The face is made up of several layers including skin, fat pads, muscle and bone. Over time, changes in all of these layers contribute to a shift in facial structure. Fat pads thin and migrate, bone density decreases and soft tissue loses its support, which is why the face can start to look different even when the skin itself is in reasonable condition.

Volume loss is not always age-related. Significant weight changes, certain medications, illness and genetics can all play a role. It tends to show up first in the cheeks, temples and under-eye area, and can cause the skin above to look looser or more shadowed than it otherwise would.

Non-surgical injectable treatments work by restoring volume in specific areas to rebalance facial proportions and provide structural support for the overlying skin. The right approach depends on where volume has been lost, how much, and what the patient wants to achieve.