Consultations are available for concerns related to facial volume, definition and structural changes
Individual results vary. A consultation with a qualified practitioner is required to assess suitability before any treatment is recommended. All treatments carry risks, which will be discussed in full during your consultation.
Understanding Volume, Definition and Structural Changes
Facial volume and structure change gradually and naturally over time. These changes are not the result of a single process but rather the cumulative effect of several interconnected biological shifts happening simultaneously across different layers of the face. Understanding what is actually changing, and why, can help make sense of what you are noticing in the mirror.
The Science Behind the Changes
The Facial Skeleton
Most people are surprised to learn that bone is not static. The facial skeleton continuously remodels throughout life, and with age this process leads to a net loss of bone volume in key areas. The eye sockets gradually widen and deepen. The angle of the jaw changes. The mid-face bones that support the cheeks shift over time. Because bone forms the deepest foundation of the face, even subtle changes at this level have a ripple effect on everything sitting above it, the fat, muscle, and skin all lose some of their underlying support, which contributes to visible changes in facial shape and proportion.
Fat Compartments
The face is not filled with a single layer of fat. It contains multiple distinct fat compartments, each sitting at different depths and in different locations, from the temples and cheeks to the area around the mouth and beneath the eyes. In youth, these compartments are well-positioned and well-supported, contributing to smooth contours and a sense of fullness in the right places. With age, individual fat compartments can reduce in volume, descend from their original position, or both. Because adjacent compartments change at different rates, the face can develop an uneven appearance over time, with areas of relative hollowing sitting alongside areas of relative fullness. This is often what creates the appearance of shadows, tired-looking eyes, or a less defined facial contour.
Collagen and Elastin
Collagen is the primary structural protein in the skin and is responsible for its firmness and thickness. Elastin is the protein that allows skin to spring back after being stretched or compressed. From our mid-twenties, the body gradually produces less of both. By the time most people reach their forties, this decline is typically noticeable. The skin becomes thinner, less firm, and less resilient. It no longer sits as tautly over the underlying structures, which means that changes deeper in the face, in the bone and fat, become more visible at the surface. Collagen also plays a role in the structural integrity of deeper tissues, so its decline contributes not just to surface skin changes but to a broader softening of facial support.
The Role of Ligaments
The face contains a network of ligaments that anchor the skin and soft tissue to the underlying bone. These act like suspension points, keeping the face in its youthful position. Over time, these ligaments stretch and weaken. As they do, the tissues they once held firmly in place begin to descend with gravity. This is one of the key reasons why facial changes are not simply about tissue disappearing but about tissue shifting, volume that was once in the upper and mid-face gradually migrates downward, contributing to changes along the jawline and lower face.
Muscle Changes
Repeated muscle movement over decades has a cumulative effect on the overlying tissues. The muscles of facial expression are unique in that they insert directly into the skin rather than into bone, which is how they create movement and expression. Over time, contraction patterns in certain muscle groups can contribute to a pulling down of overlying tissue. Some muscles also increase in activity to compensate for the structural changes happening around them, which can further accelerate visible changes in certain areas.
Skin Quality
Beyond collagen and elastin, the skin undergoes broader quality changes with age. Hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance that helps the skin retain water, decreases over time, contributing to a loss of surface hydration and plumpness. The rate of skin cell turnover slows, which affects texture and radiance. Sun exposure, lifestyle factors such as smoking, and environmental stressors such as pollution all accelerate these changes by increasing oxidative damage and speeding up collagen breakdown.
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What These Changes May Mean for You
Because volume and structural changes involve multiple layers of the face changing simultaneously and at different rates, what a person notices on the surface is often the result of several processes compounding on each other rather than a single cause.
Common observations include:
- A flattening or hollowing of the cheeks or midface that gives a more gaunt or tired appearance
- A deepening of the groove between the cheek and lower eyelid, sometimes called a tear trough
- A loss of definition along the jawline as soft tissue descends and bone volume reduces
- Hollowing of the temples, which can make the upper face look narrower
- Changes around the chin that alter the overall profile of the lower face
- A shift in overall facial proportions, where the lower face appears heavier relative to the upper face
These changes are entirely normal. They occur in everyone, though the timing, pattern, and degree varies considerably between individuals depending on genetics, ethnicity, lifestyle, sun exposure history, and other factors.
What a Consultation Involves
Initial Assessment
Your consultation will include a detailed discussion of your skin concerns, medical history, and treatment goals. Our qualified practitioners will examine your skin and discuss which treatment approaches may be suitable for your individual circumstances.
Treatment Discussion
All treatment options, including their benefits, risks, contraindications, and expected outcomes will be discussed during your private consultation and balanced with the option not to undergo treatment. This ensures you receive accurate, personalised information to make informed decisions about your skin health. All medical aesthetics procedures offered at Brisbane Skin are intended for adults aged 18 years and over. These treatments are not suitable for minors.
Aftercare Planning
If you proceed with treatment, comprehensive aftercare instructions and follow-up schedules will be provided to optimise your results and ensure proper healing.
This information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. All procedures carry inherent risk which is fully discussed during your consultation.
All before and after images used on our site are of patients who have undergone the procedure specified. The images have not been edited or enhanced. The outcomes shown are relevant for that particular patient and do not necessarily reflect the results other patients may experience.
Our website showcases many of our popular medical aesthetic services, though our full treatment portfolio extends beyond what’s displayed here. We are committed to providing comprehensive information about all available options during your personal consultation, where we can discuss treatments tailored specifically to your goals and needs. Brisbane Skin operates in compliance with the AHPRA and TGA Advertising guidelines and the Guidelines for Registered healthcare practitioner who perform non surgical cosmetic procedures which require specific protocols for discussing certain therapeutic procedures includes pricing for aesthetic treatments.
Rejuran
Bioregeneration with polynucleotide treatments are focused on improving the skin’s own quality from within. They work by supporting the skin’s natural repair and regeneration processes, stimulating fibroblast activity, and promoting the production of the skin’s own structural proteins.
RF Skin Needling
RF (radiofrequency) skin needling incorporates radiofrequency energy, which heats the deeper layers of the skin, leading to more dramatic results, particularly in skin tightening and collagen stimulation.
Chemical Peels
These peeling treatments remove surface layers and stimulate cellular renewal, helping to smooth textural irregularities and enhance overall skin appearance.
LED Light Therapy
LED light therapy accelerates natural skin repair mechanisms and stimulates structural protein synthesis, helping to refine expression lines and enhance skin vitality.