Smokers Lines: How to treat them
Smokers Lines
This blog is intended to give honest and clear advice to readers and does not promote prescription products. In order to help educate the public about are their options when considering a non-surgical procedure, we’ve put together this information to explain what goes into bringing you aesthetic treatments you can trust.
The quick and easy way to treat smokers’ lines is with HA dermal filler injections.
Dr. Hamilton has been successfully treating this type of problem using a 1 ml syringe of Juvéderm ULTRA 3 by Allergan.
Juvéderm ULTRA® Fillers have a smaller particle size and work better for treating lines above the lips. This filler is one of the thinnest in the Juvéderm family, which makes it ideal for fine lines and areas with thin skin.
Results are immediate and should last 9- 12 months, depending on your lifestyle.
THE PROCEDURE
The Juvéderm ULTRA fillers by Allergan contain lidocaine (a local anaesthetic). Dr. Hamilton will apply a prescription triple anaesthetic cream to the area above your lips for 20 minutes prior to treatment to improve your comfort level during injection. The injection procedure will take 15 minutes.
Arnica cream is applied to the injection areas immediately after treatment. Dr. Mark would recommend you continue to apply Arnica cream for 2-3 days post injection as there may be slight bruising.
Dr. Mark strongly advises that you do not apply make up on the day of treatment.
IS THERE BRUISING OR DOWNTIME ?
Downtime is 48- 72 hours. The swelling will begin to subside after 24 hours & the filler should fully settle down after 5 days.
Most of the swelling is due to the Smoothing & massaging of the filler by your injector into your vertical upper lip lines.
If you are prone to bruising easily, best not to have cosmetic dermal fillers treatments within 10 days of an important social event. If you get a bruise, it can last 7 to 10 days. Routinely, most patients are usually fine and only experience slight swelling for 24 hours.
To prevent cold sores, Dr. Hamilton recommends that patients apply topical Zovirax cream as a precaution, whenever you are wearing a mask for 48 hours post injection.
Anti Wrinkle Injections for Smokers’ Lines
Another means of improving the appearance of smoker’s lines is to inject them with anti- wrinkle injections which prevent the muscle contractions that cause the lines. These injections can help to prevent smoker’s lines from becoming more deeply etched into the skin.
When administered carefully by an experienced aesthetic doctor, botulinum toxin can soften smoker lines around your mouth by reducing the number of muscle contractions and movements which cause dynamic wrinkles. It takes about 14 days for smokers’ lines to reduce. Results last from 3 to 4 months.
This Lip Flip works best for lines that are not yet visible while your mouth is at rest.
In the case of deep smoker’s lines and multiple vertical upper lines, Anti Wrinkle injections are not the answer as they will not smooth those lines. If over- injected with injections above the lip, the side effect can affect your speech and especially your ability to say words starting with the letter P’.
Deep Vertical Upper Lip Lines
HA Dermal Filler injections is often the best course of treatment in these cases.
As we grow older, our lips lose volume. Wrinkles, Vertical Lip lines and folds soon set in. HA Dermal fillers offer a simple & immediate solution by plumping out the tissue beneath the skin for a smoother, youthful overlying texture.
If you are a smoker , you will most likely have to top up the treatment every 6- 9 months.
