Our expressions are part of who we are, but as we age our faces don’t always communicate what we want them to! The muscles of the face allow us to express a range of emotions but repetitive movements over time lead to folds and wrinkles that alter the appearance of the face. These lines, particularly in the frown area and outer corners of the eyes can cause our faces to look old, tired or angry (even when we are not!)

Crow’s feet are the fine lines and wrinkles that appear around the eyes. It is natural for crow’s feet to develop as we age and lose collagen.
Bunny lines are known as lines along the nose that form when we ‘scrunch’ our nose up.
Frown lines appear as 2 deep furrow lines between the brows and are visible when we frown. They become more pronounced as the skin thins and ages.
Forehead wrinkles run horizontally across the forehead and are caused by frequent muscle movement. They also become more pronounced as collagen diminishes during the ageing process.
Teeth grinding can be painful and cause the masseter muscles to over-develop. When these muscles over-develop, they can become more pronounced. Masseters can be treated to assist with discomfort from grinding as well as aesthetics.
Part of treatment of aging of the lower face is to treat the neck. Some individuals have strong platysma bands. These are the muscles that pull the bottom of the face down and can be seen best when opening the lower mouth wide and down. A strong platysma pulls down and can contribute to the jowls and lower face and neck ageing. These muscles are often very strong in desk workers. Successful treatment to the neck muscles can create lift in the lower part of the face, and the treatment is often called the “Nefertiti lift.’
An overactive chin muscle can cause dimpling of the chin and an orange peel appearance. Successful treatment can elongate the lower part of the face and also help with puckering from acne scarring in the area.
The depressor angular oris muscle pulls down the corners of the mouth. It can lead to a sad face and the appearance of ageing. Treatment of the DAO allows an upturning of the bottom lip.