Age-related changes of the soft tissue profile from the second to the fourth decades of life.

OBJECTIVE To describe the age-related changes of the soft tissue facial profile from the second to fourth decades of life. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cephalograms from the same subjects in their 20s, 30s, and 40s were analyzed. A coordinate system analysis based on stable landmarks is used. A line connecting Walker's point (W) and sphenoethmoidal (SE) created the x-axis. Walker's point was origin. Depending on data distribution, landmark displacements from T1 to T2, from T2 to T3, and from T1 to T3 were analyzed using the paired t-test or the Wilcoxon test for zero expected change versus a two-sided alternative. For each landmark the mean, standard deviation, P value, and lower and higher 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS During T2-T1, for males, the whole profile was displaced anteriorly and slightly superiorly, and for females, the lower facial profile was displaced in a posterior and inferior direction. Greater changes occurred in the female profile than the male profile. During T3-T2, the female profile changed slightly while the male profile underwent great changes: the upper facial profile was displaced anteriorly, and the lower profile was displaced posteriorly. The whole profile was displaced in the inferior direction. CONCLUSIONS Significant changes occurred in the soft tissue facial profile from the second to fourth decades. Aging of the male facial profile began 10 years later than for females; however, when the changes did occur, they were of greater magnitude. The upper facial profile was displaced in the anterior direction and the whole profile was displaced inferiorly for both sexes.