Your mouth does a lot: singing, smiling, kissing, speaking, laughing... As the years go by, these activities all take their toll.
The first place most women begin to see lines and wrinkles is near their mouth. The skin here moves as much as any skin on the face, bending and folding as we exploit its many uses. Sunblock, visors and hats help, however the lower portion of the face usually still suffers greater damage from the sun. Wrinkles are inevitable with all these factors.
It is unfortunate that, when someone looks at you, they first notice your mouth and eyes. Wrinkles can appear worse when wearing colourful lipstick, because it attracts more attention to the mouth. For many, wrinkles and textural changes begin to extend out from the mouth onto the chin and middle parts of the cheeks and with collagen loss, the skin begins to sag, contributing to a less firm jawline, or even jowls.
It's not all awful news though. Luckily, there are solutions.
In the past, fewer tools were available to fix facial flaws. Surgery such as a face lift can't change the quality of skin around the mouth, often leaving this area wrinkled in glaring contrast to an otherwise taut face after a well done procedure. Aggressive lip pursing can be treated with Botox in small amounts, however it won't fix those deep wrinkles and lines.
Our bodies produce less collagen as we age. Collagen breaks down even faster as the years of sunshine and other environmental damage add up. This is what eventually causes wrinkles and loose skin. Over time, we do lose volume in our lips. Reducing sun damage, hydrating and nourishing our bodies, supplementing with omega-3s and antioxidants are all a start. Thankfully, just a small amount of filler improves the skin's contour, while smoothing wrinkles.
Studies show that voluminous lips can affect perception of a woman's age as much as wrinkles can. Lip volume begins to decrease once we are in our mid-30s. Most patients want to know how to achieve voluminous, natural lips without going overboard.
"Duck face" is a common worry, and we agree nobody should have this look! Filler can be added in increments to create a natural line around the mouth, if the injector has experience.
Sometimes, it is hard to know where your limit is. Only so much can be done with small lips.
It's not just about filling the lips. One needs to consider the entire face and understand the balance of the lips as it pertains to the rest of the face. Not all injectors have an artistic eye or understand the anatomy of the face. Locating an artful and talented injector, who is also experienced, is paramount.
About the Author:
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