26/12/2025
Looking back through old photographs of myself recently reminded me how predictable facial ageing really is. Not trends. Not online narratives. Anatomy.
Ageing is biological. It reflects slow, measurable changes in bone, fat, muscle and skin long before anything feels obvious in the mirror.
These images span 20 years of my face, so here is what is actually happening.
At 25, the midface sits high because the fat pads are full and well supported. The lower eyelid blends seamlessly into the cheek. Light reflects evenly across the face. This was physiology, not intervention. I was simply young.
By my mid 30s, subtle shifts begin. The inner cheek fat pads migrate slightly downwards. The tear trough becomes more visible. The outer cheek flattens a little. My skin looked clearer at this stage because I understood it better and had access to more consistent, evidence-led treatments.
At 45, the changes are structural rather than dramatic. Mild under eye hollowing. Fine lines around the eyes. A longer lid to cheek junction. Early temple volume loss. These reflect bone remodelling, redistribution of facial fat compartments and slower collagen production. Yet my facial outline remains close to baseline, shaped by genetics, lifestyle and a conservative, anatomy first approach to treatment.
Strength training has mattered too. Muscle supports bone density, stabilises weight and influences long term metabolic health.
Ageing well is about supporting structure, not chasing a younger face. It is about allowing your features to remain your own.
My face has changed as it should. It is still recognisably mine. Ageing is a continuum driven by predictable anatomical and physiological change.
And yes, I already know what I expect to see in the next decade.
