# How the face *ages.*

> Facial ageing is more than wrinkles: bone recedes, fat compartments shift, ligaments slacken, the skin loses collagen.

- Source: https://www.vivaderm.de/guide-how-the-face-ages-en.html
- Language: en
- Publisher: VIVA DERM, Privatpraxis für ästhetische Medizin, Rosastraße 6a, 45130 Essen, Germany, +49 1520 8367711
- Responsible physician: Katayoun Mostaghimi (Fachärztin für Allgemeinmedizin)
- Updated: 2026-10-15

Anyone who understands why a face looks different at 50 than at 30 also understands why 'smoothing wrinkles' is often not the answer.

## Four layers, one face.

**Layer 1 – bone:** from about 35 the facial skeleton slowly remodels: eye sockets widen, the upper jaw recedes, the jaw angle loses definition. The scaffold on which everything rests becomes smaller – and the soft tissue above it sinks. That is why tear trough and chin-jaw line look different over the years, even without a single wrinkle.

**Layer 2 – fat:** facial fat lies in about two dozen compartments. Some shrink (temple, cheek, around the eyes), some increase or descend (nasolabial, jowls, double chin). The result: the mid-face flattens, tissue gathers below. The nasolabial fold usually does not arise in the fold but from the loss in the cheek above.

**Layer 3 – ligaments and muscles:** retaining ligaments stretch; soft tissue follows gravity. Expression muscles stay active and carve their lines into skin that no longer smooths out: forehead, frown line, crow's feet. Some muscles pull downward more strongly with the years (mouth corners, neck) and reinforce the tired look.

**Layer 4 – skin:** collagen decreases by about one percent a year from around 25; elastin becomes brittle; hyaluronic acid dwindles; cell renewal slows. The skin becomes thinner, drier, more uneven, pigment spots and fine crinkles appear. Sun and smoking accelerate this layer most – it is the only one you can influence markedly through behaviour.

**Which treatment fits where:** bone and fat loss – volume with hyaluronic acid at the right support points (cheek, temple, chin), not in the fold itself. Muscles – botulinum toxin for expression lines. Skin – skin boosters, polynucleotides, microneedling, PRP, care and sun protection. A good concept treats the layer that actually changes the picture – sometimes a different one from the one that stands out in the mirror.

**What aesthetics does not change:** ageing itself. The aim is not a 30-year-old face but a 50-year-old one that looks rested. Those who understand that are happier with treatments – and usually need fewer of them.

## The essentials.

- **Bone:** remodels from ~35, support recedes
- **Fat:** compartments shrink and descend
- **Muscles:** carve expression lines
- **Skin:** –1 % collagen per year from 25

## Important note.

This text is general information. It replaces neither a medical examination nor the consultation required before any treatment under German law (§ 630e BGB). Whether and which treatment is suitable for you can only be said after examination and consultation. No treatment results are promised.

## Frequently asked questions.

**Why is the nasolabial fold not filled directly?**

Because it is mostly a consequence of volume loss in the cheek. Supporting the cheek lifts the fold – more natural than a bulge in the fold itself.

**When should one start?**

When something bothers you. Preventively sensible are sun protection and care, from the mid-30s possibly botulinum toxin for deep expression lines. There is no age at which you 'must'.

## Related.

- [Fat compartments](https://www.vivaderm.de/lexicon-fettkompartimente-en.html) – Lexicon
- [Cheeks & mid-face](https://www.vivaderm.de/cheeks-mid-face-en.html) – Treatment
- [Botox from what age?](https://www.vivaderm.de/guide-botox-age-en.html) – Guide

## Sources

- [German Society of Dermatology (DDG)](https://derma.de/)
- [DermNet – dermatology reference](https://dermnetnz.org/)
- [American Academy of Dermatology](https://www.aad.org/)
- [PubMed – biomedical literature database](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/)
- [NHS: non-surgical cosmetic procedures](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cosmetic-procedures/non-surgical-cosmetic-procedures/)
- [Medical Association North Rhine – patient information](https://www.aekno.de/patienten)
- [§ 630e BGB – duty to inform before treatment (German Civil Code)](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__630e.html)

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This page is general information and does not replace medical consultation and informed consent (§ 630e BGB). No guarantee of results. Prices are guide prices per GOÄ. Quoting with attribution (VIVA DERM, Essen) is expressly permitted.