What are Smoker's Lines?
Smoker's lines are the vertical lines found around the mouth, particularly above the upper lip. They are also known as 'Barcode lines' and per-oral lines. The medical term is 'radial perioral rhytides'. They are typically found in smokers, however, they often occur in non-smokers too, particularly in those with a lot of sun exposure. With age, there is a decrease in bony support, hyaluronic acid and collagen are produced in smaller quantities and the fatty components in skin can be reabsorbed. The result are the unsightly vertical lines shown.
What treatments are available?
There are a number of treatments that can be employed depending on the severity of the lines.
For lines that are reasonably shallow, anti-wrinkle injections alone can relax the muscle, which decreases the lines for 3-4 months. This procedure is straight forward and only takes 5 minutes with no down time. It takes 2 weeks for the full effect to be seen.
Deeper lines need to be treated with a combination of filler and anti-wrinkle injections. In this scenario, a medical grade numbing cream is applied and the lines are then filled in with a fine needle. Sometimes the lines extend onto the lips. In these cases, a small amount of lip filler can restore the outline (vermillion border) of the lips. The results generally last 9-12 months, depending on the individual. If the lines are quite deep, it may require a second treatment depending on the amount of correction needed and client expectations. This is the exception and I can advise on the probability of this.
If skin quality is an issue, treatment of the area with platelet-rich plasma (which thickens the skin) or Profhilo (increases collagen and hydration) can be of further benefit.
Would you like more information or book an appointment?
Click here to contact me
Text or Call on 086-7225735 (086-SCALPEL)
Email me at : DrLucey@TheBeautyDoc.ie
You can make an appointment at my Dawson St Clinic or I can come to your home by appointment.
I perform several different treatments including Anti-Wrinkle Injections, Lip, Cheek and Jaw Fillers, Profhilo and Fat Dissolving Injections. Feel free to make an inquiry or have a free consultation.
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