Wrinkles above the upper lip are also called purse-string wrinkles - they are vertical folds that form with age. These changes look unsightly and greatly age the face, especially when combined with deep nasolabial wrinkles. Wrinkles near the lips may appear earlier than in other areas, because the skin here is very thin, there is practically no fat layer, and muscle activity is high. With an unhealthy lifestyle and lack of careful care, unpleasant changes can begin to appear after 20 years. At risk are women and men with certain anatomical features of the structure of this zone, who do not monitor their diet, or who suffer from bad habits (especially smokers). Next, you will learn how to remove wrinkles around the lips and what methods GMTClinic specialists use.
DRUGS AND DEVICES USED IN THE CENTER FOR THE PROCEDURE
Let's look at how you can remove wrinkles on the lips, what methods, devices, and drugs are used for this:
- Butolotoxin injections - drugs with a paralyzing effect are injected into the problem area and block the muscles. The skin smoothes out on its own over time, the injections last for up to a year, then the procedure is repeated.
- Mesotherapy – corrects wrinkles around the lips of average severity; with severe age-related changes, the method may be powerless. For the procedure, special nutritious meso-cocktails are used.
- Contour plastic surgery – suitable for correcting lip wrinkles and the lips themselves (shape, size, asymmetry). Involves the injection of dense biogels and fillers that fill and smooth out wrinkles.
- Peels – chemical or mechanical. For mechanical, a special attachment is used (microdermabrasion), chemical ones are carried out using special concentrated products with acids, TCA. These methods are used in courses and strictly in the cold season, when the sun is weakly active. The depth of impact may vary.
Laser resurfacing, RF lifting, lipofilling, microcurrent, thermolifting, and photothermolysis are also used to correct purse-string wrinkles. You can treat only this area or the entire face.
How and why are purse-string wrinkles formed?
The skin in the area perpendicular to the contour of the lips is thin, so it quickly loses elasticity and ages. This is why purse-string wrinkles occur often and early. The main reasons for their appearance are insufficient production of hyaluron, rapid breakdown of collagen and elastin with their slow synthesis. As a result, subcutaneous fat tissue suffers, the tone of which decreases. The problem of age-related biochemical changes in the skin is aggravated by the fact that the orbicularis oris muscle is not connected to the bone, but is connected to the dermis, and therefore overloads it.
The natural aging process of the skin is not the only possible cause of purse-string wrinkles. Exacerbates the situation or provokes their formation:
- smoking;
- sudden weight fluctuations;
- hereditary predisposition;
- use of toxic cosmetics;
- inappropriate choice of skin care products;
- bad ecology;
- abuse of chewing gum;
- negative influence of sunlight, solarium;
- excessive love for tea and coffee;
- deficiency of minerals, proteins, beneficial microelements;
- too active facial expressions;
- violation of the integrity of the dentition;
- chronic fatigue;
- nervous tension;
- insufficient fluid intake;
- night work;
- problems with the thyroid gland;
- gynecological diseases.
To really get rid of purse-string wrinkles, you should reconsider your lifestyle, diet, give up bad habits, and consult a specialized doctor if you suspect or have diseases of the endocrine system, oral cavity, teeth, or reproductive organs. A cosmetologist will help solve the problem externally.
PREPARATION FOR THE PROCEDURE, REHABILITATION, CONTRAINDICATIONS
2 weeks before the procedure and a month after, avoid visiting solariums, beaches, increased physical activity, and stop taking blood thinning medications a week. After rejuvenation, it is forbidden to sunbathe, visit baths, saunas, or use decorative cosmetics. Contraindications are common to all such interventions - acute and chronic diseases, pathological changes in the epidermis in the area, cancer, other serious pathological processes, as well as pregnancy and lactation.
