Smoker’s lines are vertical creases or wrinkles on the skin above the upper lip. Many women and men alike may find these wrinkles a cosmetic concern as they can give the face an aged appearance. The good news is that there are a number of effective treatments that can reduce the appearance of wrinkles in that region and rejuvenate the skin overall, making it look more youthful.
What Are Smoker’s Lines?
Some people, when they bunch up or pucker their lips, form lines or deep wrinkles around their upper lips. However, for others, such wrinkling persists even when their lips are relaxed. In either case, these lines are called the smoker’s lines, lip lines/wrinkles, or barcode lines.
What Causes Smoker’s Lines?
The reason behind the formation of these lip lines is the orbicularis oris muscle that encircles the mouth. Long-term contraction of this muscle, such as when smoking, talking in a certain manner (which involves pursing the lips), kissing, or using a straw, can cause these lines to develop.
While smoker’s lines don’t always develop in those who smoke, smoking can have a notable impact on the quality of your skin. This can reduce the amount of oxygen getting to your skin tissues by constricting your blood vessels.
Moreover, it can reduce collagen production – the protein that strengthens, plumps, and hydrates the skin – further aggravating the problem. Smoking can also dehydrate the skin, while the free radicals found in smoke contribute to premature facial ageing.
Besides smoking, however, some other causes of lip lines can include:
- Genetics
- Ageing
- Sun damage
- Alcohol consumption
- Loss of jawbone
With effective treatments, it is certainly possible to significantly improve the appearance of your smoker’s lines, although it is crucial that you find an experienced and qualified practitioner.
How Can Smoker’s Lines Be Treated?
There are a number of non-surgical and surgical treatments that can directly or indirectly address the wrinkling of the skin around the mouth. However, the treatment plan can vary between patients depending on the type of wrinkling and the severity of the problem.
There are two types of wrinkles: dynamic and static. Dynamic wrinkles are the ones that can be seen when making a certain facial expression (you may notice smoker’s lines form around your mouth only when you’re puckering your lips). Static wrinkles, on the other hand, are creases that can be seen even when you’re not making any expression, and such smoker’s lines exist as well.
For instance, if your smoker’s lines are a result of dynamic wrinkles, your practitioner may recommend using Botox since it stops the muscle from contracting (temporarily). But if you have wrinkling due to volume loss, you might be advised fillers instead. Therefore, understanding the underlying problem and targeting that to minimise the appearance of smoker’s lines is of utmost importance.
Filler
Dermal fillers can be an effective treatment for the crinkling around the upper lip. However, the choice of the right filler is important to not cause any lumping or ridges in the area.
Typically, less thick fillers are preferred. Containing hyaluronic acid, Juvederm Volbella is a popular filler for the lines around the lips, which can last for around 1 year.
Done well, you can immediately notice a difference in the appearance of these wrinkles after your treatment. And an experienced practitioner will also make sure that the results look natural.
Botox
Since it’s the movement of the orbicularis oris muscle around the lips that can be responsible for the appearance of the smoker’s lines, Botox can directly target the area and stop the muscle from contracting.
This can, in turn, help smooth out the skin and make the area around the mouth look more young. However, care is taken not to inject a large amount of the drug as that can affect speech and eating.
Botox injections are also temporary and usually last for 3-4 months, so you’ll have to get another treatment session to maintain the results of your treatment.
Other Treatments for Smoker’s Lines
Some others cosmetic procedures that might be able to help you with smoker’s lines include:
Microneedling With Radiofrequency
Microneedling involves the creation of small puncture holes in the skin, which helps in the production of collagen. Radiofrequency (RF) also stimulates collagen production but it does so by heating up the skin with RF. Together, microneedling with radiofrequency also offers a solution for the reduction of the smoker lines.
You’ll likely need multiple sessions of this treatment (3-4) and since collagen production can take time, you can’t expect to see the results immediately – it can take a few months.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections
PRP is an autologous therapy that uses the patient’s own blood to obtain a concentrate of platelet-rich plasma that contains growth factors and proteins. PRP can also make the body produce collagen and elastin, but like microneedling with radiofrequency, you might need multiple treatments (typically 3). And its results can also take weeks to months to show.
Laser Resurfacing
Laser resurfacing treatment not only removes the outer layer of the skin, it also heats up the layer underneath it, which also results in collagen being produced by the body. The recovery of laser resurfacing can also be relatively longer, potentially taking a week to a month. So, if you are considering it, make sure you discuss the downtime with your practitioner.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is a procedure that involves removing the outer layer of the skin using a motorised tool which essentially sands the skin. It can take months for your skin to get normal after dermabrasion, but it is considered helpful in minimising the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
Chemical Peel
A chemical peel can also help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, which is why your practitioner might recommend it for your smoker’s lines.
There are different intensities of chemical peels (superficial, medium and deep), and only your doctor can best advise you on the most effective peel depending on the severity of your problem.
It will peel your skin off, and it will be a few weeks before you can start to see how your skin looks, but keep in mind that recovery can vary depending on the type of peel, so make sure to discuss this in advance.
Facelift
If you’re getting a facelift surgery to get rid of excess sagging skin and fat around your face, this procedure might also help with smoker’s lines. However, it is, of course, going to be an invasive procedure and because of swelling, it can be 6-9 months before you can see the final results of your treatment.
If you are particularly concerned about your lip wrinkles and thinking of getting a facelift, make sure to ask your doctor what you can expect so you don’t have an unrealistic idea of what can be achieved.
How Much Does It Cost To Get Rid Of Smoker’s Lines?
The cost of getting rid of your smoker’s line will mainly depend on the type of treatment you undergo. It can vary from a few hundred to thousands of pounds. For instance, if you’re getting Botox, it might cost you around £200 or so, but for a facelift, the price in the UK can go up to about £10,000.
Keep in mind that the location of the clinic can also impact the overall price. Because of the lower cost of living in Turkey, you may be able to get a facelift for almost £2,000 (although a session of Botox might cost the same).
Still, price shouldn’t be the only deciding factor when you’re looking for an aesthetic clinic. Make sure that your practitioner has the relevant experience and qualifications to get you the results you’re looking for.
Can You Get Rid Of Smoker’s Lines Naturally?
It is unlikely that you can get rid of smoker’s lines at home, however, certain products might help minimise their appearance. Retinoids, for one, can help with wrinkles as they can also make the body produce collagen and elastin, although you need to be careful about its usage as it can cause irritation, peeling and redness, among other problems.
Recently, at-home LED masks have also gone vogue, and they might help as well, considering they can also boost the skin’s collagen production and improve the appearance of wrinkles. Dermaroller is another device that is sold for at-home use, but its improper use can lead to skin damage, which is why it’s better to talk to a medical professional about it as well.
How To Prevent Smoker’s Lines?
While it’s not always possible to prevent smoker’s lines, since they can result from the natural process of ageing, certain habits can be avoided to not exacerbate the situation. For one, you should consider quitting smoking altogether since not just the pursing of the lips, but the smoke itself can damage the skin in plethora of ways.
Importantly, in order to keep your skin protected from sun damage and premature ageing, make sure to wear sunscreen, even when it’s cloudy outside. And also make sure to reapply it so you can stay protected.
Conclusion
Even though the term “smoker’s lines” might suggest that this problem is only experienced by those who smoke, that is not always the case. Smokers lines can develop due to a number of reasons and an experienced practitioner will always try to understand the underlying cause to create the most effective treatment plan for you, so make sure to take your time in finding a good doctor.
Reviewed and approved by Prof. Dr. Fuat Yuksel
