The Best Treatments for Wrinkles & Sagging Around the Mouth
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Some say wrinkles are a sign of a life well lived, but years of smiling and laughing are not responsible for wrinkles and sagging around the mouth. The natural aging process is mostly to blame, although there are some genetic and lifestyle factors that can also contribute to the formation of lines around the thinner areas of your face. Fortunately, there are several cosmetic treatments available aimed at smoothing out wrinkles and tightening up sagging skin around the mouth. Here’s a brief rundown on the available treatments, plus tips for preventing the look of fine lines and wrinkles going forward.
What are the different types of mouth wrinkles?
Medically speaking, mouth wrinkles are called perioral wrinkles, which are generally defined as lines that develop around the lip area. More specifically, there are three main subtypes of perioral wrinkles:
Smile lines/laugh lines: Wrinkles along the sides of the mouth that are more prominent when you laugh or smile.
Marionette lines: Vertical wrinkles that develop from your lower lip to your chin, creating a sagging appearance.
Lipstick lines: Vertical wrinkles that develop along the upper lip and on the lip itself, caused mainly by smoking and puckering but also aging.
What causes mouth wrinkles and sagging?
The primary factor in determining how badly your skin wrinkles is collagen, a naturally-occurring fiber in the skin that keeps it firm and supple. Collagen naturally breaks down as you age—according to medical studies, your skin will produce about 1% less collagen every year after you’re 20 years old. The skin in some areas of the face is thinner and already has less collagen to start out with, and those areas—including around the eyes and mouth—are usually the first to develop wrinkles. Aside from the natural aging process, genetics can play a role in the development of wrinkles, along with environmental and lifestyle factors such as sun damage, smoking, dehydration, stress, and poor nutrition.
What treatments are available for wrinkles around the mouth?
There is a wide variety of treatments available to smooth out wrinkles and firm up skin around the mouth, from non-invasive remedies to surgical solutions. Some of the most common treatments include:
Chemical peel: Sloughs away the top layer of dry or sun-damaged skin to reveal smoother skin beneath.
Dermabrasion: Exfoliating technique that uses a large specialized brush to resurface the skin skin to treat fine lines and sun damage.
Microdermabrasion: Similar to dermabrasion, but uses fine crystals or diamond-tipped wands instead of a brush.
Microneedling: Collagen induction therapy that uses tiny needles to create small wounds in your skin, stimulating the production of collagen for firmer, healthier skin.
Dermal fillers: Injectable dermal fillers made with hyaluronic acid and poly-L-lactic acid plump the area around the injection site and smooth out wrinkles.
Botox: An injectable neurotoxin that relaxes facial muscles to erase the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Laser skin resurfacing: High beams of light resurface the skin, encouraging the growth of fresh new skin for a smoother, more radiant appearance.
Facelift: Surgical procedure that smooths out deep wrinkles and corrects sagging skin through incisions, fat transfers, and manipulation of muscles and skin tissue.
Are mouth wrinkles preventable?
Wrinkles might be a natural part of the aging process, but there are things you can do to slow the onset of new fine lines and wrinkles in the future:
Quit smoking, which is terrible for your skin
Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated
Use moisturizer on your face daily
Use anti-aging serum
Exfoliate your face at least twice a week to shed dead skin cells
Limit direct sun exposure and wear sunscreen every time you’re outside
Get at least seven hours of sleep each night
Reduce your intake of caffeine and alcohol
Eat antioxidant-rich foods
Reduce or manage daily stress at work and at home
Stress plays a role in our skin health as well, so be sure to allow yourself time to play, decompress, and rejuvenate as often as possible.
Treatment for wrinkles and sagging around the mouth in San Diego
If you have wrinkles or sagging around the mouth and you want a brighter, smoother, more youthful appearance, Siti Med Spa in San Diego offers a wide variety of solutions, including injectables, laser treatments, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and microneedling.
For more information on our treatment options or to schedule a consultation, call us at (619) 717-8484.
