Do You Have Smile Lines?

Smiling does more than make you look healthier and more attractive. The act of smiling can also improve your mood and release endorphins (happy hormones) that can make you feel even happier. It is also contagious and makes others feel good.

While there is no denying about its benefits, smiling is also a repetitive facial movement. And just like all repetitive expressions, this can result in fine lines and creases in the sides of your mouth, commonly known as smile lines. 

Smile lines, also referred to as laugh lines, can also be accompanied with wrinkles around your eyes. These can become noticeable when you smile or laugh. Those who smile or laugh frequently may have a pattern of smile lines and wrinkles around the eyes when they get older.

So what causes or contributes to smile lines?

Although repetitive facial expressions are the main cause of smile lines, a number of other factors can contribute to their formation. These include:

• Old age – Aging causes the breakdown of collagen and elastin, the two essential proteins that provide support and strength to your skin. When this happens, your skin may start to sag inward, resulting in creases, fine lines, and wrinkles.  
• UV exposure – Prolonged sun exposure can damage the skin and speed up skin aging. This is because UV rays also break down collagen and elastin fibers in the skin, leading to premature wrinkles.
• Smoking – Cigarette smoke contains toxins that can damage both your collagen elastin. The habit also accelerates aging and makes smokers more prone to fine lines and wrinkles. Smoking, furthermore, causes you to pucker your mouth repetitively, leading to lines around the mouth or “smoker’s lines”.
• Sleep deprivation – Apart from making you foggy and grumpy, lack of sleep can also trigger premature aging. This also causes your body to produce cortisol (stress hormone), which breaks down collagen and elastin. This results in fine lines and sagging skin.
• Stress – Cortisol (stress hormones), as explained above, speeds up aging by breaking down collagen and elastin. Constantly being stressed, furthermore, can cause you to frown or make other certain facial expressions that cause lines and wrinkles. 

What can I do about smile lines?

You don’t necessarily have to avoid smiling to avoid smile or laugh lines. A much better solution is to adopt healthy skin habits, which include wearing sunscreen daily, quitting smoking (if you do), and managing stress. You should also make it a point to get adequate sleep and eat a balanced diet.

If you, however, have noticeable wrinkles and smile lines, you may consider nonsurgical aesthetic treatments to minimize their appearance. Here at Cutis Medical Laser Clinics in Singapore, we have safe and effective injectable treatments that can help get rid of smile lines.

Botulinum Toxin (Botox)

Botulinum toxin, popularly known as the brand Botox, is an injectable treatment for removing fine lines and wrinkles while helping you maintain facial mobility. It is also FDA-cleared for treating forehead lines, wrinkles in the corner of the eyes, and frown lines in between the brows.

The procedure works by temporarily blocking the signal from a nerve to a muscle to relax and soften the wrinkles. This makes Botox ideal for treating lines formed due to muscle contractions caused by smiling, squinting, or frowning. You can also consider Botox to correct lines around the lips and neck.

The results of Botox will not appear immediately; it may take about two weeks to see the full effects. The result generally last for about three to six months, but this tends to last longer with repeated or touch-up treatments. This is because the muscles become less prominent.

Read our previous post to learn more about this treatment and things you need to know before getting Botulinum Toxin in Singapore. 

Dermal Fillers

Unlike Botox that relaxes and softens the muscles, dermal fillers “fill in” lines and lost volume. They can help minimize the appearance of fine lines by smoothing them out and creating a more even texture. Fillers can also enhance the cheekbones, plump the lips, and define the chin to promote a rejuvenated look.

At Cutis Laser Clinics in Singapore, we use fillers made from hyaluronic acid (HA) and calcium, which are both naturally found or present in the body. 

• HA dermal fillers like Juvederm can be used to improve fine lines, eye bags, and nasolabial folds (lines at the corner of the nose and mouth). These fillers can fill the lips, add volume in the cheeks, and increase the height of the nose.
• Calcium-based fillers like Radiesse can plump up the skin and replenish volume loss over time. They can be used to improve facial lines, add volume to the cheeks, and fill both the lips and nasolabial folds. Radiesse also works as a bio-stimulator that stimulates the body to produce its own natural collagen.

With fillers, the results can be seen almost immediately. They may last between 9 and 18 months, but this will still depend on the type of fillers used. You can also combine Botox with fillers if you have static or deep lines or those that remain even if you’re not moving your face.

Check out our previous blog to learn more facts about dermal fillers. 

What to take note of

Since both treatments are administered through injections, bruising can occur and take a few days to a week to resolve. To minimize the risk of bruising, be sure to avoid taking fish oil, Vitamin E supplements, or any anti-inflammatory medication at least two weeks before the procedure 

Also, be sure to only trust an experienced and certified aesthetic doctor when getting Botox or fillers. It is important to trust someone with the right experience and a good knowledge of the facial anatomy to get the results you wanted and avoid complications.

Schedule a Consultation

If you’re bothered with your smile lines or other wrinkles on your face, consider Botox or fillers. Contact Cutis Medical Laser Clinics in Singapore today and schedule a consultation with one of our aesthetic doctors to determine which one is right for you.