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Smoker’s Lines & Lip Wrinkles
| Overview |
|---|
| Primary Concerns |
| Also Known As |
| Common Causes |
| Affects |
| Primary Non-Surgical Solution |
| Supporting Treatments |
| Time to See Results |
| Results Duration |
| Details |
|---|
| Vertical Wrinkles Above and Around the Lips |
| Perioral Rhytids, Lipstick Lines, Lip Wrinkles |
| Orbicularis Oris Muscle Contraction, Smoking, Sun Damage, Ageing, Collagen Loss |
| Adults, particularly from late 30s onwards |
| Dermal Fillers (for static lines), RF Microneedling (for skin texture) |
| Anti-Wrinkle Injections (for dynamic lines), Profhilo, Polynucleotide Treatment |
| Immediate (Fillers); 2 weeks (Botox); 3-6 months (Microneedling) |
| 3-4 months (Botox); 9-12 months (Fillers) |
Understanding Perioral Lines (Smoker’s Lines)
Perioral rhytids, commonly known as smoker’s lines or lip lines, are the fine vertical wrinkles that radiate outwards from the border of the lips. While they are associated with smoking, they can and do affect non-smokers. The primary causes are multifactorial:
- Muscle Contraction: The repetitive pursing of the lips from the contraction of the underlying orbicularis oris muscle is the main cause. This occurs when smoking, drinking from a straw or bottle, or even just through habitual facial expressions.
- Sun Damage: UV radiation breaks down collagen and elastin, the proteins that give skin its strength and elasticity. The skin around the mouth is particularly susceptible to sun damage.
- Ageing & Volume Loss: As we age, we lose collagen, elastin, and underlying soft tissue volume around the mouth. The skin becomes thinner and less able to resist the creasing caused by muscle movement, leading to the formation of permanent, static lines.
- Smoking: In addition to the pursing motion, the thousands of chemicals in cigarette smoke generate free radicals that accelerate the breakdown of collagen and elastin, significantly worsening these lines.
How we at Shumaila’s can treat this
Effective treatment of smoker’s lines often requires a combination approach to address both the dynamic muscle movement and the static, etched-in lines. Our clinical approach is to assess the specific cause of your lines and recommend a tailored protocol.
Excellent 4.9 out of 5
Non Surgical
Primary Treatments
RF Microneedling
This is a powerful collagen-stimulating treatment that is highly effective for improving the texture of the skin around the mouth. By creating controlled micro-injuries and delivering radiofrequency energy into the dermis, it triggers a healing response that builds new collagen. This thickens and strengthens the skin, making it more resistant to creasing.
Ideal for
Patients with etched-in static lines and poor skin texture around the mouth
Results
A gradual softening of lines and improvement in skin quality over 3-6 months
Management
A course of 3-6 treatments is often recommended for optimal results
Dermal Fillers (for lines)
For lines that are visible even when the face is at rest (static lines), a very soft, fine-line hyaluronic acid filler can be meticulously injected directly into the wrinkles. This provides immediate plumping and smoothing of the individual lines without adding unwanted volume to the lip itself.
Ideal for
Patients with visible, etched-in smoker’s lines
Results
An immediate softening and reduction in the appearance of the lines
Management
Results typically last around 9-12 months. There is minimal downtime
Progressive Treatments
Supporting Treatments
Profhilo® & Polynucleotide Treatment
These bio-revitalising injectable treatments improve overall skin quality. Profhilo provides deep hydration with hyaluronic acid, while Polynucleotides are powerful bio-stimulators that signal the skin to repair itself. Both improve skin health, making it more resilient and reducing the appearance of fine lines.
Ideal for
All patients with perioral lines, to improve the overall health and quality of the skin
Results
Improved skin hydration, texture, and radiance
Management
A course of 2-3 treatments is typically recommended
Why choose Shumaila’s
for Lip Line Treatment?
Frequent Asked Questions
Yes, but it must be done with extreme caution and expertise. A very small, precise amount of a neuromodulator like Botox can be injected into the orbicularis oris muscle to relax the pursing motion. This is often called a “lip flip.” It can be very effective for dynamic lines but carries a risk of affecting speech or smiling if done incorrectly. It is often combined with filler for the best results.
No. When treating smoker’s lines, the goal is not to add volume to the lip itself. A very fine, soft filler is placed superficially into the individual lines, not into the body of the lip. This smooths the wrinkles without creating projection or puffiness.
This is very common. The term “smoker’s lines” is a misnomer. These lines are caused by any repetitive pursing of the lips, such as drinking from straws or water bottles, whistling, or even habitual facial expressions, combined with the natural ageing process.
For deep, etched-in lines, a combination approach is usually best. This may involve using dermal filler to fill the static lines, Botox to relax the muscle movement, and a course of RF Microneedling to rebuild collagen and improve the skin’s underlying structure.
Applying a high-SPF sunscreen daily is the most important step. You can also try to be mindful of facial habits, such as avoiding drinking from straws. Maintaining good skin health with a medical-grade skincare routine can also help.