Facial Aging and the “Inverted Triangle”

While there are countless treatments and products that claim to hide or temporarily reverse the signs of aging, a true “fountain of youth” has yet to be found. Aging is inevitable. Unfortunately, your face can be one of the first (and worst) to suffer.

Facial aging may become noticeable at different times for each person. Genetics, sun exposure, diet and lifestyle habits can influence the extent and timeline of facial aging. In general, however, facial aging includes three main unwanted changes:

• Drooping or sagging of soft tissues (muscles, fat, connective tissue)
• Depletion of volume
• Change in skin texture/wrinkling

To really understand facial aging, it is important to understand why these changes take place. It can be explained by what happens underneath your skin’s surface.

What is the “Inverted Triangle”?

The “triangle of youth” in the face is what we had in our teens and early adulthood years. The face we long to have again. The triangle of youth refers to high, contoured facial features that create a triangle shape from the cheekbones to the chin. As time marches on, unfortunately, this triangle becomes inverted. The once high cheekbones may fall and create a bulge or jowls at the jawline.

The development of the inverted triangle of facial aging happens because of changes in not only your skin, but also your facial fat pads and bone.

Skin: Over time, your skin loses collagen and elastin, the primary building blocks of youthful skin. When these elements are depleted, wrinkles and deep lines can develop throughout the face.

Fat pads: One of the few places fat is desirable is in the face. Fat pads can lift the face, but as we age, they become thin and fall due to gravity. This creates deep lines around the nose and mouth and drooping skin.

Bones: It is common to experience bone loss as you get older. In the face, these bones provide the framework for your facial muscles, fat pads and skin. When facial bones atrophy due to age, you may be left with unwanted changes in the dimension and shape of your face.

Treating Your Aging Face

Are you seeing signs of facial aging far sooner than you expected? Are you frustrated at the investment you’ve made on failed anti-aging products? At Be That Beautiful™ Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, we offer some of the most proven and innovative treatments in facial rejuvenation as well as a full menu of more lasting solutions in facial plastic surgery. We will work hard to bring back your “triangle of youth.”