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How Aging Changes Your Face

Written by Dr. Min S. Ahn · Updated June 16, 2026 Facial Plastic Surgeon · Diplomate, American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery · Diplomate, American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Aging is an inescapable part of life. Your body will undergo many changes as you get older, but few will stand out as much as those that occur on your face. From his perspective as an internationally recognized facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Min S. Ahn shares some of the most common changes you are likely to encounter as the years progress so that you know what to expect:

Contents

1 Loss of Volume
2 Skin Gets Less Firm and Tight
3 Wrinkles and Lines Set In
4 Nasal Tip Droops
5 Ears Get Larger
6 If You Are Unhappy with These Changes, You Can Do Something about It

Loss of Volume

The number one trait that distinguishes a young face from an old one is the presence of volume. An even distribution of fat beneath the skin provides “padding” that contributes to a more youthful appearance. Over time, however, facial fat erodes, which can create sunken cheeks, hollows beneath the eyes and an overall more skeletal appearance.

Skin Gets Less Firm and Tight

As you get older, your body produces less collagen and elastin, two proteins responsible for keeping your skin elastic-like and tight. Without elastin, your skin starts to hang more loosely, which causes a sagging appearance. That often means losing definition along your jaw, and an accumulation of fat beneath the chin, creating the appearance of a double chin.

Wrinkles and Lines Set In

At any age, facial expressions and movements put lines and indentations on your face. When your skin is young enough, these lines vanish instantaneously, but these lines will remain on less robust skin for longer stretches of time until they reach a point where they are so deep set that they are essentially permanent.

Nasal Tip Droops

You are likely to find that over time your nose starts to point downward. This nasal ptosis occurs because the cartilage framework that once held your nose position firmly in place weakens.

Ears Get Larger

By the time you have finished puberty, most parts of your body stop growing. One of the notable exceptions to that rule is your ears — those will actually continue to get bigger throughout your entire life. The cartilage in your ears expands, causing the ears to appear larger and sometimes throwing off the proportions of your face.

If You Are Unhappy with These Changes, You Can Do Something about It

While no one can dodge aging completely, there are cosmetic solutions to help you recapture a more youthful appearance. A facelift/neck lift can address sagging skin; eyelid surgery and brow lift can minimize the lines around the eyes; fat grafting can address the loss of volume around the cheeks; and rhinoplasty can correct the projection of the nasal tip. Minimally invasive procedures like injectables, Fraxel Dual laser and Morpheus8 can improve the appearance and texture of your facial skin without requiring surgery.

To discuss which procedures can best help rejuvenate the face with Boston’s finest facial plastic surgeon, please arrange a consultation at the Aesthetic Wellness Center by calling (508) 426-8622.

About Dr. Min S. Ahn

Facial Plastic Surgeon · Ahn Point Center

Board certification

American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (verify)
American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (verify)

Education and training

Harvard University, B.A. in Biology, cum laude
George Washington University School of Medicine, with distinction; Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
University of California, San Francisco, Head and Neck Surgery (Internship/Residency)
Research at the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health and at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Department of Surgery
Medical degree, George Washington University School of Medicine, with distinction
Bachelor of Arts in Biology cum Laude, Harvard University (1985–1989)
Degree in medicine, with Distinction, The George Washington University School of Medicine (1990–1994)
Internship in General Surgery, The University of California at San Francisco (1994–1995)
Residency in Head and Neck Surgery, The University of California at San Francisco (1995–1999)
Fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of California at San Francisco (1999–2000)

Hospital affiliations

UMASS Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA

Memberships