Smiling should bring you joy! Unfortunately, some people have lines and wrinkles around their mouths, which makes them feel like frowning when they look in the mirror. If you’re tired of seeing wrinkles around your mouth, you’re not alone. It’s fairly common to see wrinkles form in this area as you age. But just because these wrinkles are common does not mean you need to go on living with them. You deserve to feel joyful and confident every time you smile – and there are a few wrinkle treatments that can give you that gift.
Chemical Peels
If your wrinkles are still minor and barely noticeable, a chemical peel may be the only thing you need to achieve plumper, fuller skin. Peels work well for fine lines in thinner skin. They’re not as effective for deep smile lines that are most apparent when you move your mouth, but they can work wonders for those tiny wrinkles that age you more subtly.
When you have a chemical peel, your practitioner applies a strong, acidic solution to your skin. They leave it in place just long enough to help shed dead and dull skin cells. When these dead, dull layers of skin slough away, the fresh skin beneath is revealed. The result is smoother skin with fewer wrinkles. And these results can last for weeks, or even months!
A chemical peel is a good choice if you have other wrinkles in addition to those around your mouth. Your practitioner can definitely focus on your upper lip and the sides of your mouth while also treating the rest of your face. You can expect a little redness and soreness for a few days post-treatment, but the resulting youthful glow is so worth it.
Neurotoxins
Maybe your wrinkles have progressed past the fine line stage and have become deeper and more obvious. You may notice them mostly when you are smiling or talking. In this case, you have what’s known as dynamic wrinkles – which are wrinkles produced or worsened by movement. Treatments like creams and chemical peels may make dynamic wrinkles around your mouth a bit less obvious, but they won’t erase them completely. A more effective solution, in this case, is neurotoxin injections.
Neurotoxins are substances that paralyze the nerves that control the tiny muscles that move your skin. The effects are temporary, but they do last for several months. Your med spa practitioner can precisely inject the neurotoxins into the skin on either side of your mouth. For a few days, the skin in this area may feel a little tight and unusual. But that feeling will soon fade, and you’ll be pleased to no longer see deep wrinkles every time you look in the mirror.
Botox is a well-known neurotoxin that works well for mouth wrinkles. It is FDA-approved and has a long track record of safety. Your practitioner can carefully control how much Botox they use to ensure that your results look natural, not stiff or plastic.
Dermal Fillers
Do you have a lot of wrinkles of varying depth that are obvious whether or not you’re moving your face? In this case, a chemical peel may not do enough for you, and neurotoxins are minimally effective since your wrinkles are largely static, not dynamic. For static mouth wrinkles – those unrelated to movement – dermal fillers tend to work well.
Dermal fillers are substances that, once injected into your skin, make that skin appear fuller and more plump. There are many different dermal fillers on the market, and each has its own specialization and benefits. One that works particularly well for mouth wrinkles and cheek wrinkles is called Sculptra.
Many dermal fillers contain collagen, but Sculptra takes a slightly different approach. It contains a substance called poly-L-lactic acid, which stimulates your skin’s own production of collagen. So, in the weeks following the injection, your skin begins making more collagen. As a result, it becomes more supple and elastic, and your wrinkles fade.
Most people need two or three treatments with Sculptra to achieve their desired reduction in mouth wrinkles. The results can last for several years. Most people only have some minor redness and soreness after Sculptra injections, and these side effects fade quickly.
If you’ve been struggling with mouth wrinkles, consider making an appointment at a local medical spa. A practitioner can examine your wrinkles, talk to you about your goals, and help you decide which of these three treatments best fits your needs. Contact Balance MedSpa if you’re looking for friendly, knowledgeable care in the Orlando area.
