Topography of the Aging Face

When you look at a map, you instantly notice markings that indicate streams, rivers, hills and mountains. Better known by the term “topography”, these markings are helpful if you need to identify landmarks or features of an area to find your way from one place to another. Much like the surface of land, our faces have a “topography” of sorts. There are standard landmarks, prominences, dips and folds that are familiar to all faces, but each individual also has unique features that impart a special, one-of-a-kind look.

As we age, remarkably, our surface features or “topography” starts to show uniform changes. Yes, we all begin to look the same as we get older! We all lose facial volume, our skin thins and lines and wrinkles form in response to repeated facial expressions. Granted, this process happens at different rates for each of us, but we are all on the same course. Generally speaking, our face goes from round and full to flat and angular. Smooth and supple skin becomes lax and lined.

Thankfully, there are cosmetic injections that can undo these unwelcome changes. Botox is a treatment that helps smooth the skin by stopping the underlying facial muscle contractions that pull on it, causing the formation of lines and wrinkles. Botox can also lift and shape the face by selectively relaxing certain facial muscles, allowing others to work unopposed.

Dermal filler injections like Restylane, Restylane Lyft and Juvederm can add back volume, restoring rounded contours to key facial structures like cheeks, temples and foreheads. These products also stimulate collagen production in the body, so in a way, they work to reverse the aging clock and help our skin function and look more like it did in our youth.

The photos below show what an amazing transformation these products can produce. Notice the volume loss beneath her eyes in the before picture. By adding volume with Restylane injections, her sagging skin and dark circles are virtually erased. Botox injections helped smooth out her horizontal forehead lines. The combination of these two has effectively reversed her aging “topography” and helped restore a more youthful, rested appearance.