Understanding Facial Ageing: What Happens Through the Decades

The third decade is often a time of significant career and family building. The face starts to reflect years of consistent muscle movement and environmental exposure, marking the transition from prevention to light correction.

• Lifestyle Impact: Increased stress, sun exposure from past years and dynamic muscle activity begin to etch lines into the skin.
• Expression Lines Appear: Dynamic wrinkles, which are visible during movement, start to become static (visible even at rest). This includes the appearance of Crow’s feet (wrinkles around the eyes) and the formation of forehead and frown lines.
• Early Volume Shifts: You may notice the Nasolabial Fold (NLF) begins to deepen and a slight downward curve at the corners of the mouth can lead to a "sad smile".

In the fourth decade, patients are often seeking ways to reverse the effects of gravity and declining collagen production. This is the era when volume restoration and skin tightening become priorities, helping to subtly rewind the clock.

• Lifestyle Impact: Years of lost sleep, busy schedules and hormonal shifts start to impact skin elasticity and resilience.
• Lines Deepen: Both the NLF deepen further and the fat in that area migrates. Frown lines deepen and marionette lines (lines running from the corners of the mouth downward) begin to form.
• Volume Loss and Sagging: You may notice eye bags develop. Jowls begin to form from further sagging and there is increased sagging at the mouth corners.
• Refinement Changes: Lips experience thinning, upper eyelid sagging is often visible and eyebrows become flatter and drop. Hair loss in some people may also be a concern.

The fifth decade often brings greater focus on self-care and confidence, with a desire to reflect an energetic inner state. The changes here are largely due to bone resorption and the more significant downward migration of soft tissue:

• Lifestyle Impact: This is a time when many feel empowered and want their appearance to match their confidence. The structural changes often benefit from a full-face approach to restoration and lift.
• Contour Changes: The appearance of definite jowls is common and the whole face contour sags. The face reduces in length.
• Structural Shifts: Underlying muscles become more visible and bone resorption can cause the cheek and nose to become more pronounced. Interestingly, ear lobes become longer.

In the sixth decade and beyond, the focus shifts to refinement, deep hydration and overall skin quality to support the architecture of the face. Patients want to look refreshed, not different, focusing on maintenance and subtle correction.

• Lifestyle Impact: Mature skin requires intensive care and attention to volume and laxity, with a greater emphasis on restoring hydration and supporting fragile skin barriers.
• Deepening Features: There is continued volume loss at the temple and forehead and the eye/eyelids appear deeper.
• Neck and Texture Changes: The neck gets thinner and underlying muscles are exposed and wrinkles at the head and ear joint start to appear.

Here at MUSE By Monique, we understand that ageing is a natural process and we encourage everyone to embrace the changes that come with it. However, we’re also here for those who want to maintain a feeling of confidence in their skin.

By focusing on a personalised facial assessment, we can discuss the best options for you - whether your goal is to prevent lines, restore lost volume or improve skin quality.

Reach out to us or book a consultation online to chat about the best options for your unique journey!