LIP LINE/ SMOKER'S LINES
treatment
anti-wrinkle injections
Softening lip lines: Smokers’ lines/ perioral lines/ vertical lip lines and lipstick lines.
WHAT ARE LIP LINES?
Lip lines are vertical wrinkles that form above and along your upper lip, extending upwards towards your nose. They are also referred to as smokers’ lines (even if you have never smoked), perioral lines and lipstick lines.
HOW DO UPPER LIP LINES FORM?
They are a part of the natural ageing process and develop over time.
Repetitive muscle movements and facial expressions, volume loss around the whole mouth area and in the lips, and changes in the quality of the skin, all contribute to the formation of these wrinkles.
The ageing process: Over time we are losing volume all around the mouth and also in the lips. We are losing volume in the fat pads, bone, and skin quality. The lips become thinner and the whole perioral area loses structural support. The lips lose definition and fine lines appear in the lips and all around the mouth.
Skin changes: With age there is a decline in collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. This is what gives our skin elasticity and bounce. When these decline, fine lines and wrinkles appear.
Repetitive muscle movements when speaking and the way you purse your lips can make these vertical lip lines worse.
Habits such as smoking and sun exposure will also make the lip lines worse.
I HAVE NEVER SMOKED BUT STILL HAVE LIP LINES
They appear naturally in non-smokers as well.
Many factors contribute to these lines depending on the strength of your muscle around the mouth (Orbicularis Oris muscle), the degree of volume loss around the mouth, or the way you speak, talk, and even from repetitive movements such as whistling, singing or drinking through a straw.
These lines can appear worse when pursing your lips together when blowing a kiss.
For smokers these lines can be worse due to the repetitive action of pursing the lips around the cigarette, as well as causing inflammation and premature ageing from the cigarette and cigarette smoke.
CAN LIP LINES BE PREVENTED?
Understanding the factors that contribute to their formation, will help to prevent them from becoming more prominent and help to maintain a youthful appearance.
Fortunately, there are many treatments that can reduce their appearance such as anti-ageing and skin treatments and volume replacement if they do become deep.
Reducing sugar consumption, refraining from smoking, reducing alcohol content, stress, and environmental factors all contribute to the appearance of these lines.
A combination approach will help to soften the appearance of the wrinkles and strengthen the skin. Some of these include preventative treatments to reduce the strength of the muscle around the mouth, while still being able to maintain your normal facial expressions.
Volume replacement to the whole mouth area to provide support and strength and replacing lost volume and definition in the lip border and body of the lip can help to reduce their appearance.
There are also treatments you can do at home to maximise your results.
TREATMENTS FOR SOFTENING LIP LINES
The type, depth and severity of the lip lines will determine what treatment would soften their appearance.
We do suggest a multi-modality treatment approach to target the fine lines around
the mouth and in the lips, by addressing all the changes that occur during the ageing
process. These include relaxing the muscle around the mouth, replacing lost volume
and support, and improving the quality of skin around the mouth.
1) Reducing the strength of the Orbicularis Oric muscle (the muscle around the
mouth that causes vertical lines) will reduce the repetitive mouth action that
makes lip lines stronger. The lines will not disappear but by reducing the
muscle strength, will still allow for facial movements and the lines will soften.
2) Replacing volume around the mouth to provide strength and support to the
whole mouth area and also softening individual fine lines. If you have ever
lost a tooth or had wisdom teeth removed your dentition can change,
providing a loss of support and lines can appear heavier or deeper on that
side.
3) Improving the overall skin quality with skin boosters, PRP, micro needling,
chemical peels and active medical grade skincare to boost collagen, elastin
and hydration levels.
We provide consultations to reduce the appearance of these wrinkles and will discuss the treatments suitable to you, and your lip lines, during a consultation.
WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE TO SOFTEN THEIR APPEARANCE?
These treatments will work in harmony with the anti-ageing and volumising treatments available in clinic to prevent them from getting worse. Some of these you can do at home.
Skin needling: Uses an electronic device with multiple tiny needles to penetrate the skin surface in a controlled and precise way- adjusting the depth according to the tissue type and skin concerns. This stimulates the body to produce its own collagen and elastin and thereby improving the skin texture, tone and reducing the appearance of the wrinkles around the mouth. Around the whole mouth can be treated, but not in the lips itself.
PRP: Platelet Rich Plasma is a scientifically proven skin rejuvenation treatment that boosts your own collagen production, tones and tightens the skin by repairing the elasticity and quality of the skin. This treatment can improve the wrinkles but also strengthen the skin around the whole mouth with a targeted approach.
Chemical Peels: Encourages the growth of new skin cells, to improve the texture, tone and luminosity of the skin. We have a range of customised peels available to target wrinkles and add hydration into the skin. This encourages the production of collagen, that reduces the appearance of lines, while improving the overall tone of the skin above the upper lip. A series of peels would be needed.
Daily use of SPF 50+: Scientifically proven to protect the skin from premature ageing. Protecting the skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays by reducing the formation of wrinkles and reducing dark spots and discolouration. Will strengthen the skins barrier and promote hydration. The sun does weaken the skins barrier so look for a broad-spectrum 50+ that does contain added ingredients and hydration. A lip balm also containing SPF 50+ will help.
Airyday 50+ skin screen is available in clinic as a sunscreen, makeup primer, blue light blocking, contains hyaluronic acid and vitamins C, E & F all in the one tube. This can also be applied to the lips.
Skin care with active ingredients: Daily use of active skin care to boost collagen such as retinol, vitamin C and peptides can help to improve the appearance of wrinkles over time.
Ask about our lip plump serum that maintains the lip integrity, plumps the lips, hydrates the lips, and reduces lips roughness. This can be incorporated into your daily sunscreen and skincare regime.
LED light therapy: Light emitting diode is a non-invasive treatment that improves the skin by targeting a range of skin concerns and boosts your own collagen. LED light therapy uses different wave lengths of light to penetrate the skin at different depths.
Airyday LED masks are available in clinic to purchase to use in the comfort of your own home for 10 minutes, 3 times a week. These masks have 3 clinically proven wavelengths of light that can be used separately or together to reduce the appearance of lip lines.
Masks: Vskin hydration masks: Soothing sheet mask is infused with a specially formulated, high concentration of actives: Hyaluronic acid, 17 Amino Acids and Vitamins to accelerate hydration and recovery, leaving your skin fresh, soft and radiant.
Laser: To target fine lines and resurfacing of the skin.
Lifestyle changes: Quality sleep, staying hydrated and a balanced diet can all help to contribute to slowing down the visible signs of ageing and lip lines.
Consultations are available for this particular indication by a qualified health care practitioner. Depending on the outcome of the consultation, this may or may not lead to the provision of a prescription. It is also so important to consult a skin clinician who can discuss all the options, after assessing your skin and listening to your skin goals. The risks, treatment and all the information are discussed during this face-to-face consultation.