At The Naderi Center Reston, patients from McLean, Great Falls, Vienna, Arlington, and Reston are increasingly learning that facial aging is far more complex than simply “loose skin.” Modern facial plastic surgery now recognizes the critical role of facial fat compartments — specialized fat pads beneath the skin that create youthful contour, cheek support, jawline definition, and smooth facial transitions.
As we age, these compartments change independently. Some lose volume while others descend downward due to weakening ligaments, collagen loss, and changes in facial support structures. This explains why patients often notice flatter cheeks, deeper nasolabial folds, under-eye hollowing, and heavier jowls developing simultaneously. According to Dr. Shervin Naderi, facial aging is fundamentally a structural process, not simply a surface-level skin issue.
One of the earliest signs of aging occurs in the midface. Youthful cheeks contain well-supported fat compartments that create smooth contour beneath the eyes. Over time, these fat pads descend, causing cheek flattening and increased lower facial heaviness. Jowls form as descended cheek fat shifts toward the jawline while surrounding areas lose support and volume.
At the Naderi Center modern facial rejuvenation techniques such as deep plane facelift surgery focus on restoring these deeper anatomical relationships rather than merely tightening skin.