Vertical Lip Lines Getting You Down?

By Anne Littman, PA-C, MSHS

One common aging characteristic is the vertical lines present on or over the upper or lower lip. Many people relate these to smokers, however these lines can be present for a variety of reasons. Overuse of the muscles around the mouth leads to repetitive creasing of the skin. Toxins in cigarettes weaken the immune system, leading to poor skin health. But a history of sun damage, internal chronic illness, and other causes of repetitive pursing of the lips may also lead to these undesirable wrinkles.

So, how does one make these stubborn, characteristic lines disappear? The first step, if you are a smoker, is to quit smoking. Aside from decreasing your risk for the leading chronic illnesses and causes of death in this country, you will also improve your immune function, skin, and overall health.

Treatments for already visible, deep lines include injectibles, lasers resurfacing, and even off-label use of neuromodulators.

Fillers for deep wrinkles have become quite common, and have come a long way since collagen. There are now two FDA approved hyaluronic acid based fillers specifically for lips or lip lines, Belotero by Merz, and Restylane Silk by Galderma are smaller in particle size than other fillers, and therefore provide a smooth, natural filling. There is even evidence to support that hyaluronic acid filler injections may cause an increase in new collagen growth, helping to support your skin.

A more aggressive and long lasting treatment is laser resurfacing. This is really the gold standard for removing these deep wrinkles, once they’ve formed. We recommend deep, ablative treatments to actually erase these fine to deep lines. Treatment results and downtime are related to depth of treatment and which laser is used.

A total resurfacing laser is the gold standard for lip lines. A less aggressive, combined ablative and non-ablative treatment exists if you cannot accept aesthetic downtime. Halo by Sciton, a revolutionary hybrid fractional laser, corrects a percentage of your skin. This allows for improved skin appearance, health, overall safety for all skin types, and minimal downtime.

Discuss your concern over lip lines with a trusted, licensed medical provider, to determine the most efficacious and appropriate treatment for you.