As you age, the bone structure of your face may gradually degrade and affect your appearance.  According to studies published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, facial bones of your chin and jaw may actually recede during the aging process, altering facial proportion and aesthetics.

For the study, 120 people were analyzed with CT scans. Researchers noticed that older individuals exhibited changes in bone structure, especially in the chin and jaw area. Other areas of concern include the middle of the face, in the cheekbones and eye-sockets.

The authors of these studies, Dr. Howard Langstein and Dr. Robert Shaw Jr., suggest that a patient’s skeletal structures may require more attention in the future. Aside from traditional facelifts that reduce sagging tissues in the middle and lower part of the face, surgeons may need to focus more on chin implants and procedures that augment your bone structure.

Restoring facial volume has already become commonplace in facial plastic surgery. Non-surgical procedures such as Radiesse or Sculptra are used to temporarily augment multiple areas of the face, while facial implants provide long-term solution for inadequate chin or cheek projection.