The mechanism of formation of marionette wrinkles
The root cause of the appearance of this cosmetic defect is the structural feature of the epidermis and the orbicularis oris muscle, which is responsible for the movements of the lips. This muscle, unlike other muscle groups, experiences enormous stress: it contracts during conversation, eating, and expressing emotions. Since the teres muscle bundles are attached directly to the dermis, the skin changes its shape along with it. Of course, this cannot but affect her condition. Gravitational ptosis also makes its contribution to the process of formation of “puppets”. Over time, the natural framework of the skin, created from collagen and elastin, weakens, and the amount of these protein compounds reproduced by epidermal cells is significantly reduced. All this together leads to a decrease in skin turgor. As a result, the corners of the mouth lower under the influence of gravity, and the folds leading to the chin become deeper, and therefore more noticeable.
There are other factors that provoke the appearance of labiomental wrinkles. Among them:
- excessive insolation leading to photoaging of the skin
- sudden weight loss or gain (both cause stretching of the skin)
- age-related hormonal changes that affect the amount of hyaluronic acid, collagen and elastin produced by the skin
- improper skin care
- features of the anatomical structure of the facial bones, malocclusion
- abuse of decorative cosmetics
- presence of bad habits
It should be noted that with age, marionette wrinkles appear in almost everyone, regardless of the type of aging. People who are aging according to the deformation, muscular and fatigue types are most susceptible to their formation. The least likely to be bothered by marionette wrinkles are those whose type of aging can be classified as finely wrinkled.
How to get rid of wrinkles above the lip
Skin aging is an inevitable process, but does it always begin when the skin, due to age, is “tired” and has given in under the weight of the years? Wrinkles above the lip, the so-called purse-string wrinkles, caused by age-related changes, make themselves felt around the age of 40. But women at a younger age also come to our clinic to remove nasolabial wrinkles. We will be happy to not only help all women regain the beauty and smoothness of their skin, but also teach how to prevent the appearance of wrinkles and explain the nature and causes of their occurrence.
The appearance of wrinkles above the lip, regardless of age
Age-related changes in the skin are easy to explain:
- reduction in the amount of collagen;
- weakening of muscle tissue;
- wilting due to lack of nutrition and moisture;
- decreased hyaluron production.
But where do purse-string wrinkles come from on beauties who have not yet crossed the threshold of youth?
And there are many reasons:
- smoking cigarettes;
- habit of drinking through a straw;
- chewing gum regularly;
- hereditary predisposition;
- costs of the profession (playing wind instruments, vocal singing, glassblowing);
- active facial expressions;
- features of facial anatomy;
- poor skin care;
- decreased tone due to dehydration, lack of collagen, elastin.
Effective methods for smoothing purse-string wrinkles
In our clinic, highly qualified specialists can offer different ways to get rid of wrinkles above the upper lip. Here are just a few of them:
- Peeling. Wrinkles are treated with chemicals to stimulate the production of natural collagen. This is a course of cosmetology; regular sessions will always help maintain the ideal condition of the skin above the upper lip.
- Mesotherapy with hyaluronic acid. Injection procedure for the administration of fortified compounds rich in nutrients, minerals and amino acids. It perfectly slows down aging at the level of the deep layers of the dermis. The results of the manipulation are simply amazing.
- Biorevitalization. The method is also based on hyaluronic acid. The result of the manipulation appears instantly, but it will not last too long. As an alternative, there is a surgical method of biorevitalization, the effect of which lasts much longer, but it involves surgical intervention.
- ELOS. Radio wave lifting, after which collagen production is noticeably activated. As a result, purse-string wrinkles are significantly reduced in depth and overall rejuvenation is clearly expressed.
- Laser resurfacing. During the procedure, the epidermal top layer is removed, and at the treatment site, cells are renewed and new, young skin appears.
- Botox. A very effective method for smoothing out wrinkles. It is based on the introduction of a special substance that blocks nerve impulses entering muscle tissue.
Treatments
Dermatocosmetologists at our clinic will advise each patient that even after successful rejuvenation sessions, no one canceled proper skin care:
- regular cleaning;
- hydration;
- nutrition.
