Understanding the Changes: Why do our faces get bigger with age?

Scientific studies confirm that our faces undergo complex, multilayered changes throughout adulthood, creating the perception of an enlarged face. But exactly why do our faces get bigger with age? It's not just a myth, but a reality rooted in shifting fat, bone loss, and weakening tissue.

Quick Summary

The face appears to get larger or wider with age primarily due to the redistribution of fat pads, a loss of underlying bone structure, and decreasing skin elasticity. As volume is lost in the upper face, it can shift to the lower face, causing sagging and accentuating features like jowls.

Key Points

• Fat Redistribution: Facial fat pads atrophy and descend from the upper face, creating hollowness and contributing to sagging in the lower face and jowls.

• Bone Resorption: The facial skeleton, including the jaw and eye sockets, loses density and changes shape, diminishing the structural support for soft tissues.

• Loss of Elasticity: Reduced production of collagen and elastin causes skin to become thinner and less firm, leading to more prominent sagging and wrinkles.

• Composite Effect: The perception of a bigger or wider face is a combination of these changes, resulting in a shift from a youthful heart-shaped face to a more trapezoidal appearance.

• Holistic Mitigation: Proactive strategies like sun protection, hydration, and targeted cosmetic treatments can help manage the visible effects of aging on facial structure.

• Lifestyle Impact: Factors like sun exposure, smoking, diet, and sleep significantly influence the rate and intensity of facial aging.

The Surprising Science of Facial Aging

Many people notice their faces appear to change shape as they get older, often developing a squarer, heavier look in the lower half. While it may seem like your face is simply expanding, the truth is a complex and fascinating interplay of changes happening beneath the surface. It's less about growth and more about the gradual reshaping of our underlying facial framework and the soft tissues that cover it.

The Shifting Landscape of Facial Fat

One of the most significant factors contributing to the change in facial shape is the redistribution and atrophy of subcutaneous fat. As children, our faces have a smooth, heart-shaped appearance with evenly distributed fat. With age, this volume changes dramatically, affecting how light and shadow fall on the face and altering its contours.

• Atrophy of upper and mid-face fat pads: The fat pads in the temples, under the eyes, and in the cheeks, which give the face its youthful plumpness, naturally shrink over time. This loss of volume leads to a hollowed-out look in these areas, making the facial skeleton more apparent.
• Hypertrophy of lower face fat pads: Simultaneously, fat can accumulate or descend into the lower parts of the face, such as around the jawline, mouth, and chin. This process contributes to the formation of prominent nasolabial folds, marionette lines, and jowls, which make the lower face appear wider and heavier.
• Visible separation: What was once a continuous, smooth layer of fat begins to compartmentalize, making the individual fat pads more visible and creating the "hills and valleys" often associated with an older face.

Skeletal Remodeling: The Bone Factor

For a long time, the changes in facial shape were attributed solely to skin laxity and gravity. However, advanced research has revealed that the facial skeleton itself undergoes significant remodeling throughout adulthood, and the effects are more impactful than previously thought.

• Bone resorption: Just as bone density can decrease in other parts of the body, the facial bones also experience a degree of bone loss over time. This includes the maxilla (upper jaw), the mandible (lower jaw), and the orbital bones (around the eyes). This loss of structural support is a key driver of facial aging.
• Changing proportions: As the underlying bones diminish, they can no longer properly support the overlying soft tissues. This results in an uneven ratio of soft tissue to bone, causing the tissues to sag and folds to deepen. The eye sockets can also increase in size, causing the eyes to appear more deep-set.
• Jawline changes: The mandible can experience bone resorption, especially near the ear. This can flatten the jawline and contribute to a less defined, more jowled appearance.

The Decline of Skin Elasticity and Collagen

Beyond fat and bone, the skin itself undergoes age-related changes that affect facial shape. The loss of collagen and elastin is a well-known aspect of aging, and its impact is compounded by the other structural changes.

• Reduced collagen and elastin: Collagen and elastin are the proteins responsible for skin's firmness, structure, and ability to snap back into place. Production of these proteins naturally slows with age, leading to thinner, less elastic skin.
• Compounding effects: When the skin loses its firm, elastic quality, it can't hold its shape against the forces of gravity and shifting fat. This exaggerates the appearance of sagging and contributes to the visual widening of the face, particularly along the jawline and neck.

Comparison: A Young vs. Aging Face

To better understand how these changes manifest, it's helpful to compare the characteristic features of a youthful face with those of an aging one.

