How Does Botox Help With Lines Around The Lips?

Left unchecked with Botox, lines that appear around your lips when you purse them can become deeper and even permanent.

What are Smoker’s Lines?

Smoker’s lines, or vertical lip wrinkles are fine lines around the mouth. They are named as such due to the propensity for those who smoke to develop these lines due to the frequent puckering of the lips around a cigarette, especially evident around the upper lip.

They can be  caused by repetitive lip movements, such as pursing the lips, which, over time, disintegrate collagen and elastin in the skin. Over time, the combination of puckering and photo-ageing can leave more permanent lines around your lips. But you do not have to be a smoker to sport the same lines. These wrinkles can also develop as a result of the natural ageing process, and excessive sun exposure, and can also be hereditary.

To help reduce the appearance of such wrinkles, Botox can be used.

How Does It Work?

Botulinum toxin, synonymously referred to as botox in Singapore, blocks nerves signals in the injected muscle.

This is why Botox works best for lines that are dynamic, or in other words, appear only with muscle movement.

So if wrinkles appear on your upper lip when you purse them, Botox is suitable for you as a preventive measure or treatment option.

But if you’ve reached a more advanced stage where the lines are present even without lip movement, then you will find that fillers will be the better choice of treatment. Face fillers in Singapore would definitely be a plausible skin tightening treatment for most adults in Singapore, especially if you want to keep your appearance for business purposes.

Benefits of Using Botox for Upper Lip and Smoker’s Lines

Botox injections are effective for reducing the appearance of smoker’s lines. Botox works by arresting the muscles around the mouth, restricting the repetitive movements responsible for these wrinkles. The benefits of using Botox for smoker’s lines include:

• Smoother skin: Botox softens the appearance of the lines, making the skin around the upper lip look softer and more youthful.
• Non-invasive treatment: Botox is a minimally invasive procedure, meaning there’s no need for surgery or lengthy recovery times.
• Quick results: Patients typically see improvement within a few days to a week, with results lasting anywhere from 3 to 6 months.
• Preventing further wrinkling: Botox can prevent the deepening of these lines over time, slowing down the progression of wrinkles in the area.

How Is It Done?

Botox for upper lip lines and smoker’s lines can be completed in a manner of 20 minutes or so, excluding consultation.

The doctor will first assess your medical history, expectations and any preexisting asymmetries on your lips. The doctor will then ask you to purse your lips as if you are blowing out a candle. This helps the doctor identify the most prominent creases on your lips for treatment.

The doctor then injects small doses of Botox, anywhere between 3 to 4 units, into your lip perioral muscles. The goal is to soften the activity of your lips, but not freeze it entirely. This is also to avoid affecting your speech or ability to close your mouth when drinking or eating.

In more severe cases, fillers are used at the same time.

What Are The Side Effects?

Side effects are typically associated with injectables such as bruising and or swelling.

Patients who cannot tolerate any weakness in their lip muscles such as singers or wind instrument players should do well to avoid this treatment.

The experience of weakness in the lip muscles is otherwise hardly noticeable with regular activities, although patients do encounter some challenges with whistling or sucking hard on a straw.

How Soon Will I See Results?

As Botox takes time to work on the muscles, you will not see immediate results. Most patients see improvements within the next 3 days, with better results after a week or two.

How Long Do The Results Last?

Botox for upper lip lines and smoker’s lines last anywhere between 3 to 4 months, depending on the individual and brand of botulinum toxin used.

You can repeat the treatment once the effects have worn off, typically on the 3rd month after treatment.

Do remember to check out your full range of options when it comes to deciding on which skin tightening and wrinkle treatment you want. Be in Botox, face fillers or even HIFU treatments in Singapore, do be sure to consult your doctor!

Who is a Good Candidate for Botox for Upper Lip and Smoker’s Lines?

Botox injection for smoker’s lines is suitable for individuals beginning to notice fine lines around the mouth or those whose wrinkles have become more pronounced over time. Ideal candidates usually include:

• Smokers or former smokers: Those who have developed lines due to smoking habits, but it’s equally beneficial for non-smokers as well.
• Ageing individuals: People experiencing signs of ageing around the mouth who want to reduce the appearance of these lines.
• Individuals looking for non-surgical solutions: Those who prefer a quick, non-surgical procedure with little downtime.
• People with realistic expectations: Botox provides excellent results, but it’s important to note that it doesn’t eliminate the lines completely or permanently. Touch-ups are required every few months for continued results.

Botox injections in Singapore

At SL Aesthetic Clinic, we understand how frustrating smoker’s lines can be. Our team of skilled practitioners provides precise Botox injections tailored to your needs, ensuring a natural look without the “frozen” appearance.

Are you considering Botox for smoker’s lines? SL Aesthetic Clinic offers consultations to discuss your aesthetic goals and guide you through the best treatment options to restore smoothness and confidence to your upper lip area. Book an appointment now.

[12 Jun 2021] A blog post by Dr. Wei Xiang

Dr Wei Xiang has been heavily involved in the arts throughout his life. During his formative school years, he studied fine arts under the prestigious Art Elective Programme, where he developed his artistic talent and creative expression across various media, including painting, charcoal, digital media and photography.

After graduating from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine in 2014, Wei Xiang pursued postgraduate surgical training in a residency programme, where he honed his surgical skills over the years. His artistic side remained strong, and he constantly yearned to express a greater aesthetic element in his work. In 2019, he left his surgical career in search of his calling.

A fateful encounter with Dr Kelvin Chua brought Wei Xiang into the world of Aesthetic Medicine. It was in Aesthetic Medicine where Wei Xiang found his “ikigai” of sorts. Under Kelvin’s mentorship, Wei Xiang grew steadily and became adept at a wide range of aesthetic procedures including Botox, fillers, lasers, HIFU, Thermage, Ultherapy and PicoCare Laser. His keen eye for beauty, coupled with his steady hands, allows him to bring out the best in his patients.

Wei Xiang occasionally still creates artwork in his free time, when he is not spending time with his wife and daughter, or jamming and making music.

For more information, write to contact@slclinic.com.sg
To contact Dr Wei Xiang, write to weixiang@slclinic.com.sg