Lipstick Lines

Lipstick lines, also known as smoker’s lines or perioral lines, are the wrinkles that form around the mouth. As we age, these lines can deepen and make us look older. They can give the mouth a strained look and distract from other features of the face. Thankfully, there are treatments and techniques that can address smoker’s lines with today’s modern technology.

At Phoenix Skin, our team of medical providers specializes in all areas of medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology. We offer multiple different treatment methods for smoker’s lines at our offices in Phoenix and Scottsdale, such as fillers, microneedling, Ellacore, and plasma technology. Our staff can help you find the treatment to address the vertical lipstick lines during a personal consultation. 

Call our Phoenix office at (602) 222-9111 or our Scottsdale office at (480) 473-9111. You can also reach out to us by filling out our contact form. For more information about the treatments and procedures we offer at Phoenix Skin, check out our blog.

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About Lipstick Lines

Every patient’s mouth region ages differently due to the different structures of underlying bones, the positioning of the teeth and jaw, and the condition of the skin. ⁽¹⁾ Lifestyle habits can also contribute to the worsening of smoker’s lines and wrinkles; Repetitive activities, such as smoking, can especially contribute to the deepening of lines in this region. Sun exposure can also increase the skin’s tendency to wrinkle. ⁽¹⁾ However, many people will simply witness these lines appear as a result of the natural process of aging and volume loss in the skin.

Women are typically more likely to be affected by the deep lines around the mouth than men are. ⁽¹⁾ These lines are most noticeable when women wear lipstick and it bleeds into the fine lines. In order to rejuvenate the skin around the mouth and regain a smooth, firm mouth region, patients often seek out hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers, microneedling treatments, Ellacore, and plasma treatments, all of which are effective ways to improve the appearance of these lines.

At Phoenix Skin, we offer different kinds of dermal fillers that volumize the area around the mouth where the vertical wrinkles take place. We also have three other treatments, microneedling, Ellacor, and Plasma Pen, that can help to reduce the appearance of lines around the mouth with the use of different technology. All of these treatments are non-surgical, meaning recovery is fast and straightforward.

Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

Hyaluronic acid fillers are temporary fillers that work by binding to water in the skin, which has a volumizing effect and can smooth out fine lines. ⁽²⁾ Hyaluronic acid is found naturally in nearly all body tissues but diminishes over time. The types of hyaluronic acid fillers we can use for smokers’ lines are Juvederm Ultra and Juvederm Volbella. These fillers provide the most natural results when injected into the vermillion border, or the upper lip line. When the filler is placed here, it provides the support and volume that the upper lip area is lacking, thus preventing the vertical wrinkles from getting deeper. Juvederm Volbella can be used to address more severe or deep vertical lines above the vermillion border. They are both hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers with unique small particle sizes, making them an ideal fit for naturally filling surface lines.

Ellacor

Ellacor is a kind of treatment that uses micro-coring technology to remove tiny cores, or columns, of skin without causing any scarring. ⁽³⁾ This process tightens the skin and, when used in the perioral region, can lessen skin wrinkles. ⁽³⁾ After coring, the area will heal and reveal skin with fewer lines that appears smoother and feels firmer. Ellacor is an effective alternative to fillers in the treatment of smoker’s lines. An Ellacor session can be completed in as little as 30 minutes.

Plasma Pen

The plasma pen utilizes plasma technology to stimulate collagen production, promoting natural skin rejuvenation and regeneration. ⁽⁴⁾ Plasma pen treatment can effectively target various cosmetic concerns, including vertical lip lines. By gently and precisely targeting these lines, the plasma pen can diminish their visibility, restoring a more youthful and vibrant look. The technology works with the use of an ultra-high-frequency generator that converts nitrogen into active plasma. ⁽⁴⁾ This plasma can transfer heat energy into the skin. This heat energy can target damaged skin cells and promote collagen growth that makes the skin look more youthful. It can also increase fibroblast activity, which is important for collagen secretion. ⁽⁴⁾

Microneedling

During microneeding, the micro-pen uses a needle tip containing micro-needles to create micro-injuries to the skin. This initiates the skin’s repair process to naturally produce collagen and elastin to assist in the reduction of fine lines. Micro-channels created by the treatment allow for optimal absorption of topical products and often times Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), is added to the treatment to enhance their effects in the deeper layers of skin.

Benefits

Undergoing treatments for smoker’s lines can yield substantial benefits to those seeking improved facial aesthetics.

