Having defined facial features like high cheekbones is often associated with looking younger. High cheekbones help create the illusion of lifted skin and can minimize the appearance of sagging. However, there are many factors that contribute to looking youthful besides cheekbone structure alone.
What are high cheekbones?
Cheekbones are the prominent bones under the skin of the cheeks. High cheekbones sit higher on the face and are more pronounced. They create shadows below the cheekbones and cause the midface to appear more sculpted.
Having high cheekbones is largely genetic. The zygomatic bone, which forms the cheekbone, varies in protrusion and positioning from person to person. Those with high cheekbones have zygomatic bones that sit higher and jut out more sharply.
Do high cheekbones make you look younger?
There are a few reasons why high cheekbones can make someone look younger:
- High cheekbones accentuate the cheeks and draw attention upwards, lifting the rest of the face.
- They minimize the look of jowls and sagging skin by pulling the skin tighter across the face.
- The shadows caused by cheekbone protrusion can disguise wrinkles and lines around the cheeks and eyes.
- High cheekbones enhance facial symmetry which is associated with youthfulness.
Essentially, the lifted contour created by pronounced cheekbones counteracts some of the effects of aging like sagging skin and wrinkles. By highlighting the cheeks, they bring balance and youthfulness to the midface.
Other signs of aging besides the cheeks
While high cheekbones can help reduce the appearance of aging, there are other facial areas that contribute to looking older as well:
- Fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes and mouth
- Thinning lips
- Loss of elasticity in the skin causing sagging jowls
- Facial volume loss leading to hollowness under the eyes and cheeks
- Dull, uneven skin tone
- Age spots and hyperpigmentation
Changes in these facial areas can make someone appear older despite having high cheekbones. A youthful face requires harmony between the different parts of the face, not just a single feature like the cheeks.
Other factors that affect apparent age
In addition to facial structure and signs of aging, there are other factors that influence how old someone looks:
| Factor | How It Impacts Apparent Age |
|---|---|
| Skin health | Wrinkled, dull skin adds years. Smooth, glowing skin looks more youthful. |
| Weight | Being overweight can add pounds to the face. Lean faces with contoured cheeks appear younger. |
| Hair | Thin, brittle, graying hair is aging. Thick, shiny, colored hair looks more youthful. |
| Makeup | Strategic makeup can blur lines and wrinkles to take years off. |
| Clothing/style | Fashionable, modern clothing and haircut helps look more youthful. |
| Lifestyle | Factors like drinking, smoking, and sun damage lead to faster aging. |
As you can see, cheekbones are just one aspect of overall facial structure and aging. A youthful appearance requires a balance of many factors.
Can you get high cheekbones?
For those not genetically blessed with pronounced cheekbones, there are a few options to get a more sculpted look:
- Contour makeup – Using bronzer and highlighter to create the illusion of higher cheekbones.
- Facial exercises – Workouts targeting the cheeks and jaws to lift the cheeks.
- Non-invasive treatments – Dermal fillers or fat grafting to add volume to the cheeks.
- Surgery – Implants or zygoma reduction to alter the bone structure.
The least invasive options like contouring and facial exercises can provide subtle improvements to give the cheeks more lift. Dermal fillers and fat transfers offer instant cheek augmentation that lasts about 1-2 years on average.
Surgery involves much higher risks and a longer recovery but delivers permanent structural changes to the cheekbones.
What’s considered ideal cheekbone structure?
There are varying ideals of cheekbone structure depending on factors like gender, culture, and trends:
- For women, high cheekbones angled up towards the eyes are considered striking and attractive in many cultures.
- Angular cheekbones with a sharp triangular shape are considered a more “masculine” trait.
- In Asian cultures, a lower cheekbone structure with a smooth, tapered shape is often preferred.
- Fashion models tend to have very chiseled cheekbones that jut outward from a slender face.
But despite cultural and gender norms, the most universally youthful cheek shape is a gently curved upside down heart or triangle. This shows defined structure while still looking lifted and proportional to the rest of the face.
How do cheekbones change with age?
There are several effects aging has on the cheekbones:
- Bone resorption causes shrinking and flattening of the maxilla and zygomatic bones over time.
- Facial fat atrophies leading to hollowing under the cheekbones.
- Skin elasticity reduces causing loose sagging skin along the cheeks and jowls.
- Facial volume loss from fat atrophy and bone resorption lead to skin sagging.
These changes make the cheeks appear more flat and hollow. The cheeks descend down the face rather than staying lifted. This makes the midface look elongated and deflate.
On average, the cheekbone descent is estimated to be around 0.8mm per year after age 30. This leads to an overall lowering of the cheeks up to 8-12mm by age 60.
Can cheekbone reshaping or implants restore a youthful look?
Cheek implants, osteotomies, or zygoma reduction can effectively reposition the cheekbones higher up the face for a lifting effect. They can add projection and definition to flatten cheeks.
By augmenting cheekbone height and structure, these procedures can restore a more oval, heart-shaped facial contour associated with youthfulness. Moving the cheeks back up the face helps reduce the appearance of midface sagging and jowls.
However, isolated cheek procedures may not address all signs of facial aging. Combining cheek implants or sculpting with other rejuvenating treatments can optimize results.
Non-surgical options for cheek rejuvenation
For those not ready for surgery, there are effective non-surgical options that can temporarily improve cheek appearance:
- Injectable fillers – Hyaluronic acid fillers (Juvederm, Restylane, etc) add volume to fill hollows under the cheeks and reshape the cheek contour for up to 12-18 months.
- Fat grafting – Transfers fat to sunken areas of the cheeks for 1-2 years of improvement.
- Sculptra – Poly-L-lactic acid stimulates collagen growth and plumps up fat loss under the skin for more lifted cheeks.
These are great options to help restore cheek fullness and turn back the clock several years. Multiple treatments are needed to maintain results but outcomes are temporary.
Should other facial rejuvenation be combined with cheek procedures?
For optimal facial rejuvenation it is best to combine cheek procedures with other treatments to address multiple signs of aging. Complementary procedures may include:
- Brow lift – Elevates drooping eyebrows for an eye-opening effect.
- Eyelid surgery – Removes excess skin and fat that ages the eyes.
- Neck lift – Tightens loose neck skin that accentuates jowls.
- Rhinoplasty – Refines drooping nasal tips that elongate the face.
- Chin augmentation – Adds projection to balance facial proportions.
- Skin resurfacing – Improves wrinkles, lines, uneven tone.
A customized facial rejuvenation plan to address the cheeks, eyes, brows, and lower face can maximize results. Isolated cheek procedures may look unnatural without addressing other areas.
Conclusion
High cheekbones can help create a more youthful facial appearance by lifting sagging cheeks and minimizing wrinkles and jowls. However, cheekbones are just one piece of the puzzle when trying to achieve a lifted, younger look.
A coordinated approach to rejuvenating the whole face is key. Procedures to move the cheeks back up the face combined with treatments to address the eyes, brows, skin, and neck can provide natural-looking facial harmony.
While genetics determine cheekbone structure to an extent, there are effective surgical and nonsurgical options to improve aging cheek changes. Restoring cheek fullness and lift can roll back the clock for a revitalized appearance.