The Aging Face: How Women and Men Age Differently

Sexual dimorphism refers to the biological differences in form and appearance between males and females . These differences are particularly important in both facial and body aesthetics as they play a role in perceived health and attractiveness. Commonly referred to as “the quiet boom” within the industry, there has been an unprecedented spike in males seeking out aesthetic treatments. While we have always treated males here at Skin Worthy, we are seeing this increase in demand first hand, by a large uptick in both consultations and treatments. For decades, non-surgical enhancements have been tailored around optimizing the female face. But as practitioners, an understanding of sexual dimorphism is crucial when it comes to creating a treatment plan that addresses the aging process, all while staying true to the desired aesthetic outcomes of each gender. 

The aging process itself is complex and involves multiple layers that simultaneously, impact one another. We experience loss of bone structure and deep fat pads, changes in how our muscles function, our superficial fat pads become heavier and saggier and our skin’s elasticity decreases and thins. Overall men and women generally undergo a similar aging process but there are a few variations to consider in how the aging process impacts each gender and how maintain the aesthetic of males vs females. 

A general observation that has been noted in various studies and among practitioners of aesthetic medicine is that as we age, men lose their strong square bone structure and their faces become more soft and feminized, whereas women tend to lose their deep fat more rapidly. Those pads that once created softness and contours, paired with increased skin laxity causes the face to become more boxy and square - appearing more masculine with age, and one that many would agree, appears older than an aging male face.

To gain a better understanding of what is exactly happening at each level, and how we can address it non-surgically, let’s review some key anatomical differences in men and women.

Bone/Skull Layer

The aesthetic differences we see in males vs females are as follows:

Males :

• skull is overall heavier, larger, and more angular with sharper boney prominences due to stronger muscular attachments. Males have more prominent brow ridges, a flatter forehead, a border nasal bone, larger jaws, and squarer/wider chins

Females:

• skull is smaller, rounder throughout the forehead, and typically has smoother, more rounded facial contours, higher cheekbones, narrower nasal bone,  jaw and chin.

Key Skull Differences: Male vs. Female

Feature	Male Skull	Female Skull
Overall Size	Larger and heavier	Smaller and lighter
Forehead	Sloping with a pronounced brow ridge (glabella)	Vertical or rounded with a smooth brow
Brow Ridge (Supraorbital Ridge)	Prominent	Less pronounced or smooth
Orbital Shape (Eye Sockets)	Squared	Rounded
Zygomatic Arch (Cheekbones)	More robust and laterally pronounced	Less prominent and more subtle
Mandible (Jaw)	Large, broad, square-shaped with a pronounced angle	Narrower, V-shaped with a more obtuse angle
Chin	Square or U-shaped	Pointed or rounded
Mastoid Process (behind the ear)	Larger and more prominent	Smaller and less noticeable
External Occipital Protuberance(back of skull)	More prominent	Less pronounced
Frontal Eminence (forehead bump)	Less prominent	More rounded and noticeable
Teeth and Palate	Larger dental arch and teeth	Smaller overall dental structure

With age we loose bone mass in the skull, the bone resorbs and shifts backwards and inwards. 

Differences in ageing males vs females :

• More significant and earlier in females, particularly in the cheek and /mouth/chin leading to more noticeable signs of aging (e.g., deep nasolabial folds, sagging).

• Males experience bone loss more uniformly and gradually. The eventual thinning and loss of bone in the lower face for men will become one of the primary areas to restore volume. 

Soft Tissues and Fat Layers

Males:

• Lower overall facial fat compared to females, particularly in the mid-face.

• Fat is more compact and fibrous, contributing to a sharper, angular appearance (e.g., defined jawline, flatter cheeks).

• The buccal fat pad is usually less prominent, making the cheeks appear flatter and more hollowed, especially in leaner men.

• Temples are more hollow with less fat

• Noses are larger and longer, with a longer distance between the base of the nose and upper lip.

Females:

• Higher overall facial fat volume, especially in the mid-face (cheeks, under-eyes) and perioral regions (around the mouth).

• Anterior cheek and lower cheek /buccal fat  tend to be fuller, contributing to the rounded and youthful appearance.

