Smoker’s lines are small, vertical wrinkles that develop around the mouth, particularly above the upper lip, due to collagen loss, skin aging, and repetitive muscle movement. While associated with smoking and vaping, they also appear in nonsmokers due to sun exposure and genetics. Contrary to what the name suggests, you don’t have to be a smoker to have upper lip lines, and they’re one of the top skin ageing complaints out there. There is a wide range of causes behind them—but more importantly, just as many treatments to reverse them.
Smoker’s lines occur as we grow older and the lip naturally starts to lose its volume, along with repetitive bunching of the tissue from muscle movement.
These vertical lines appear just above the mouth and actually occur in non-smokers as well. Even if you never smoked in your life, you can develop fine lines around the mouth from sipping through a straw, whistling a tune or pursing your lips in frustration.
But if you are a smoker these lip lines are formed in 2 ways:
- The toxins in cigarettes accelerate the breakdown of collagen and elastin, two proteins that give structure and bounce to our skin.
- The repeated action of pursing your lips and sucking through a cigarette gives way to the formation of dynamic lines—that is, the wrinkles that develop when we repeatedly make certain facial expressions.
As well as natural ageing, the effects of sun exposure can also develop and increase the lines around the lips. Since the lips often go unprotected, they’re more susceptible to developing fine lines and wrinkles.
WHAT IS THE BEST TREATMENT FOR UPPER LIP LINES?
Chemical peels remove the top layers of the epidermis, revealing fresher, smoother skin beneath. The treatment encourages the production of new collagen that leads to more fullness above the lips and therefore fewer lines. The peels can tighten the skin and improve the overall colour, tone and texture.
Dermal fillers offer the most effective non-surgical method for treating smoker’s lines. Usually only requiring a very small volume of the dermal filler injected into precise locations along the lines and lip border.
Anti-Wrinkle Injections will help to relax muscle contractions, thereby relaxing the lines, whilst dermal fillers soften the more permanent etching that may have occurred around the lip area.
Not only does the combination of dermal fillers and anti-wrinkle injections give superior results, but this regime will also help extend the longevity of the overall outcome.
Also worth considering is a little bit of lip enhancement. Adding some bulk to the lips with dermal lip fillers will also have a positive effect on the smoker’s lines by further elongating the lip that may have contracted over the years.
Both options a quick on office treatments with very little to no side effects.
If you’re noticing persistent perioral lines or want clarity on what’s driving them in your case, book a facial assessment with us. An assessment looks at skin quality, facial movement patterns, and structural support so any options discussed are matched to your anatomy, goals, and safety considerations.
