Exploring Project Baby Face: My Journey to a Younger Appearance
What if you could turn back the clock on aging? Many believe it’s impossible, but my year of scientific exploration suggests youthful rejuvenation might be within reach. As my internal health markers soared, I realized appearance plays a crucial role in how vitality is perceived.
What happened to my face?
A year ago, I launched an ambitious project to explore the limits of youthful appearance using rigorous science. At that time, well-meaning friends and strangers alike worried I was on the brink of death, prompting deep reflection on lifestyle, health, and what it truly means to age gracefully. Embracing caloric restriction—cutting my daily intake from 2,500 to 1,950 calories—aimed to modulate mTOR signaling, boost autophagy, and slow cellular aging. I measured the impact with DEXA scans, blood panels, and telomere assessments. The diet improved my biomarkers dramatically—blood pressure normalized, cholesterol dropped, and insulin sensitivity surged—yet the unintended consequence was significant facial fat and collagen loss, leaving my features gaunt and paradoxically older-looking.
On social media, comparisons to the ethereal face of actress Tilda Swinton underscored a disconnect between actual health metrics and societal cues for youthfulness. In a culture that equates facial volume with vitality, my lean appearance risked masking the remarkable gains in biological age markers. Recognizing facial fullness as integral to perceived youth, I launched Project Baby Face to reconcile healthspan advancements with a naturally youthful visage.
The Science of Facial Aging
Facial aging involves multifactorial processes: collagen and elastin fibers degrade, subcutaneous fat pads atrophy, and bone density recedes. Chronic glycation stiffens skin, and vascular tone diminishes, further contributing to sagging and hollowing. Starting in our twenties, collagen levels decline by roughly 1% per year [verify], and by age 80, up to 75% of youthful collagen may be lost, altering contours around the cheeks, jawline, and eyes. Research shows that the midface fat compartments are particularly vulnerable to volume loss, influencing perceived age more than wrinkling alone. This biology underscores why restoring both collagen and fat structure is vital to any anti-aging face project.
Project Baby Face
Could advanced rejuvenation technologies genuinely restore volume rather than mask it with synthetic fillers? I pursued five key interventions, each rigorously tested and documented:
- Sculptra: A poly-L-lactic acid bio-stimulator injected into temples, cheeks, and jawline to provoke gradual collagen neosynthesis over six to twelve months. I chose two vials every six months—double the standard annual recommendation—to catch up on decades of loss. Typical downtime is mild bruising, and full volumization can last two years or more with proper maintenance.
- Reuva (Fat Transfer): Autologous fat transfer is ideal, but I lacked reserves, so we trialed donor fat. An extreme allergic response—including swelling that obscured vision—on day one forced us to discontinue after one session, highlighting the need for stringent compatibility testing.
- Increased Calories: To support healthy tissue regeneration, I raised my intake from 1,950 to 2,250 calories, emphasizing nutrient-dense sources rich in vitamin C, zinc, and amino acids. This yielded a healthy 15 lb (7 kg) gain, reinflating facial volume and improving energy levels without sacrificing my optimized health markers.
- Lutein Reduction: Excessive lutein—a carotenoid found in leafy greens and supplements—was depositing in my dermis, turning my complexion yellow. Reducing intake from 20 mg to 15 mg daily corrected my skin tone, clarifying that not all “health” nutrients yield a youthful look in excess.
- Under-eye PRF (Platelet-Rich Fibrin): Blood drawn from my arm is centrifuged to isolate plasma rich in growth factors, which is then injected under the eyes to stimulate natural tissue regeneration. Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, PRF integrates seamlessly without migration risk and supports microvascular health. I repeat treatments every three months for consistent rejuvenation.
Is this really important?
Project Baby Face revealed that no matter how outstanding one’s healthspan metrics—hormone balance, inflammatory markers, telomere length—society often gauges wellness by the fullness of a face. Anthropological studies confirm that plump cheeks and smooth contours are universal youth cues. Yet, as technology extends lifespans, aesthetic decline can obscure biological resilience. If anti-aging science is to shift cultural norms, we must align external appearance with internal health. Focusing solely on lab data risks leaving those breakthroughs unseen when appearance does not signal vitality.
What’s next?
My ultimate goal remains audacious: achieve a biological age equivalent to an 18-year-old across all health and aesthetic dimensions. Future experiments may include low-level laser therapy to boost collagen alignment, CRISPR-based gene editing for skin regeneration, and targeted stem cell implants in depleted fat compartments. I’m also exploring microneedling combined with PRF for synergistic effects on collagen remodeling. AI-driven personalization and continuous biomarker monitoring could tailor nutrition, exercise, and aesthetic protocols to each individual. Every innovation will be rigorously tested in my project lab against both objective health data and standardized 3D facial scans.
“As we head into the future, many of our preconceived notions may be challenged by things that come to pass.” — Bryan Johnson
Maintaining a spirit of open-minded inquiry will be crucial as we chart these new frontiers.
Take Action
Before embarking on any facial rejuvenation project, consult experienced health and aesthetic professionals. Track key healthspan biomarkers—blood panels, hormone profiles, telomere length—and pair them with objective appearance metrics such as 3D facial scans and standardized photography. Keep a detailed health and lifestyle journal, enlist a coach or accountability partner, and introduce one variable at a time to isolate effective interventions. Your face is the most visible indicator of your internal health journey—treat it with the same rigor you reserve for your lab results.
Conclusion
Bold Takeaway
• Embrace an open mindset toward aging and well-being; breakthrough discoveries may be closer than they appear!
What will your exploration of aging and appearance redefine in your own life? Share your insights and check out this Blueprint Stack to see how my body has evolved over time.