Feature	Youthful Face	Aging Face
Shape	Heart-shaped or triangular, with a wider forehead and defined cheekbones.	Square-shaped or rectangular, with a wider lower face and less definition.
Fat Distribution	Even and full across the mid-face, providing a smooth transition.	Fat loss in the upper face and accumulation in the lower face, creating visible "pockets."
Bone Structure	Strong structural support for soft tissues.	Bone resorption, leading to diminished support and deeper shadows.
Skin Tightness	High levels of collagen and elastin, resulting in firm, elastic skin.	Reduced collagen and elastin, leading to sagging and fine lines.
Jawline	Defined and sharp.	Less defined, with the appearance of jowls.
Cheeks	Full, round, and high.	Flatter or hollowed, with descending malar fat pads.

Can You Slow or Mitigate Facial Aging?

While completely halting the aging process is not possible, a proactive and holistic approach to senior care and health can help mitigate many of these changes. Combining a healthy lifestyle with modern treatments offers the best results.

Lifestyle Strategies

1. Protect your skin from the sun: UV exposure is a primary cause of premature skin aging. Daily use of broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen is essential for protecting collagen and elastin from damage.
2. Maintain a healthy diet: A diet rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals supports skin health. Foods containing vitamin C, for example, can boost collagen production.
3. Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps keep the skin plump and elastic, reducing the appearance of dryness and fine lines.
4. Avoid smoking: Smoking severely impairs blood flow to the skin and damages collagen and elastin, accelerating facial aging.
5. Manage stress and sleep well: Chronic stress increases cortisol, which can impact skin health, while quality sleep gives the body time to repair and regenerate cells.

Medical and Cosmetic Interventions

• Dermal fillers: Injections of hyaluronic acid fillers can help restore lost volume in the cheeks, temples, and under-eye area, rebalancing facial proportions.
• Facial exercises: While not a solution for bone loss or significant fat shifts, some exercises may help strengthen facial muscles, which act as scaffolding for the skin.
• Topical retinoids: Prescription-strength retinoids can help boost collagen production and improve skin texture.
• Professional treatments: Procedures such as microneedling, laser therapy, and chemical peels can stimulate collagen production and improve skin laxity. More invasive options, like facelifts, address deeper structural issues and sagging.

By addressing the root causes—from bone density to fat distribution and skin elasticity—it's possible to understand and manage the changes that contribute to the perception of a wider face with age. For an in-depth look at treatments and expert advice, consider consulting resources like the American Academy of Facial Esthetics (AAFE) to learn more about the science behind facial aging. https://facialesthetics.org/a-new-look-at-facial-aging/

Conclusion: Understanding the Full Picture

The perception of a face getting bigger with age is a composite result of changes across multiple layers: the underlying bone structure, the distribution of fat, and the loss of skin elasticity. Instead of a simple enlargement, it is a complex process of volume loss in some areas and descent or accumulation in others. Acknowledging these layered changes allows for a more informed and realistic approach to addressing the visible signs of aging. By focusing on healthy lifestyle habits and exploring suitable cosmetic or medical treatments, individuals can proactively manage these natural shifts and maintain a more youthful and balanced appearance for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my skull actually grow bigger as I get older?

No, your skull does not continue to grow larger. However, the facial bones undergo a process of resorption, where they lose density and change shape, which can alter facial proportions and contribute to the perception of a wider face.

Can weight gain be the sole reason why our faces get bigger with age?

While weight gain can certainly add to facial fat and contribute to a fuller look, it is not the only reason. Age-related changes like bone loss and fat redistribution happen independently of weight and play a significant role in altering facial contours.

What's the difference between fat loss and fat redistribution in facial aging?

Fat loss refers to the atrophy of fat pads, particularly in the upper and mid-face. Fat redistribution is the shifting of fat to different areas, often pooling in the lower face, which creates a less even, fuller appearance in the jowls and chin area.

Do facial exercises help prevent my face from looking bigger?

Facial exercises can help tone and strengthen the underlying facial muscles, which may offer some support. However, they cannot reverse bone loss, restore lost collagen, or significantly alter the redistribution of fat, so they are not a complete solution for these complex changes.

Is sun exposure related to why our faces get bigger with age?

Yes, excessive sun exposure (photoaging) accelerates the breakdown of collagen and elastin in the skin. This loss of skin elasticity makes the face more susceptible to sagging, which exaggerates the effects of fat redistribution and bone changes.

At what age does the face start to look bigger or wider?

The process of facial aging is gradual and varies by individual, but many people begin to notice these changes in their 40s and 50s. The timeline depends on genetics, lifestyle, and overall health.

Can hormonal changes affect facial size and shape as we age?

Yes, hormonal changes, especially in women during menopause, can impact the skin's thickness and collagen levels. Hormonal fluctuations can also affect fluid retention, which may cause temporary facial puffiness.