Aging Changes of the Superficial Fat Compartments of the Midface Over Time: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND Studies involving superficial facial fat compartments are few in number with conflicting results. Most of them involved small study groups and compared measurements between different populations of young and old subjects either on cadavers or living subjects. OBJECTIVE To clarify volumetric and dimensional changes in midfacial superficial fat compartment retrospectively in patients who underwent a repeat magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) without gross pathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 70 patients with a mean age of 60 years (range: 33–82 years) and a median elapsed time of 44.5 months (range: 32–64 months) between 2 MRIs were included. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were analyzed in the axial and sagittal planes to obtain measurements of the medial part of the superficial cheek fat. Superficial cheek fat was divided into 3 compartments. Thickness, width, and height were measured, and volumes were calculated for each compartment on both hemifaces. RESULTS Volume and thickness were decreased significantly in all compartments (p < .05). The width was decreased in superior and middle compartments, whereas increased in lower compartment indicating dislocation of the fat tissue (p < .05). Height was also significantly increased (p < .05). A subgroup analysis has shown that there was no significant difference between men and women. CONCLUSION This study clarifies that aging is associated with a significant decrease in superficial midfacial fat tissue volume and thickness both in women and men. The decrease in width in upper and middle compartments, but increase in lower compartment suggests a volume shift within superficial fat tissue.

Evaluation of aging changes of the superficial fat compartments of the midface over time: A computed tomography study

“…The height was also found to increase significantly. The width increased in the lower compartment while the upper and lower compartments narrowed down with age 9 . Similarly, the present study found a decrease in volume and thickness in the upper and middle compartments, an increase in width in the lower compartment, and an increase in height.…”

“…The width increased in the lower compartment while the upper and lower compartments narrowed down with age. 9 Similarly, the present study found a decrease in volume and thickness in the upper and middle compartments, an increase in width in the lower compartment, and an increase in height. The discrepancies between the results of the two studies can be explained by the number of patients (n = 70 and n = 262, respectively), the average age of the patients (60 and 46 years, respectively), and the interval between the two imagings (44.5 and 56 months, respectively).…”

“…Previous studies on alterations of superficial fat compartments (SFC) with aging yielded contradictory results: The superficial fat tissue volume or thickness was reported to increase, decrease, or remain unchanged 4‐9 …”

“…3 Previous studies on alterations of superficial fat compartments (SFC) with aging yielded contradictory results: The superficial fat tissue volume or thickness was reported to increase, decrease, or remain unchanged. [4][5][6][7][8][9] A preliminary study by our group demonstrated a significant decrease in volume and thickness in midfacial SFC 9 in patients who underwent repeated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this study, we aimed to retrospectively investigate superficial midfacial fat tissue changes in patients who underwent computed tomography (CT) at two points in time, in a larger group of patients.…”

The new era in office-based facial rejuvenation: Promising technology of silicone threads

“…Aging also results in a deficiency of facial fat compartments (Cenkeri et al, 2020), which can easily be reversed with fat injections (Obagi and Willis, 2018) or facial fillers (Philipp-Dormston et al, 2020). On the other hand, neither fillers nor the energy-based devices cannot be used successfully to lift the descended parts of the face; however, they are great adjuncts following facelift to obtain a better aesthetic outcome (Hammoudeh and Stevens, 2019).…”