Your mouth does a lot: singing, smiling, kissing, speaking, laughing... Unfortunately, all these activities take a toll over the years.
The first place many women start to see wrinkles and lines is around their mouth. Just like on the rest of the face, the skin in this area folds and bends as we use it. Sunblock, visors and hats help, however the lower portion of the face usually still suffers greater damage from the sun. Put these factors together and eventually you get wrinkles.
Unfortunately, when people look at us, their eyes focus on two things: our eyes and mouth. Wrinkles can appear worse when wearing colourful lipstick, because it attracts more attention to the mouth. Most people find that the changes radiate from the mouth toward the cheeks and chin, and as collagen is lost, the jawline becomes soft and saggy.
It's not all awful news though. Luckily, there are solutions.
In days of old, there were fewer methods to address aging skin near the lips. Surgical procedures like face lifts do not fix flaws in skin near the lips, and even when done properly, there is a sharp contrast to the otherwise tight facial skin. Aggressive lip pursing can be treated with Botox in small amounts, however it won't fix those deep wrinkles and lines.
As we age, our rate of collagen production slows. Unfortunately, given accumulated years of sun and environmental damage, our rate of collagen breakdown rapidly increases. This is what eventually causes wrinkles and loose skin. Over time, we do lose volume in our lips. Basic skin care includes hydration and proper nutrition, keeping out of the sun, using omega-3 supplements and getting plenty of antioxidants. Thankfully, just a small amount of filler improves the skin's contour, while smoothing wrinkles.
Science suggests that a woman's perceived age may be influenced as much by the volume of her lips as by the amount of wrinkles she has. The volume in your lips starts to decline as early as in the mid-30s. The question often asked by patients is, "How can you create a natural-looking, full lip without overdoing it?"
Many women are worried about getting "duck lips" or "platypus lips". We've all seen it and no one wants this look! But, if the injector is experienced, natural lips can be created by adding filler in increments.
Sometimes, it is hard to know where your limit is. Only so much can be done with small lips.
Filling the lips is not the only consideration. One must look at the lips in relation to the entire face. Not every technician is able to do this in an artful way, and not everyone comprehends facial anatomy. It is vital to find an injector with experience and artistic talent.By Devon Monache.