Smoker’s lines are vertical wrinkles that appear around our lips as we age. They result from the repeated pursing movement of your lips combined with the loss of collagen and elasticity that comes with aging.
While smoking can contribute to premature aging in several ways due to its overall effects on the body, smoker’s lines aren’t unique to smokers. They get their name from the frequent puckering of the lips smokers make when taking a drag, but nonsmokers move their lips the same way during simple daily movements like drinking from a straw and speaking.
If you are dissatisfied with the appearance of your vertical lip lines (whether or not you’ve ever been a smoker) and you’re in the Houston area, Skin Shop medSpa is here to help. Here’s our advice for treating smoker’s lines.
You can take some preventative measures to prevent smoker’s lines from developing or from becoming more pronounced, whether or not you opt for cosmetic treatment. These include healthy lifestyle choices and using SPF daily, including SPF lip balm.
However, prevention can only go so far, and if your vertical lip wrinkles are starting to affect your confidence, we recommend exploring dermal fillers to help fill out and plump your upper lip area, reducing the appearance of smoker’s lines in the process.
Our experts favor hyaluronic acid-based fillers because they’re the most tried and tested on the market. Hyaluronic acid is a natural moisturizing factor that hydrates and plumps your skin.
For smoker’s lines, we use JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC, RESTYLANE® REFYNE, and Revanesse® Versa™+ because they carry products thin enough to inject into the outer lip area without adding undesired volume. Each brand has slight differences that cater to your unique skin, and we determine which product is best for you during your consultation.
You can expect to enjoy the effects of your dermal filler for at least six months, although the duration will vary depending on which product you and our team decide is best for you and your goals.
We prepare your treatment area with a numbing agent so you don’t feel the needle, and there is no downtime — just a few days of post-injection potential of swelling and sensitivity.
To prepare, avoid alcohol and blood thinners (unless recommended to you by your doctor) for two days before and one day following the treatment.
While these advanced cosmetic options can improve the appearance of smoker’s lines, managing your expectations is critical. Fillers can reduce the depth and severity of the lines but might not eliminate them entirely.
While complete erasure of fine lines may be possible, filling deep lines can lead to an unnatural, puffy appearance.
The lip area is very expressive and active for good reason. Your lip muscles allow you to speak, eat, and drink, so some lines around this area are perfectly normal.
It’s important to consult with an experienced expert like Dr. Tiffany Su or Dr. Hui Kang. They can deliver the improvements you’re looking for while ensuring you retain a balanced and natural appearance.
Call Skin Shop medSpa or book online to schedule your consultation today. We want to help you look and feel your best as soon as possible.
