Injectables

How To Get Rid Of Smoker Lip Lines?

Did you rebel in your youth by smoking cigarettes? Did you ever think that your skin might one day rebel in turn? If you’re like most long-term smokers–or ex-smokers–you’ve probably noticed smoker’s lip lines developing around your mouth.

Lip Lines from Smoking: They Can Happen to Anyone

But even if you haven’t smoked a day in your life, you may still be susceptible to smoker’s lines. Why? Though smoking is the most common reason for this type of wrinkling, it can also develop due to skin type and thinness, as well as from everyday facial expressions. What are the factors that cause non-smokers to develop smoker’s lines? Several exist, including:

Genetic predisposition
Sun-damage with premature photo-aging
Recent or sudden weight loss
Dehydrated skin
Repetitive motions, such as sucking on a straw, frowning or pursing your lips
Waxing or threading your upper lip

Regardless of how your lip lines formed, there’s help. Many non-invasive cosmetic treatments are now available on the market, all requiring little to no downtime. Need a little help deciding which ones to try? We’ll outline the best treatments.

A World of Revolutionary Treatments

IPL Facial Treatments

Collagen-producing treatments such as IPL facials work wonders on smoker’s lines.

IPL photo facials work such wonders by using a broad-spectrum light source that penetrates multiple layers of skin. This type of photo facial primarily targets the lower layers of skin (dermis) while leaving the top layers of skin (epidermis) unaffected. The heat generated from the light promotes healing of the skin within, stimulating collagen production, which helps to diminish the appearance of unsightly lip lines.

IPL photo facial treatments call for five treatment sessions spaced three weeks apart to obtain desired results. In some cases, those results can be seen after only the first treatment. What’s more, smoker’s lines continue to improve with each successive treatment.

BOTOX/XEOMIN

We’ve all heard about Botox and Xeomin by now, but did you know that it’s an effective treatment for smoker’s lines? These injections relax the muscles, so when you purse or pucker your lips, the skin won’t crinkle in the area above your mouth.

How does it work? Botox is a neurotoxin and works by attaching itself to nerve endings. Once this happens, the neurotransmitter responsible for triggering muscle contractions, called acetylcholine, can’t be released. To put it more simply, Botox injections temporarily relax the facial muscles that underlie and cause wrinkles. This is also why wrinkles caused by sun damage and gravity don’t respond to Botox treatments.

Since Botox works great for lip lines by weakening facial muscles, full results are generally seen within five-to-seven days. You’ll see deep dynamic wrinkles gradually improve over time, in addition to the early effects seen shortly after treatment. Your results will continue to improve, until about two weeks after the procedure. At that time, you’ll be looking your best. The effects of Botox will gradually wear off over the next four to six months, and whatever smoker’s lines remain will retreat.

Laser Resurfacing

Laser resurfacing using fractional lasers effectively – and permanently – diminish the appearance of smoker’s lines. Laser resurfacing works from the inside out by stimulating your body’s own natural collagen production. It also encourages the skin to replace itself with healthier tissue.

How? Fractional laser treatments use a device to deliver a laser beam divided into thousands of microscopic treatment zones that target a fraction of the skin at a time. You don’t have to worry about missing work, either – fractional laser treatments require little to no downtime.

Clear + Brilliant is a popular laser resurfacing treatment that uses fractional laser technology. It has been clinically proven to significantly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, especially the smoker’s lines. After three to five Clear + Brilliant treatments, almost all patients reported their skin felt smoother, looked younger and noticeably glowed – best of all, their smoker’s lines were significantly diminished. Even after one treatment, patients notice a significant improvement in their appearance; within a week, they report even more dramatic results, including smoother skin texture and more even skin tone.

Juvéderm

Juvéderm is another dermal filler that’s excellent at temporarily diminishing lines around the lips. This filler pushes up and supports the folds that create deep lines around the mouth. How? Juvéderm is comprised of a smooth hyaluronic acid gel that, when injected into the skin, smooths wrinkles and folds. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring molecule found in the human body, and its primary function is to bind and absorb water, creating volume in the face. During the natural aging process, hyaluronic acid found in the body diminishes. The result? Those annoying vertical lines and folds. Juvéderm corrects this by restoring hyaluronic acid in the skin, helping to diminish the appearance of wrinkles and folds around the mouth.

Juvéderm produces immediate results, and these results continue to improve for one to two weeks as Juvéderm softens and draws moisture into the area. And you can expect these results to last up to 12 months. In fact, Juvéderm is proud to be the only FDA-approved hyaluronic acid filler to last up to one year with only one treatment.

GO THE EXTRA MILE

If you’re looking to compliment these treatments or make the effects last longer, there are some things you can do at home to help diminish the appearance of smoker’s lip lines.

Anti-Aging Regimen – Regardless of whether or not you have smoker’s lines, you should always have an anti-aging routine, which includes a moisturizer. Additionally, we recommend calling on the power of Retinol and Vitamin C to keep your skin looking plump and feeling smooth. Prevention, of course, is everything, which is why we all recommend incorporating some protective SPF.
Exfoliate – Exfoliation is normally done to eliminate the skin’s upper layer. Exfoliate the skin around the mouth area and lips on a regular basis to get rid of dead cells, leaving new, tighter and brighter lips. You can do this by taking a mild scrub or soft baby brush to exfoliate the lips on a regular basis.
Facial Exercises – Facial skin with sufficient muscle tone and collagen can deter wrinkling around the mouth. Lost facial firmness can be restored with muscles, and facial exercises help in rebuilding these muscles.