Monday, April 19th, 2021
by Terri Harper, FNP-C
Just when you finally feel comfortable with natural looking lip filler for thinning lips, the problem of aging around the mouth is yet to be solved. Little is said about it, but one of the biggest issues that changes the appearance of the lower face, particularly around the mouth area, is the lengthening of the space from the nose to the upper lip. Like everything else, that space begins to sag and elongate contributing to the thinning appearance of the upper lip and changing the general appearance. The primary culprit for this nuisance is the relaxation of the muscle surrounding the mouth area. That’s the bad news.
Lip filler, when done correctly, can rejuvenate and restore a youthful appearance, even on aging women and those who have “never had an upper lip.” I am not talking about unnatural looking, big lips that announce your entry into a room or conversation. We’ve all seen that and most Southern women cringe to think of it. In fact, it is usually the first thing I hear from patients who finally muster the nerve to inquire about dermal filler for thinning lips. However, most experienced injectors have mastered the art of filling and defining lips leaving a very natural, pleasing appearance, solving the problem of thinning lips that have lost definition. That’s the good news.
Likely the most common complaint regarding around the mouth area of all women over the age of 50, is the vertical lines radiating from the lips, commonly referred to as ‘smokers lines‘. I frequently hear the objection, “But I’ve never smoked.” In reality, smoking only exacerbates the formation of lip lines (the lines area created by the contraction of the circular muscle surrounding the mouth). Every time this area contracts, it functions like a purse string and pulls the entire mouth into a smaller, wrinkled or pleated circle. This action occurs when we drink from a straw, when we whistle, or when we say the consonant sound, ‘w’ with words like ‘when.’ You just said that, didn’t you? As we age and the skin thins and loses elasticity, the lines created with the movements mentioned above, no longer bounce back to a smooth lip and eventually remain etched in the skin. I love a small amount of Botox® in the upper lip to treat these vertical lines. In fact, I have treated 100’s of women through the years and helped them restore a smoother upper lip. Coupled with small threads of dermal filler in deep lines, the appearance of vertical lines in the upper lip space can be greatly reduced.
