Understanding How Does the Skull Age?

Oct 13, 2025 3 min read •

Aging Anatomy Aesthetic Medicine

According to a 2011 study by the University of Rochester Medical Center, researchers found that facial bones undergo continuous change with age, contributing significantly to the visible signs of aging. This complex and continuous process reveals how does the skull age and affects our overall appearance far more than once believed.

Quick Summary

The skull ages through a constant process of bone remodeling, involving resorption and, in some areas, deposition, affecting the underlying framework of the face. These specific skeletal changes alter facial contours, influence the appearance of soft tissues, and contribute directly to many hallmark signs of aging.

Key Points

Skull Reshaping: The human skull continuously remodels throughout life, with bone resorption often outpacing formation in later years.
Orbital Expansion: Eye sockets enlarge and widen with age, leading to a hollowed-out look around the eyes.
Midface Resorption: The maxilla, or midface bone, loses volume and recedes, causing a loss of cheek support and deepening nasolabial folds.
Jawline Changes: The lower jawbone (mandible) decreases in height and length, leading to a softer jawline and the appearance of jowls.
Facial Support: Changes in the underlying bone structure reduce the support for overlying skin and fat, contributing directly to sagging and wrinkles.
Gender Disparity: Women may experience facial bone loss earlier and more rapidly than men, particularly after menopause.
Nasal Changes: The nasal aperture widens with age, and the nasal tip can droop due to loss of underlying bone and cartilage support.

The Dynamic Process of Craniofacial Remodeling

Unlike the long bones of the body, which largely stop growing in early adulthood, the facial bones of the skull undergo a perpetual process of remodeling throughout life. This involves a delicate balance between bone resorption (breakdown by osteoclasts) and bone formation (creation by osteoblasts). While resorption and formation remain balanced in healthy young adults, this equilibrium shifts with age. In older individuals, resorption often outpaces formation, leading to a net loss of bone volume and density in specific facial areas. This phenomenon, along with systemic and biomechanical factors, dictates the subtle but significant morphological changes that define an aging face.

Mechanotransduction is one theory suggesting that reduced mechanical stimulation from facial muscles with age may decrease bone formation. The everyday actions of chewing, talking, and animating our faces likely help maintain skeletal structure.

Gender Differences in Skeletal Aging

Skeletal aging can differ between men and women. Many facial bone changes, particularly bone loss in the midface and jaw, begin earlier and progress more rapidly in women, especially postmenopause. Hormonal changes, particularly the decline in estrogen, play a significant role in accelerating bone resorption. These changes tend to manifest later in life in men.

Specific Age-Related Changes in the Skull

Different parts of the skull age uniquely, directly influencing the appearance of overlying skin and soft tissue. These changes occur across facial regions.

Upper Face: Eye Sockets and Forehead

The eye sockets (orbits) become wider and longer with age, especially in the inner upper and outer lower areas of the rim, leading to a larger opening. This expansion contributes to a hollowed appearance around the eyes. The frontal bone may see bone deposition and loss, with studies indicating a slight forward movement of the forehead.

Midface: Cheeks and Nose

The midface, including the upper jaw (maxilla), undergoes significant bone resorption, decreasing its projection. Loss of this support contributes to deep nasolabial folds and tear trough depressions. The nasal opening (pyriform aperture) enlarges as surrounding bone is resorbed. This, with cartilage loss, can cause the nasal tip to droop.

Lower Face: Jawline and Chin

The mandible (lower jaw) reduces in height and length, and the jaw angle becomes more obtuse. This leads to a loss of jawline definition and contributes to jowls. The chin can appear to recede as bone density diminishes. Tooth loss accelerates alveolar ridge resorption, causing the jawbone to shrink.

Aging Skull vs. Soft Tissue Changes

While facial aging was once attributed primarily to skin and soft tissue changes, research now emphasizes that underlying skeletal changes are a critical factor. As the face loses its bone scaffolding, soft tissues have less support, leading to sagging, drooping, and deepening wrinkles and folds.

Comparison of Youthful vs. Aged Facial Structure

Conclusion: The Foundation of Aging

The aging process of the skull is a continuous process of remodeling that directly impacts facial structure. Selective bone resorption in key areas like eye sockets, midface, and jaw erodes the face's foundation. These skeletal changes explain the loss of youthful contours and why soft tissues sag. Understanding this is crucial for facial aesthetics and informs more holistic rejuvenation approaches. Further studies are needed for a more detailed understanding.

Supporting Research

The journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery published a study exploring the significant role of skeletal changes in facial aging: Changes in the Facial Skeleton With Aging.

Frequently Asked Questions

Significant skull remodeling that contributes to visible aging begins for many individuals as early as their 30s, though the rate and specific changes vary widely. In women, hormonal shifts after menopause can accelerate this process.

Yes, factors like diet, hormonal balance, and lifestyle choices can influence bone density and resorption. A diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, and regular physical activity, are essential for maintaining bone health throughout the body, including the skull.

Age-related bone resorption causes the orbital rim to recede, making the eye sockets appear larger and wider. This can contribute to a sunken or hollowed look around the eyes and exaggerate the appearance of under-eye bags.

Bone loss in the mandible and maxilla reduces facial height and volume, softening the jawline and contributing to the formation of jowls. This diminishes the defined facial contours characteristic of youth.

Facial sagging is caused by a combination of both factors. While skin loses elasticity, the age-related reduction in bone volume removes the underlying scaffolding, leaving the soft tissues with less support and causing them to droop.

Yes, tooth loss significantly accelerates the resorption of the alveolar ridge, which is the part of the jawbone that holds the teeth. This leads to a marked reduction in jaw volume and alters the facial structure.

Modern aesthetic procedures, like the use of dermal fillers or implants, can address age-related skeletal changes by restoring lost volume and rebuilding structural support. This approach, which focuses on the underlying bone, can achieve more harmonious and natural-looking rejuvenation.

References

Medical Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding personal health decisions.