title: An analysis of Asian midfacial fat thickness according to age group using computed tomography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The understanding of facial fat volume change with aging is essential for facial rejuvenation. The aim of this study was to investigate aging-related alterations of midfacial fat thickness (FT) using computed tomographic images.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty computed tomographic scans of patients of four age groups (20s, 40s, 60s, and 80s), who underwent septoturbinoplasty, were studied. The body mass index of the patients was limited to 25.0±2 kg/m2. At seven consistent points in the midface including the infraorbital (two points), mid-cheek (two) and nasojugal area (three), the measurements of the total facial thickness (TFT) and FT were conducted on a reconstructed sagittal plane by four trained observers using a medical imaging software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The interrater reliabilities for each measured point were excellent (overall intraclass correlation coefficients=0.94). There was no significant difference in the TFTs of each point among the age groups (all P>0.05). By contrast, the FTs of the four points (infraorbital and nasojugal area) showed a significant increment in the elderly than in young subjects (all P<0.011). The FTs of the mid-cheek exhibited almost no change among the age groups (all P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that the midfacial fat pad is thickened in the elderly and that there is a site specificity in the alteration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Seok
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: siamkhy@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hyo Yeol
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hun-Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Dhong
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Duk
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D044466:Asian People; D002610:Cheek / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012225:Rhinoplasty; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Aging; Facial rejuvenation; Fat; Midface