wrinkles.

Beyond Genetics: Lifestyle Factors

While genetics play a significant role in how you age, lifestyle factors can either accelerate or slow the process. Protecting your skin from the sun is crucial, as UV damage significantly degrades collagen and elastin. Smoking and pollution are also major contributors to premature skin aging. A healthy diet rich in antioxidants and proper hydration can help maintain skin health and plumpness.

Conclusion: More of a Softening than a Sharpening

Ultimately, while the loss of some facial fat may expose underlying bony structures in certain areas, the overall effect of aging is not a consistent sharpening or increase in angularity. Instead, the combination of bone resorption, downward shifting fat pads, and reduced skin elasticity leads to a broader, softer, and less-defined facial shape, particularly in the lower half of the face. Understanding this complex, multi-layered process can help set realistic expectations and inform decisions about healthy aging and cosmetic treatments. To learn more about the science behind these changes, explore detailed research like that found on the National Institutes of Health website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my face shape change completely with age?

Yes, your face shape changes, but it's a gradual process. The change is typically from a more triangular shape with fuller cheeks to a heavier, more square or trapezoidal shape around the lower jaw due to shifting fat and bone loss.

Can diet and exercise prevent my face from sagging?

A healthy diet rich in antioxidants and regular exercise can support skin health and overall wellness, which may help slow down some signs of aging. However, they cannot completely stop the natural processes of bone resorption and fat redistribution.

Is bone loss a normal part of facial aging?

Yes, bone loss and remodeling are normal parts of facial aging, just as they are for other bones in the body. The loss of underlying bone structure affects how the skin and fat drape over the face.

What is the 'Triangle of Youth'?

The 'Triangle of Youth' is a term used to describe the shape of a youthful face, with its base along the cheeks and the apex at the chin. It represents volume and fullness in the mid-face.

Why do jowls form as we age?

Jowls form due to a combination of factors, including the downward migration of facial fat pads, a loss of jawbone volume, and decreased skin elasticity that allows skin to sag below the jawline.

How do facial fat pads contribute to aging?

As we age, facial fat pads shrink and shift downward due to gravity and weakening ligaments. This causes a loss of volume in the mid-face, leading to hollows and the accentuation of folds like the nasolabial folds.

Does sun exposure speed up the aging of my face?

Yes, sun exposure is one of the leading causes of premature aging. UV rays damage collagen and elastin, accelerating skin laxity and the formation of wrinkles.