There are two names for the creases on your mouth’s sides: fillers for the face and laugh lines. The area surrounding your eyes is another common site for smile lines. When you grin, they stand out more.
Age may make these wrinkles unavoidable. There are, however, several paths you can take to eliminate them.
What Are The Treatment Options?
There is no shortage of solutions for the problem of grin lines. Suppose you’re considering plastic surgery or any other cosmetic operation for wrinkle removal. In that case, it’s in your best interest to consult a dermatologist (skin doctor) or plastic surgeon who is well-versed in anti-aging medicine.
Some alternatives are available OTC, albeit they only last for a short time. The following wrinkle treatments are ones your doctor may recommend:
Injectable fillers
When seeking a non-surgical option to remove smile lines, injectable fillers for the face are often at the top of the list. Most are hyaluronic acid-based and administered through injection in the fold of skin that runs from the corner of your mouth to the corner of your nose.
The results are seen almost immediately; if you don’t like them, you can have them undone. Fillers like Juvéderm and Restylane are two popular brand names. The effects usually continue for a few months.
However, after multiple injections, scar tissue may be left behind, resulting in a more permanent filler look.
However, some fillers for the face, such as Radiesse (calcium hydroxyapatite) and Sculptra (poly-L-lactic acid), can be injected deeper into the facial tissues and may provide longer-lasting results.
These injectable fillers typically last between six and twelve months. Consequences, such as headaches and allergy-like reactions, have been reported soon after the first injection. Each procedure can cost as much as $1,000, according to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS).
Botox
Injectable fillers for the face include Botulinum toxins (Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin), which have a different effect than collagen. Your dermatologist will use a skinny needle to inject the medication directly into the affected area.
The ingredients act weaken the area’s musclessulting in more open and less apparent lines and wrinkles. The lines around the eyes benefit the most from this, whereas the lines around the corners of the mouth benefit the least. You’ll feel better in a matter of days after the initial injection.
A dermatologist, ophthalmologist, or plastic surgeon can administer Botox injections. The recovery period is short; after 24 hours, you should be ready to return to your regular routine (including exercise). Headaches, skin discoloration, or inflammation at the injection site are common adverse reactions.
On average, the effects of a Botox injection will endure for three months. You’ll need to continue seeing your doctor for more treatments to keep the outcomes you’ve achieved.
Depending on the number of units your doctor prescribes, there may be hundreds of dollars in costs associated with a single treatment. Evaluate Botox and fillers in terms of price, benefits, and risks.
Surgery
The most comprehensive remedy for laugh lines is a facelift (rhytidectomy). Both smile lines and crow’s feet can be fixed at the same time with this treatment. Your plastic surgeon may suggest a facelift in conjunction with eyelid surgery.
In 2016, a facelift cost, on average, $7,048 in the United States, as reported by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The average facelift recovery time is three months, making it one of the most time-consuming procedures.
The possibility of infection is the primary concern with facelifts. Scarring, discomfort, and nerve damage are all infrequent adverse effects.
Laser treatments
The term “laser treatment” is commonly used to describe a specific method of skin resurfacing in which the outermost layer of skin is removed. By exposing the younger, healthier skin underneath, the technique hopes to reduce the appearance of age spots and wrinkles.
Common adverse effects include swelling and discomfort, which often disappear after a few days. It’s also possible to get scars or an infection.
One to three weeks is the recommended recuperation time frame, as stated by the ASDS. Another treatment will be necessary for a matter of months, and each can set you anywhere from $1,750 to $2,300.
Collagen induction therapy
Microneedling, commonly known as skin needling, is a collagen induction therapy used to stimulate the skin’s collagen production.
Needling is based on the premise that the body’s natural production of collagen can reverse the effects of aging on the skin by plumping up fine lines and wrinkles like those caused by smiling. Your doctor will use a roller with tiny needles, like an Eclipse Micropen, to do the treatment.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, it takes about 9 months to see the full effects of needling. Bruising, redness, and skin discoloration are all common side effects of wound healing. Three to six treatments are often required.
OTC creams
You can save money on wrinkle cream by purchasing one over-the-counter. One of the most researched substances is retinol because of its potential to eliminate wrinkle-causing free radicals.
Patients with fine lines and wrinkles who underwent retinol treatments of 0.4% had considerable improvement, according to research conducted in 2007. The retinol lotion was applied three times weekly for a total of six months.
Wrinkles are treated with various substances, including vitamin C, peptides, and hydroxy acids. Results from over-the-counter lotions can take months to show, and they are temporary. Redness, discoloration, rashes, and burning are all possible adverse reactions.
Conclusion
Over time, everyone develops wrinkles around their mouths and noses. The lines and wrinkles we already have can become more pronounced or even increase as we age. Slow this down by following some simple guidelines.
There is a plethora of anti-wrinkle creams on the market for laugh lines. Talk with your doctor about the appropriate options based on your individual needs. Though sometimes required, surgery is always a possibility.
Avoiding deeper grin lines as you age may be possible. Taking care of your whole health, including skin care, will pay huge dividends.