You’re not imagining it. One day you feel confident in the mirror; the next, something feels “off.” Not dramatic—just subtle changes that feel less like you. These are the signs of facial aging.
So how do you know if those changes are coming from your skin or your facial structure? Knowing the difference can completely change how you approach aging—and help you choose treatments that actually work at this stage of life.
How Do I Know if My Aging is Skin or Structure?
Aging shows up in two main ways: skin changes (surface-level) and structural changes (deeper shifts in bone, fat, and muscle). Most people have a mix of both, but one may dominate depending on your age, genetics, and lifestyle.
What are the signs of skin aging?
Skin changes usually show up first. They live on the surface and are driven by environmental exposure, slower cell turnover, and decreased collagen and elastin.
Common signs of skin aging:
- Uneven skin tone
- Hyperpigmentation or sun spots
- Rough texture or dullness
- Fine lines, especially around the eyes and mouth
- Loss of natural radiance
Fixes for skin changes:
- CO2 laser (Helix): resurfacing for texture, pigment, and fine lines
- Microneedling: collagen boost, acne scars, mild wrinkles
- Medical Grade Skincare: brightening, exfoliation, cell turnover
- Botox (for fine expression lines)
- Light Resurfacing Treatments
What Are the Signs of Structural Aging?
Structural changes are sneaky. They’re positional issues—not texture issues—that alter how your face looks in shape and balance.
Common signs of structural aging:
- Volume loss in cheeks, temples, under-eyes
- Fat pad descent (your face’s internal scaffolding shifts)
- Bone resorption (yes your skull actually changes shape with age)
- Muscle overactivity creating expression lines and heaviness
- Skin laxity from deeper collagen depletion
Fixes for structural changes:
- Filler: restore volume and contour in cheeks, under eyes, jawline
- Botox: soften muscle pull, lift brows, refresh heaviness
- Skin Tightening (CO2 laser): re-densify collagen
- Morpheus8: strengthen structure under the skin
Signs It’s Skin:
- Your glow feels gone
- Makeup looks uneven or sits on top of skin
- New pigment patches or rough texture
- Everything looks temporarily better after a facial or brightening serum
Signs It’s Structure:
- You look more stern or flat, even when relaxed
- Side profile shows sagging or loss of contour
- Eyes appear more hooded
- Makeup can’t fix the shadowing or hollows
Can Botox or Filler fix a Worn-Down Look?
Yes—but which one depends on the cause.
- Botox helps when heaviness comes from muscle pull- like frown lines creating a “tense” look or brows pressing down on eyelids
- Filler helps when you’ve lost support- think hollow cheeks, under eye circles, or jawline softening.
The right combo? Always based on your anatomy. There is no one size fits all approach. The best results often come from a combo plan based on your anatomy, not a cookie-cutter approach.
Why Do We Always Start with a Full Face Assessment?
At The Injectables Lounge, treatment for the signs of facial aging start with a medical strategy, not a menu pick. Dr. Syed and our team evaluate:
- Facial mapping based on fat pad migration and bone structure
- Skin quality evaluation
- Movement analysis (how your muscles pull at rest and in motion)
This approach ensures we treat the root cause of your aging signs—not just surface symptoms.
Real Talk Recap on Signs of Facial Aging
- Skin issues = surface level: texture, pigment, fine lines → fix with lasers, microneedling, skincare.
- Structural issues = deeper: volume loss, sagging, bone + fat changes → fix with filler, Botox, tightening.
- Most people in their 40s+ have both, so treatment plans should blend approaches.
- Treating the cause, not just the consequence = results that last longer and still look like you.
TL;DR: Not All Aging is Skin Deep
You don’t have to guess. Understanding whether your changes are surface-level or structural is the key to looking refreshed, balanced, and natural—not altered.
When we treat the cause, not just the consequence, results are better, longer-lasting, and more authentic.
Serving North Indy
We serve patients across Fishers, Pendleton, Carmel, and North Indy with full-face assessments and anatomy-based injectables.
Visit The Injectables Lounge Website
Skin changes show up as texture, pigment, and fine lines. Structural changes show as volume loss, sagging, and contour shifts.
Surface treatments like CO₂ laser, microneedling, Botox for fine lines, and medical-grade skincare improve skin quality.
Volume restoration with filler, tightening with Morpheus8, and collagen re-densifying lasers address deeper aging changes.
Botox helps when heaviness comes from muscle pull. Filler restores support in hollow areas. The right combo depends on your anatomy.