• Periorbital fat (around eyes ) may be more prominent, but the orbital rim is generally more recessed, giving softer contour transitions.

• Temples are fuller and rounder 

• Noses are smaller and shorter with a more defined tip. Female face appears to have a shorter distance between the base of the nose and the border of the upper lip,

In the general aging process we will see an overall loss in deep fat pads making the face appear more hollow, with an enlarging of superficial fat pads making the anterior and lower face appear more heavy.  

Differences in ageing males vs females

• Females lose volume earlier, especially in the mid-face, temples, and periorbital areas.

• Males tend to maintain facial volume longer but experience more profound structural loss later.

The Skin Layer

With skin, in both sexes will see a change in elasticity, luminosity and wrinkling over time. Skin differences between males and females in a few key areas:

Skin Thickness:

• Male skin is approximately 20–25% thicker than female skin.

• This is due to higher collagen density and androgen (testosterone) levels.

• Thicker skin contributes to slower initial signs of aging but deeper wrinkles when they appear.

Collagen Content and Density

• Men have a higher collagen density (collagen per surface area), providing more structural integrity.

• Women’s collagen declines rapidly, especially post-menopause (~30% decrease in the first 5 years).

• This results in earlier visible aging in females, such as sagging and fine lines.

 Sebum Production

• Men produce up to twice as much sebum as women, due to testosterone.

• Male skin is typically:

  • Oilier

  • More acne-prone (especially during adolescence)

  • More resilient to dehydration, but with a higher likelihood of enlarged pores and sebaceous hyperplasia.

Hair follicles

• Hair follicles are more densely spaced and larger for thicker hair.  This affects the aging process especially around the mouth. Men are less prone to wrinkling in the lip areas as these follicles dominate these tissues.

The Complex Aging Process

Males:

Males have denser collagen, which slows the onset of wrinkles, but once aging starts, the changes can appear more sudden and dramatic. Later onset of skin aging , more gradual loss of elasticity ,deeper more pronounced lines , changes in skin tone-generally more prone to rosacea and less to melasma, however will still experiences pigmentary changes such as sun spots.

Women: 

Females  lose collagen at a faster rate, particularly post-menopause. Earlier onset of skin aging especially around eyes and mouth, finer lines and more diffuse wrinkles , elasticity loss quicker especially more abrupt around menopause. Women are more equally prone to tonal irregularities such as rosacea and pigment, however have higher incidences of melasma. 

Final Thoughts

As one can see the differences between males and females are vast.  Sexual dimorphism plays a role in key gender aesthetic differences and how each sex will age. Both men and women will require different approaches in aesthetic treatment planning to enhance and affirm gender. 

For Males, the key to masculinize the face with age will be a focus on restoring structure to enhance strength, and width to boney prominence, with minimal focus on transitions of fat pads. Males typically have less facial fat, and it is of upmost importance not to feminize the face by making it appear too soft with facial fillers. The appearance of hollows and some shadowing is essential to maintain a masculine face. With wrinkles, the key is to soften them, without fully eliminating them. Finally when it comes to skin, males are more oily, with larger pores and prone to redness. The goal here is to restore an even skin tone and slow skin texture irregularities often seen with over production of oil/sebum. 

For Women, the goal has always been to maintain a soft feminine bone structure and restore volume cautiously (not to over project or widen the female skull). Soft facial contours paired with gentle transitions between fat pads to keep the face reflecting light and harmonious is essential to maintain the feminine form. Manipulating muscular pull and tension to release the downwards tug of certain muscles keeps the female face lifted and light in appearance. Skin health is of upmost importance to maintain luminosity, even tone and to maintain collagen and elastin, as this loss is more dramatic and seen earlier in women.

Women and men age differently and for women, thats often a t a faster rate. But in order to effectively come up with a plan to slow down this process in the most natural looking way, you need to understand what is happening below the surface of the skin and how the interconnectedness of each of our facial layers impacts the aging process as a whole. To learn more or to book your own Beauty Evolution, call/text 647-350-7546 or email us at info@skinworthy.ca