The common perception that the face gets “fatter” with age is a misinterpretation of a complex biological process. Facial aging is not caused by an overall increase in fat mass, but rather by a significant redistribution and structural change within the facial tissues. This multi-layered cascade involves the deep skeletal scaffolding, the shifting of fat compartments, the weakening of facial muscles, and the loss of skin integrity. These interconnected anatomical shifts result in visible signs like jowls and a less defined jawline. Ultimately, these changes transform the youthful, inverted triangle shape of the face into a heavier, more bottom-heavy appearance.
Changes in Facial Fat Distribution
Facial fat is organized into specific, compartmentalized pads located both superficially and deep beneath the skin. The behavior of these pads with age is a primary driver of visual changes. In the upper and mid-face, deep fat pads (cheeks and temples) tend to atrophy or shrink over time.
This deflation reduces the underlying support for the overlying superficial fat and skin, leading to a loss of youthful volume and hollowing. Simultaneously, superficial fat pads in the mid-face shift downward due to gravity and weakening connective tissues.
This migration contributes to the deepening of the nasolabial folds, which run from the nose to the mouth corners. The lower face often experiences the opposite effect, where fat accumulates near the jawline and below the chin. This combination of volume loss in the upper face and accumulation in the lower face creates the illusion of a heavier appearance, particularly in the jowl area.
The Role of Underlying Bone and Muscle Structure
The soft tissue changes are compounded by alterations in the facial skeleton, which serves as the foundational support structure. The bones of the face undergo resorption, where density and volume are gradually lost in predictable areas. This includes the maxilla (upper jawbone), the orbital rims surrounding the eyes, and the prejowl area of the mandible (lower jaw).
As the orbital rims resorb, the eye socket aperture widens, which can make the eyes appear more sunken and contribute to under-eye bags. Resorption in the maxilla and cheekbones reduces mid-face projection, causing overlying soft tissues to lose their anchor and descend. The loss of bone in the prejowl area further weakens the jawline’s definition, exacerbating the appearance of jowls.
Changes also occur in the facial musculature and the supporting ligaments that attach soft tissue to the bone. The ligaments that held the fat pads in place begin to loosen and attenuate. Furthermore, the platysma muscle in the neck can become more prominent, creating visible bands that contribute to a less firm neck and jawline appearance.
How Skin Elasticity Creates the Appearance of Heaviness
The degradation of the dermal layer translates underlying structural changes into the perception of a heavier face. Skin firmness and elasticity are maintained by collagen and elastin, fibrous proteins that form a supportive network. With age, the production of both slows down, and existing fibers become fragmented.
Collagen provides tensile strength, while elastin allows the skin to stretch and return to its original shape. The decline in these proteins causes the skin to become thinner, less resilient, and more susceptible to gravity. This loss of elasticity results in skin laxity, where the skin stretches and sags.
This sagging skin, combined with the downward-shifted fat pads, pools in the lower face and neck, creating jowls and a “turkey neck.” The skin’s inability to snap back tightly around the facial framework makes the face look bulky and heavier, even if total volume has decreased.
External Factors That Accelerate Facial Aging
While structural changes are intrinsic to aging, external factors can significantly accelerate their visible effects. Chronic sun exposure, known as photoaging, is responsible for a vast majority of external skin aging. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation triggers enzymes that actively break down collagen and elastin fibers, speeding up the loss of skin elasticity.
Smoking also hastens facial aging by reducing the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the skin. It leads to a decrease in collagen and elastin, contributing to premature wrinkles and a loose appearance. Other lifestyle factors, such as rapid weight fluctuations, also strain the skin’s elasticity, making it harder for the dermal layer to recover its shape.
A low body mass index has also been shown to be associated with a higher perceived age. This further suggests that volume loss, rather than accumulation, contributes to an aged appearance.