Age is characterized by a loss of tissue whether we're talking about bone or muscle/ fat. Over time the cheekbones, jawbones and the soft tissue that pad them tend to atrophy or shrink in volume. Our understanding of aging has changed dramatically and most plastic surgeons are now not only focused on pulling and tightening faces but also replacing the volume lost with aging. For minimal to moderate aging, sometimes volume replacement without surgery can have dramatic effects. Stephen Weber MD, FACS
The cheekbone better know as the zygoma and the jawbone, better know as the lateral mandible both get reduced and thinner with aging in studies done on CT scan of a young group vs an older counterpart.