Back to 2025 Resident Posters
Demystifying Facial Bony Changes With Aging: Ai-assisted Analysis Of 564 Faces
Sara M. Hussein, MD, Jess D. Rames, MD, MEng, Jonathan M. Morris, MD, Abdallah A. Shehab, MD, Alexandre M. Pazelli, MD, Basel A. Sharaf, MD, DDS.
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
PURPOSE: Much emphasis has been placed on bony resorption as a contributor to facial aging. But does the facial skeleton resorb significantly with aging? This study employs advanced 3D analysis to comprehensively assess age-related facial bony changes among White/Caucasian and Black/African populations.
METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 564 CT scans, categorized by age (20-39, 40-59, and 60-79 years) and gender, was conducted. Ai-assisted segmentation was then used to obtain 3D models and population-level averages of midfacial and mandibular topology by statistical shape modeling (SSM). Linear measurements, angles, and volume changes were then assessed. Moreover, longitudinal sample of 8 individuals was used to validate the SSM methodology.
RESULTS: Both populations showed significant age-related increase in orbital foramen widths, with Black/African males displaying the largest increase (8 mm, p<0.001). Pyriform and maxillary angles contracted in both groups (p<0.005), while mandibular angles increased (p=0.00). Heatmaps volume analyses confirmed lateral orbital walls resorption and midface profile flattening. Bigonial widths expanded by 5-7 mm with age in the White population (p<0.001), but remained stable in the Black population. Mandibular rami heights decreased by 4-5 mm in males and females (p=0.00), respectively. Female SSMs exhibited greater bone resorption than their male counterparts in both populations, highlighting distinct gender-aging differences. Lastly, 10-year analysis of 16 male CT scans confirmed SSM’s reliability in capturing age-related changes.
CONCLUSION: This study underscores that bone remodeling, rather than simple bone resorption, drives facial aging. Such findings underscore population-specific approaches in site-targeted facial contouring and tailored aesthetic care to patient’s anatomical needs.
Back to 2025 Resident Posters