In order for the results of cosmetic manipulations to please the eye for a long time, it is necessary to carefully care for the skin, eat right, give up bad habits, do preventive massages and nourishing masks for the area between the lip and nose.
Those who are in a “risk group” due to their professional activity need to double their efforts to care for the skin in the nasolabial area.
Also, do not neglect the services of professional cosmetologists in maintaining your own beauty. And we will be happy to help you maintain a blooming, well-groomed appearance for as long as possible.
Causes of purse string wrinkles
To understand how purse-string wrinkles form around the lips, it is important to understand at least a little about human anatomy. Our face is a complex structure consisting of five layers of tissue interconnected:
- Facial skeleton - the deepest layer is represented by the bones of the skull, which determine the shape and individual characteristics of each person’s face;
- Ligaments are dense fascia that attaches soft tissue to bones;
- Muscles - there are a total of 21 facial muscles on the face, each of which is capable of contracting under the influence of nerve impulses.
- Subcutaneous fat is a small layer of fat that protects deeper layers from mechanical and thermal damage;
- Skin is the outer layer of tissue that performs protective and aesthetic functions.
Many people mistakenly believe that the main role in the formation of purse-string wrinkles around the lips is played by the loss of elasticity and tone of the skin. The condition of the epidermis certainly matters, but the real reasons for the formation of vertical skin folds usually lie much deeper. There are two main factors that provoke the formation of purse-string wrinkles around the mouth:
- Age-related changes
. The natural aging process affects the structure of the facial skeleton, including the bones of the upper jaw that support the lips. This process causes the jawbone to lose volume and support, causing the upper lip to become thinner and flatter. With age, lip volume also decreases due to thinning of fatty tissue. The skin, on the contrary, loses its tone and stretches under the influence of gravity. As a result, excess skin forms around the mouth, which collects in vertical folds, forming purse-string wrinkles. Normally, such age-related changes occur after 40-45 years.
- Overactivity of the orbicularis oris muscle
. The second probable cause of the formation of purse-string wrinkles is constant tension of the orbicularis oris muscle. This muscle forms a ring, allowing the lips to close and open, reminiscent of a wallet lock. Normally, the circular muscle is constantly in a slight tone, preventing tissue sagging. However, some people have a genetic predisposition to overactive orbicularis oris muscle. In this case, the muscle fibers are in constant tension, contracting and decreasing in size. As a result of a decrease in muscle volume, the skin becomes “extra” and forms vertical folds. In this case, the collagen fibers of the dermis break down, leaving the skin in an unattractive “wrinkled” state. This can happen even at a young age.
Purse-string wrinkles can appear in both sexes, but women are more susceptible to this aesthetic defect. Scientists attribute this to the fact that the thickness of the skin of the fair sex is on average 25% less than that of men. This makes their skin more prone to wrinkles, which increase after menopause.
Other factors that increase the likelihood of early formation of purse-string wrinkles include:
- Smoking
. Holding a cigarette in the mouth requires intense tension in the orbicularis oris muscle, which causes collagen fibers to break down. The more often a person smokes, the higher the load on the muscles and skin. This is why purse string wrinkles are often called “smoker’s lines.”
- Very light skin.
The darker a person's skin, the more melanin pigment it contains. This pigment protects the skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays, which have a detrimental effect on living tissue. Low melanin content in fair skin contributes to earlier tissue thinning, wrinkles, and even increases the risk of developing skin cancer.
- Prolonged exposure to the sun
. Direct ultraviolet rays cause severe DNA damage to fibroblasts, reducing protein synthesis in the skin. This also contributes to the formation of purse string wrinkles around the mouth.
- Active facial expressions.
Representatives of professions associated with active articulation (singers, musicians playing wind instruments) are more likely to experience purse-string wrinkles.
Purse-string wrinkles look unattractive, which forces people to look for ways to solve this aesthetic problem.
