Perioral/Mouth area Rejuvenation

Serving Fort Collins, Northern Colorado & Cheyenne, and Southeastern Wyoming

One of the telltale signs of aging is the development of wrinkles around the mouth. Even if you have never smoked, vertical lines near the upper or lower lip can develop, sometimes even in your thirties. Part of the cause can be a gradual loss of soft tissue or bone around the teeth, either because of genetics or aging. Sometimes dental procedures can cause this appearance as well. Thinning lips appear stern or disapproving, while full, rounded lips appear youthful and appealing. Downturned corners of the mouth are an especially difficult problem to fix. The “marionette” line, or furrow extending from the corners of the mouth towards the chin gives the appearance of a permanent frown, signifying disapproval or grouchiness. Deep lines leading from the base of the nose down beyond the corners of the mouth bestow the look of aging upon the person who has them. Also, with age, the skin around the mouth can appear thick, dull and dry, with irregular pigmentation and hair growth in the wrong place in women.

By targeting these six potential signs of age, the mouth—a difficult feature to cover up—can be restored to a more youthful and attractive appearance.

Wrinkles are probably the number one concern for most women. Nasolabial lines are frequently a family trait, and can be seen in the early 20s. The best correction for nasolabial lines in a young patient would be injections of a filler such as Restylane, Juvederm, or Prevelle. The injections fill in the weak area or “crease” in the skin, and soften the line so that it is not so noticeable.

Vertical lip lines are usually seen beginning in the late 30s. While filler injections can definitely help, especially with lipstick “bleed” lines, the wrinkles are not erased. Erbium laser resurfacing, good for skin types I-IV, can dramatically reduce the depth and number of lines for 10 years or more. While dermabrasion and chemical peels were used many years ago to achieve wrinkle correction, scarring with hypopigmented white spots was a real risk. The erbium laser stays in the superficial dermis, thus avoiding the risk of a “waxy, white” look around the mouth.

Thinning lips are a popular target for correction. Most patients have fears of getting “guppy lips” or “duck lips” when they are injected with fillers. This can occur when an inexperienced injector creates “big lips”, thinking that it looks good. Dr. Duncan has a particular interest in creating a beautiful, yet natural lip contour, either with fillers or with fat injection. Fillers can give instant improvement with little to no “down” time. Fat injection can give permanent improvement, but there is mild swelling and bruising for 10 days to 2 weeks in most cases. Fat injection is a better investment, as the fat that “takes--fat that develops a blood supply-will last a lifetime.

Marionette lines or drooping mouth corners can be improved with a combination of erbium laser, superficial filler injections, and fat injection. It’s difficult to get good results with a single treatment type unless the lines are minimal. Frequently improvement, not total correction, is obtained, especially in smokers who cannot quit.

Unattractive skin can be improved with hydrafacial treatments, erbium laser, NIA 24 cream for hyperpigmentation and sun damage, and chemical peels. The length of time available for recovery usually determines the treatment choice. Generally, the more down time, the more dramatic the result can be.

This 41 year old had a very mild downturn of the corners of her mouth, along with mild thinner of the lateral upper lip. Fat injection created an improved resting facial expression.

970.493.7445
1701 E. Prospect Rd.
Fort Collins, CO 80525
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