COSMETIC TREATMENTS TO REDUCE UPPER LIP WRINKLES

Cosmetic Treatments To Reduce Upper Lip Wrinkles

In a recent article, we elaborated upon the various lip fillers, their placements, common brands, the procedure, and the importance of professional training (Read our article on Training In Lip Fillers At IIWAM).

In today’s article, we will help to educate you further about the various cosmetic treatment to reduce upper lip wrinkles.

About upper lip wrinkles

Wrinkles occur when the skin loses collagen- the natural fibers that make your skin firm and supple. Although the loss of collagen occurs naturally with age, other skin components and certain lifestyle habits may speed up this process. The resulting wrinkles tend to be most prominent around thinner areas of the face, including the mouth and upper lip.

Causes of upper lip wrinkles

The upper lip area is one of the first spots on your face that may develop wrinkles due to the thinness of the skin, as it contains less collagen than other areas of the face.

Besides collagen, other aspects of the skin aging process should be considered, such as a loss of elastin and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), which contribute to skin elasticity and hydration. These are known as intrinsic or natural aging, resulting in thinning of the skin and volume loss. This can make the lips smaller as the vermillion border is flattened and less defined.

Extrinsic factors that are outside influences may also increase your risk of premature wrinkles around the mouth and upper lips-

Repetitive movement

Continuous daily facial movements, such as talking, eating, smiling, pouting, and frowning, significantly contribute to the presence of lines above the lips. Over time, these expressions can deepen lines when you contract the muscle surrounding the mouth (Orbicularis oris).

Sun exposure

Sun damage is synonymous with aging and is an undeniable factor in how vertical upper lip lines form. UV rays penetrate the upper lip skin cell structure and affect dermal cell growth and DNA. Sun damage is also cumulative, so more sun exposure results in more vertical lines.

Alcohol consumption and smoking

Skin cells thrive on hydration. The main side effect of excessive drinking alcohol and smoking is dehydration, and the skin is the first place of evidence of this.

Alcohol can also cause inflammation which accelerates aging and can make one look red and puffy.

Pursing the lips together while smoking adds to the damaging lines on the upper lips, and the nicotine in cigarettes also deprives the skin of antioxidants, oxygen, and nutrients.

The best treatment for wrinkles above the lip

Non-surgical cosmetic procedures like dermal fillers, anti-wrinkle injectables, and laser treatments can enhance youthfulness and appearance. In addition to injectable fillers and laser treatment, a consistent skincare routine and lifestyle changes can prevent lip lines.

Some of the best non-invasive treatments for lip wrinkles include:

  • Botox injections

  • Chemical peel

  • Laser resurfacing

  • Dermabrasion/ Microdermabrasion

Botox injections

A drug made from a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, Botulinum Toxin or Botox is prominently used as a treatment to reduce the appearance of wrinkles in the upper areas of the face, including the upper lip, elevate the eyebrows as well as treat common problems such as hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), lichen simplex, pompholyx, and acne vulgaris.

As a muscle relaxant or neuromodulator, Botox has an anti-wrinkle effect through its mechanism of action on the neuromuscular junction. This causes relaxation of facial muscles, thereby reducing facial wrinkles like frown lines, crow’s feet at the side of the eyes, wrinkles around the mouth, nasolabial folds and smoothing out neck and chest wrinkles.

Chemical peel

Chemical peeling is a method of targeted cutaneous chemo-exfoliation by specific caustic agents that allows for a rapid, predictable, and uniform thickness of exfoliation to a desired cutaneous depth, ultimately resulting in improvement in the overall appearance of skin. The main aim of a chemical peel procedure is to remove a uniform thickness of damaged and aged skin in a controlled manner and subsequently allow for normal wound healing and skin rejuvenation to occur. The aesthetic practitioner needs to control the exfoliation and inflammation to minimize complications, such as fine lines above the upper lips, scarring, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Laser resurfacing

Laser Skin Resurfacing treatment helps rejuvenate the skin by resurfacing its upper layers. Lasers help to improve the appearance of lentigines and rhytids, eliminate photoaging, soften scarring due to acne and other causes, and treat dyspigmentation. Lasers commonly used for Laser Skin Resurfacing treatment include ablative and non-ablative Lasers in both fractionated and unfractionated forms and radiofrequency technologies.

CO2 Lasers and Erbium (Er: YAG) Lasers treat scars, wrinkles, and other skin conditions. They promote collagen remodelling, making them popular options for treating fine lines, wrinkles, skin laxity, and age spots. Both of these Lasers can be Fractionated, and hence they are available in surgical and fractional modes.

Non-ablative Lasers used for skin rejuvenation include NdYag and Erbium Glass Laser. Non-ablative Lasers often require no downtime at all.

Fractionating the laser beam makes the treatment safer with less downtime and complications.

Dermabrasion/Microdermabrasion

Dermabrasion and microdermabrasion are facial resurfacing techniques that mechanically ablate wrinkled, damaged skin to promote reepithelialization. However, physical abrasion of the skin is common in both procedures; dermabrasion and microdermabrasion use different instruments with different technical execution.

Dermabrasion completely removes the epidermis and penetrates to the level of the papillary or reticular dermis level, inducing remodelling of the skin’s structural proteins. Microdermabrasion, a more superficial variation of dermabrasion, only removes the outer layer of the epidermis, accelerating the natural process of exfoliation.

Both techniques are particularly effective in treating scars and produce clinically significant improvements in skin appearance. Dermabrasion is performed under local or general anesthesia using a motorized handpiece that rotates with a wire brush or a diamond fraise on the skin. There is often a small pinpoint bleeding of the raw wound after the procedure that can be reduced with proper wound care. All micro-dermabraders include a pump that generates a stream of aluminium oxide or salt crystals with a handpiece and vacuum to remove the crystals and exfoliate the overall skin. Unlike dermabrasion, microdermabrasion can be repeated at a short time interval, is painless, and does not require any local anesthesia.

About IIWAM training in various cosmetic treatment procedures to reduce upper lip wrinkles

It is prudent that all Aesthetic practitioners undergo proper training in Aesthetic Medicine. The practitioner must balance between benefits & risks of the Aesthetic procedure and steps to mitigate complications if it occurs. At IIWAM, we call it understanding the procedure, the product, and the patient, and our trainers pay utmost attention to teaching various cosmetic treatment procedures to reduce upper lip wrinkles under our best trusted online international cosmetology course.

Apply for the best online aesthetic courses from IIWAM today.  

About IIWAM

International Institute of Wellness & Aesthetic Medicine (https://www.iiwam.ac/education) is a private teaching institution that provides International Aesthetic Medical Certification programs for Doctors, Dentists, Nurses, Aestheticians, and Spa Owners. Prof Dr Morthy, the course director for the Institute, is a key opinion leader for Aesthetic Medicine in the region, and a trainer for several teaching institutions.

The International Institute of Wellness & Aesthetic Medicine (IIWAM) has academic affiliations with several countries, including Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, India and Indonesia. With our insignia of “Be Certified & Be Recognized”, the Institute develops knowledgeable, skilled, and confident aesthetic practitioners of international repute.
IIWAM is the only Institute to have its Programs certified by City & Guilds of London, CPD Standards Office (UK) and  European International University (Paris). IIWAM is also a registered CPD Training provider for Malaysian Medical Association.

IIWAM also offers Cosmetic Procedures and Stem Cell treatment at IIWAM Wellness Centre (https://www.iiwam.ac/wellness) that are safe, effective, and affordable.