Candidates

If you experience lines or wrinkles around the mouth, you may be a good candidate for smoker’s lines treatments. It will also help if you:

Personal Consultation

During a consultation with a knowledgeable professional at Phoenix Skin, we will evaluate your perioral region for lines and wrinkles. We will take note of the depth of the lines and develop a treatment approach based on the needs of your skin. During this meeting, we will discuss each filler and treatment option available at Phoenix Skin. You will have ample time to voice your specific concerns and aesthetic goals to ensure you get the results you want.

To obtain more helpful information about the smoker’s line treatments we offer, contact our Phoenix office at (602) 222-9111 or our Scottsdale office at (480) 473-9111. You can also reach out to us by filling out our contact form.

Preparation

In preparation for facial procedures, there are a few things you can do on your own to ensure that you are ready:

A Phoenix Skin professional will provide you with a specific list of medications and supplements to avoid. Please let us know if you have an allergy to lidocaine before your treatment.

Procedure

If you are receiving any kind of filler, the procedure will be simple; a Phoenix Skin professional will administer the injection in the designated areas around the mouth. The exact injection technique will depend on the type of filler used. Ellacor treatments are done with the handheld Ellacor device, which is moved over the treatment area so that the hollow needles can puncture the skin. ⁽³⁾ Depending on the extent of the treatment area, Ellacor can create up to 6,000 micro-cores on the skin in one treatment session. ⁽³⁾ For the plasma pen procedure, the handheld device will deliver a high-frequency electric current to the targeted areas in the form of a kind of heat energy. ⁽⁴⁾ The heat energy will remove damaged skin cells for new growth.

The procedure for any of these treatments usually takes around 20-30 minutes. The total procedure takes about 40 minutes to an hour if topical numbing is applied to the lip area.

Recovery

Recovery for any of the smoker’s lines treatments is simple and brief. Mild swelling and bruising are possible, but you can help manage this with cold compresses or ice packs. However, you should avoid pressing on the treatment area or massaging it, especially in the case of fillers. Your Phoenix Skin professional will let you know what kinds of ointments or creams you should use during your recovery, and how often you should wash your face. After your procedure, you should avoid exercise or any other intense activities for at least 24 hours. Full recovery times will vary across the different treatment types, but it can take days or around a week for all swelling and redness to recede. Your Phoenix Skin professional will provide you with more specific recovery details when it is time for your procedure.

Results

Results from any of these treatments may be seen immediately, but they can also take time to fully develop. The results from fillers like Juvederm Ultra and Juvederm Volbella typically last around 9-12 months. We recommend scheduling touch-up appointments after this time period, otherwise, your lips will return to their original appearance once the initial filler has dissolved. Regardless of the mode of treatment, you will see a decrease in lines around the mouth. With a smoother mouth area, patients enjoy results that rejuvenate their overall facial appearance. While results are long-lasting, you may still experience changes in your skin as a result of the natural aging process.

Cost of Smoker’s Lines Treatments in Phoenix

The cost of your smoker’s line treatment at Phoenix Skin will depend on the treatment type. We recommend stopping by our office for a consultation so that we can give you an accurate number. However, we can provide these pricing guidelines for our Juvederm filler treatments beforehand:

Contact our office for more information about smoker’s lines treatment and other facial rejuvenation procedures!

References

1. Wollina U. Perioral rejuvenation: restoration of attractiveness in aging females by minimally invasive procedures. Clinical Interventions in Aging. Published online September 2013:1149. doi:https://doi.org/10.2147/cia.s48102
2. Sundaram H, Shamban A, Schlessinger J, et al. Efficacy and Safety of a New Resilient Hyaluronic Acid Filler in the Correction of Moderate-to-Severe Dynamic Perioral Rhytides: A 52-Week Prospective, Multicenter, Controlled, Randomized, Evaluator-Blinded Study. Dermatologic Surgery. 2021;48(1):87-93. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/dss.0000000000003238 
3. Gfrerer L, Kilmer SL, Waibel JS, Geronemus RG, Biesman BS. Dermal Micro-coring for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Facial Wrinkles. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open. 2022;10(10):e4547. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000004547 
4. Patel S, Shamdas M, Cobb C. Plasma fibroblast skin tightening treatment resulting in bilateral chemical eye injury secondary to EMLA cream: a case report. BMC Ophthalmology. 2020;20. doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-020-01613-8