All of us experience some degree of change in our facial features as the years progress. When someone’s appearance does not fit with their maturity, either through accelerated ageing or obvious and harsh cosmetic procedures, we subconsciously detect this disconnect, distracting us from the real human interaction.
Some people feel these changes more than others, and for some, they may experience a disconnect between their external appearance and how they feel in themselves.
Facial ageing is a complex process occurring variably across all tissue planes of the face and neck. This process may be exacerbated by smoking, significant sun exposure, diet, weight and lifestyle factors in addition to any chronic health concerns such as autoimmune conditions or medications.
Facial ageing comprises widespread three-dimensional changes throughout all the tissues of our face and neck including:
- Age-related changes and photoaging of skin, may result in loss of dermal elasticity, appearance of fine wrinkles (rhytids), pigment irregularities and deterioration in texture.
- The effect of gravity on soft tissue of the face and neck, combined with a loss of elasticity, results in descent of the brow, cheeks, jawline and neck. Areas may develop bulges where facial retaining ligaments remain intact but the surrounding soft tissue pockets drop around them.
- Volume loss occurs with age, some beneficial facial fat pockets may either descend or reduce in volume (or both). Further, those who have lost significant amounts of body fat may also find a more hollow, ‘tired’ appearance to parts of their face (e.g. lower eyelids or cheeks) as those same facial fat compartments also lose volume just like other parts of the body.
- Facial bone structure changes throughout our lives, with regression in the prominence of cheek bones and jawline, plus enlargement of our eye sockets. Combined with facial fat volume loss. This contributes to the hollowing effect of aging on facial appearance.
Richard’s key belief in facial aesthetic plastic surgery is that some signs of ageing are to be embraced- a signal to yourself and others of a life of experience and maturity. We should not desire to totally erase the years of expression that have created our appearance, rather view our features as part of a greater story of our lives. To that end, Richard’s approach aims to reflect the person’s inner energy and vitality rather than create an abnormal appearance.
While none of this stops the ageing process, these procedures aim to rejuvenate facial appearance in line with the person’s maturity without being obvious or conspicuous.