How to fix upper lip lines: The causes and best treatments

Upper Lip, Barcode Lines, West Malling, Kent

Lipstick lines, commonly referred to as smokers’ lines, are the vertical wrinkles that appear around the mouth, often seen as a sign of ageing. Even individuals who have never smoked may develop these wrinkles. These lines can be extremely frustrating to deal with and are difficult to hide with makeup. While there is no permanent solution to eliminate lip lines, non-surgical treatments can provide significant improvements for those who wish to rejuvenate their appearance and achieve a more harmonious, youthful look.

What causes upper lip lines?

The appearance of barcode lip lines is primarily caused by the natural aging process, which involves a decrease in collagen and elastin levels, leading to the skin losing its ability to spring back into shape. This effect is especially pronounced in the patch of skin above the upper lip, which is constantly stretched when we open our mouths or smile. Smoking is also a significant contributor to barcode lines, as it directly ages the skin and puts extra stress on the lips. Pursing the lips for activities like smoking or drinking through a straw can exacerbate the appearance of these lines. Additionally, decreasing lip volume can make the lines more visible, but lip enhancement procedures can help soften their appearance.

What is the best treatment for upper lip lines?

There are a variety of ways to treat the upper lip lines. Some of the most popular and effective treatment options include:

Injectable moisturisers

Injectable moisturiser treatments can effectively hydrate the skin from the inside and stimulate the skin’s natural regeneration process to produce more collagen and elastin, resulting in firmer, more resilient skin. This can lead to a reduction in the appearance of lip lines, which is excellent news for individuals seeking to improve their appearance.

Facial fillers

There are two primary techniques for addressing smoker’s lines using fillers. The first approach entails the precise injection of small quantities of filler along the lines and lip border without increasing the volume of the lips. However, this method necessitates the use of a lightweight filler to avoid creating a lumpy appearance.

Alternatively, the second technique involves adding filler to the body of the lips to increase their volume, which stretches the skin subtly and ultimately reduces the appearance of lip lines. This approach necessitates the use of a more substantial amount of filler than solely injecting the lines and lip border. Some practitioners may employ a combination of both techniques.

Energy treatments

Skin tightening treatments, such as those utilising radiofrequency or heat therapy, can have a direct impact on the skin. By generating heat within the skin, these treatments cause the collagen to contract, resulting in a slight shrink-wrapping effect. Over time, the treated area produces more collagen, which strengthens the skin and minimizes the appearance of those bothersome barcode lip lines. We can address these lines with Profound RF, which harnesses the power of RF microneedling and penetrates deeper into the facial tissues heating them to 67 degrees C, therefore stimulating a much stronger response than any other RF microneedling devices might.

Sofwave can also smooth these lines – it uses patented parallel beam technology to deliver heat at a depth of 1.5 millimetres. Unlike rival devices, which hit the muscle, Sofwave targets the mid-dermis, where it revs up collagen for that all-important lifting, smoothing and tightening effect.

Is there anything else that can help?

Typically, starting with skincare is the ideal initial step to take, as it can help delay the onset of upper lip lines. This approach is particularly useful if you haven’t yet developed these wrinkles.

The best thing you can do if keep your skin hydrated. This will help to minimise upper lip lines once they’ve appeared and to keep them at bay if they haven’t yet appeared. Apply a moisturiser once or twice every day. If you decide to apply moisturiser only once per day, apply it in the morning so that it can give your skin the most protection against the rigours of the day. Use a retinol to treat upper lip lines by stimulating cell renewal and collagen production. Prescription-strength products, such as tretinoin (Retin-A), will have a greater effect. And most importantly, protect your skin, including your lips, with high-factor SPF.

But if you’re doing this and still wish to improve the lines in this area, you should consider aesthetic treatments such as the one outlined above.

If you’d like to find out more about the available options, click here to book a consultation.