The Centre, P.C. - Plastic Surgery Blog

The Root Cause of Midface Aging Discovered? - Thursday, May 29, 2008

Cosmetic surgeons may have discovered an underlying cause of several signs of aging in the midface region: a deep fat compartment below the layer of subcutaneous fat that is the target of facial filler injections. According to a study published in the June issue of Plastic and Reconstructive surgery, the medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), this fat compartment may be a key to more effective and efficient treatment of symptoms of facial aging.

Since round cheeks are a sign of youth, the hollowing of the cheeks is considered one of the key signs of aging in the face. The emptying of this deep fat pocket seems to be at least partly responsible for the hollowing, and researchers postulate that it might also be implicated in the appearance of nasolabial folds--also known as parentheses around the nose and mouth or laugh lines--and what is known either a tear trough or v deformity under the eyes. If this proves to be the case, then all these issues can be corrected simultaneously with a single treatment.

The researchers discovered the deep fat compartment by studying cadavers injected with dye to identify the compartment below the subcutaneous layer of fat. Then the compartment was injected with latex to model the cavity and determine its extent. Once the extent was determined, researchers experimented with filler injections and implants and found that augmenting this compartment did in fact restore volume to the cheeks with a smaller implant or volume of filler than injections into the subcutaneous fat layer.

Although not yet proven as a viable option for combating aging, it does provide hope that a single treatment might someday do the work that is currently performed by a combining injectable fillers, facial implants, and lower-lid blepharoplasty.

Here at the Centre, P.C, we keep up with the latest trends in plastic and reconstructive surgery, and as soon as new treatment options become viable, we apply them. To learn more about state-of-the-art treatments that can help you maintain your youthful appearance, please contact us to set up a consultation.