Why do I have so many wrinkles around my lips?
Along with muscles around the eyes, muscles that control the lips are the most active. As such, the skin overlying these muscles are very prone to getting etched in lines. Additionally, UV damage and environmental insults (such as smoking), may cause the wrinkles and lines around the lips to quickly become prominent.
What approach should I take to reverse signs of aging due wear and tear?
Below are some treatments to consider when attempting to reverse signs of aging around the lips:
1) Fillers: Dermal fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane are excellent aids in filling in the deep wrinkles set in by movement. Most often the filller will be placed directly under the deep lines being treated. However, sometimes a little filler placed in the lip itself will allow for stretching the skin immediately surrounding the lip.
2) Botox: When placed by an experienced dermatologist in very small amounts, botox can be an indispensible aid in fighting formation of deep lines around the lips. This is an area when less is more: with an inappropriate dose the botox can cause problems with speech and eating. After this treatment you may not be able to make a very tight “O” (so smoking and drinking out of a straw may be difficult), but it should not interfere with your regular speech and activities.
3) Chemical peels: Superficial-to-medium chemical peels can be a very useful in controlling fine lines and wrinkles around the lip. TCA-Lactic acid combinations generally offer improvement when combined with the above modalities.
4) Laser: Some of the fractioned lasers like Fraxel Repair can provide excellent results when it comes to signs of aging around the lips. They do require some recover period (most patients take a week off work). Also in some instances mild redness may remain around the lips for 3 months (which may be treated if needed by a different laser).
It is important to note that every person’s need will be slightly different. Please make an appointment for a comprehensive consultation to determine which treatment(s) are best for your needs.
Before and After Glytone Enerpeel EL. Photo courtesy of Glytone.
