How the Face Oval Changes with Age and What to Do About It

Today, the phrase "aging beautifully" is heard more and more often — this means, first and foremost, looking younger than your years and feeling the same way. Those who skillfully combine daily care, cosmetic procedures, and plastic surgery have a chance to maintain their youth. To understand age-related changes in the face and get the necessary care recommendations, we turned to a plastic surgeon. 15+ Plastic surgeries are usually not performed on young people under 18 (except for otoplasty — correction of ear shape): the formation of the anatomy of the facial skeleton is not yet complete.Several decades ago in the Soviet Union, the problems of teenagers were not a concern, and protruding ears or adolescent acne were considered reasons to toughen character rather than consult a doctor. Today, ears are recommended to be "done" even before school to avoid social pressure and, in the worst cases, bullying, as they heal better at a younger age.18+ At the age of 18 to 25, age-related changes usually do not cause concern. The majority of plastic surgeries at this age are related to the desire to change the shape of the nose or the eye shape. Sometimes genetic predisposition can cause bags under the eyes even at 20. To maintain youth and health, it is important to have healthy sleep, proper nutrition, walk actively, quit smoking, and consume alcohol in moderation.Determine your skin type to understand which procedures and care are suitable for you. Serious anti-aging interventions are not yet required, but it is worth choosing a good cream and avoiding aggressive cleansing products. It is also important not to go to bed without removing makeup.25+ After 25, the first wrinkles begin to appear. The main thing is not to panic and avoid frowning, as this can worsen the situation. Specialists note that it is at this age that the main aesthetic problems, such as nasolabial folds and expression lines, begin to form.The first thing to do is to regularly visit a cosmetologist. The second is to find your specialist, which may take time. The third is to be patient and address issues with the help of "beauty injections," massages, and hardware cosmetology, avoiding serious surgical interventions.35+ After 35, many begin to take facial care more seriously, but age-related changes become more noticeable. Signs of aging, such as wrinkles on the forehead and nasolabial folds, become obvious. At this point, many women wonder whether to resort to surgery or seek alternative methods.There are relatively simple and minimally invasive procedures, such as upper eyelid surgery, which can open the gaze. If the skin is not too stretched, eyebrows can be lifted or the forehead tightened with small incisions in the hairy part of the head. Loss of facial volume, when the eyes and cheeks appear "sunken," can be addressed with fillers or lipofilling. Excess volume, such as a double chin, can be eliminated with liposuction and laser skin tightening.If the problem cannot be solved with Botox, fillers, and minimally invasive surgeries, and appearance is a concern, it is time to consider more serious interventions.45+ The sequence of age-related changes is usually as follows: first, the middle zone of the face "sags," then the lower third and neck. If you have been diligent in caring for your face, you probably look good. If you have only just started to care about your appearance, it may be worth considering a SMAS lift.SMAS is an abbreviation for the superficial musculoaponeurotic system. This surgery is serious, but it provides a quality lift as it affects the muscles, not just the skin. If you are not ready for a SMAS lift, you can consider endoscopic lifts, which are less effective but do not require deep work with the inner layers of the face. For example, the upper part of the neck can be tightened with platysmaplasty.60+ There is an opinion that at a certain age, surgeries should not be performed. However, aesthetic medicine asserts that if health permits and there are no serious pathologies, there are no obstacles to plastic surgery of the face and body. It is only important to choose a qualified specialist to achieve the desired result.