Purpose:

Studies of facial aging up to the present have largely been observational and subjective.  Thus anatomical changes associated with facial aging remain mostly descriptive and without quantifiable results.  This study applies state-of-the-art facial imaging and three-dimensional computer modeling to measure changes in the aging female face.  The markers of facial aging discussed here go beyond descriptive accounts by individual practitioners and are presented as quantitative measurements of the volume change in the aging periorbital region.

Methods:

            This study was performed using hardware and software products developed by 3dMD.   Subjects were enrolled as mother-daughter matched controls.  Overall similarity of the faces of the mother-daughter pair were confirmed using best-fit analyses, prior to further processing of the data.  The changes in facial structure secondary to aging were measured using volumetric comparisons of periorbital tissues in the daughter and mother.  An initial group of 6 mother-daughter pairs have been analyzed to date.  The age range of the individuals imaged range from 15 to 90 years. 

Results:

A consistent pattern of soft tissue volume loss in the aged member of each genetic pair was demonstrated.  Atrophy and regression of soft tissues associated with the medial canthus and nasojugal groove were most pronounced.  There were also findings of volume loss in the soft tissue of the brow that have not previously been well described.  There were signs of aging that manifest in the late 30s that continue to progress steadily throughout life.

Figure 1: A representative mother-daughter pair of with similar facial morphology.

Figure 2: Computerized isolation of periorbital area and registration of surfaces.

Figure 3: Surface “heatmap” of volume differences between periorbital soft tissues placed in register by computerized best-fit analysis.  Three representative mother daughter pairs aged 15 and 35, 30 and 57, and 53 and 90 years old are shown.  Light green represents areas of tissue regression in the aged individual. 

Conclusions:

               Imaging clearly shows a consistent pattern of atrophy and regression of soft tissues associated with the medial canthus and nasojugal groove.  The amount of soft tissue loss is greater and more diffuse than previously estimated.  Histogram depth analysis of the soft tissue shows greatest atrophy in the medial canthal region and soft tissues caudal to the lower lid.  There was also regression of the soft tissues of the brow.  Our next study will focus on quantifying volume loss in specific anatomic regions.  This will provide data that may act as a guideline for reconstruction and rejuvenation of the entire periorbital region.