Insights

Science lies at the heart of everything we do at the Aesthetic Room. Applying science to every aesthetic procedure is vital to successfully treating the multiple signs of ageing and a wide range of skin concerns in a way that enhances your natural beauty.

Understanding how our skin and facial systems function allows us to undertake a bespoke analysis and recommend the best course of treatment for you.

To become part of your own journey, read our insights into the anatomy of our face and skin, together with how our skin changes over time.

Facial Vascular Anatomy

Your face is a complex network of vessels and capillaries which feed the skin and muscles with oxygenated blood and other nutrients. We call this your facial vascular system.

At the heart of your facial vascular system are several arteries. These form the basic elements of your facial vascular anatomy and include:

The external carotid artery supplies the face and skin via several different branches. It
runs under the mandible (jawbone) and branches into several facial arteries including the
temporal artery around the side of the forehead and the transverse facial artery across the
face.
The facial artery ripples from the carotid artery at the jaw, towards the outer corner of the
mouth, before branching out around your top lip and below your bottom lip and coming
together into the angular artery.
The angular artery runs up past the corner of the nose, into the corner of your eye and
back down the side of your nose. Within the cheek, we have many other arteries which
feed the fleshy part of the cheek and link to the angular artery.
The mental artery is below your lip and feeds the skin around the chin.
The columella artery lies above your lip, in the dip between the two philtra
The dorsal and nasal arteries are situated in the nose.
The supraorbital artery is above the eye
The supratrochlear artery runs down the centre of your forehead, between the frown lines

At The Aesthetic Room, we fully understand the intricacy of the facial vascular system allowing us to undertake a bespoke facial vascular analysis and in turn the course of treatment that will give you and your skin the best result.

Facial Muscular Anatomy

The muscles in your face are responsible for facial expression, speaking, chewing and other movements. Each of these muscles has a unique function and over time repetitive daily use causes skin wrinkles (known as rhytids).

The basic anatomy relating to anti-wrinkle treatments includes the following muscles:

The frontalis muscle is a large muscle running across the forehead and is responsible for
raising your eyebrows. As such it creates fine lines and wrinkles above your eyebrows and
hairline.
The procerus muscle runs between the brows and the corrugator muscles sit above
each brow. These muscles contract as the frontalis relaxes and vice-versa and together
create a depression of the brows, resulting in frown lines.
The orbicularis oculi muscle is around the eyes and is responsible for creating crow’s
feet wrinkles around the eyes.
The masseter muscle sits just above the corner of the jaw angle and is responsible for
clenching the teeth. Treating this muscle can alleviate discomfort caused by excessive
teeth clenching and also slim the face.
The nasalis and other small muscles around the nose can be treated to address bunny
lines, the lines radiating out when you scrunch your nose.
The levator labii superioris muscle, contributes to facial expression and movement of the
mouth and upper lip. As this muscle lifts the upper lip it can expose too much gum, which is
aesthetically treatable.
The orbicularis oris surrounds the lip and forms the mouth. Treatment in this muscle can
help wrinkles along the upper lip and create a slight lift of the upper lip. By showing more of
the inner pink lip, this lift makes lips appear larger without the use of fillers.
The depressor anguli oris, pulls the outer aspect of your mouth downwards and is
associated with a downturned mouth.
The mentalis muscle is located at the tip of the chin and when treated can alleviate a
pebbly orange peel chin.
The platysma, at the very front of the throat, runs down the neck and is responsible for
pulling down the lower jaw, creating that downward pull that we all experience as we age.
Careful treatment can help lift the neck and improve jowls.

At The Aesthetic Room, we fully understand the complexity of the facial muscular anatomy and how they create fine lines and wrinkles. With every client, we undertake a bespoke facial analysis and recommend the best course of aesthetic treatment.

The Science of Ageing

Throughout our lives, our skin goes through a multitude of changes.

In our 20’s our skin is already ageing. The deep fat pockets under the eyes that were evident in our teens begin to disappear and you may notice fine lines, discolouration, and a duller complexion. During this period, regular treatments such as Dermalux and microneedling can boost collagen production.

In our 30’s fat is deflating and muscle tone reducing. You might spot early signs of jowls and deeper nasolabial folds – the creases in your skin that run from the sides of your nose to the corners of your mouth. Collagen induction therapies, PDO threads, dermal fillers and PRP therapy can call delay these early ageing signs.

In our 40s facial ligaments and fascia are stretching, overlaying tissues begin to droop and skin begins to sag. Dermal fillers can now be used to structurally support muscles, anti-wrinkle injections can address lines and medial cheek fillers can lift jowls.

In our 50s bone loss begins, causing ligaments and muscles to stretch more as they lose support. Fat continues to reduce, resulting in hollowed and sagging skin, the pH level of our skin changes and it becomes more sensitive. Skin-nourishing facials are ideal during this period.

As a result of the changing needs of our skin, it’s critical that your facial practitioner understands these physiological changes on the face as we age and treats you appropriately.

Menopause

As hormone levels plummet during menopause your skin can become dry, slack, and thin as it loses collagen. As collagen diminishes, skin loses firmness leading to jowls, prominent pores, permanent lines around the nose and mouth and wrinkles that used to appear only with a smile or frown become visible all the time.

Fluctuating female hormones can also cause acne, and increased skin sensitivity, and conditions such as eczema might worsen. You may also notice more hair on your face and less on your scalp.

Therapies that address menopausal issues include:

Dermalux and SkinPen to increase collagen production
Dermaplaning facials to alleviate additional facial hair
PRP therapy for hair loss to the scalp.
Profhilo to help remedy dryer skin and restore a youthful glow
Medik8 chemical peels and Dermalux therapy to treat acne
Dermalux therapy to treat inflamed skin.

If menopause is overwhelming you and your skin, together we can create an effective treatment plan that delivers noticeable results.

Genuine Expression

Two key facial muscles are recruited when we smile; the zygomaticus major which radiates from the corner of the mouth to the side of the face, and the orbicularis oculi around the eyes. When these work together, your face lights up with your own special brand of facial expression and a smile that defines you.

Excessive or incorrect use of anti-wrinkle treatments and fillers can negatively affect how these facial muscles work, creating unnatural expressions. At the Aesthetic Room, we work gently with you to soften your fine lines whilst keeping the movement, expression and shape of your face that makes you, YOU.