Is Your Pout Giving Away Your Age?

Every part of the body changes with age, but the most visible signs of aging show up on our skin. Certain areas also age a bit more than the rest and this can make you look older than you are. Your pout is one susceptible area, as it is subject to daily and repetitive movements related to eating and speaking. 

Age-related changes, as well as the way we display our style, can be the culprit to an aging pout and appearance. Below are the five things that can contribute to this beauty dilemma:

1. Flat and Thinning Lips

Full lips can become flat and deflated with aging, as production of collagen slows down. The effect is much more visible if you have naturally thin or smaller lips. The use of dermal fillers (which will be explained further) can plump up your pout and improve the appearance of lines.

2. Lip Lines and Creases

While everyone can get lip wrinkles, repetitive muscle movements can make them appear sooner. This is especially true if you smoke or constantly purse your lips (drinking through a straw or water bottle). These vertical lines around your mouth can betray your age or make you look older. 

3. Heavy, Dark Matte Lipstick

If you already have thinning or aging lips, an extremely dark matte lip color can accentuate all the lines you have. This can also make your pout look smaller and emphasize its lack of definition. A lighter lip color is a much better choice as it can give you the appearance of fuller lips. 

4. Dryness, Flaking, and Cracking

Environmental elements like UV rays and strong winds can contribute to dry and chapped lips. The same is also true for smoking and constantly licking a dry pout. You can get relief by applying a lip balm/moisturizer and gently exfoliating your lips using a soft-bristled toothbrush. 

5. Excess Upper Lip Hair

Excess facial or upper lip hair can be due to genetics or hormonal issues. Menopausal period can also mean an increase in unwanted hair sprouting on the upper lip and chin area. Fortunately, there are a number of effective ways to remove unwanted facial hair like laser and IPL hair removal.

What Can Help

The use of dermal fillers can do wonders for your lips, especially if you have visible lines and a thinning pout. These injectable gels can plump up your pout, restore lost skin volume, and minimize the appearance of lines and creases. Read on and learn why many are now turning to fillers:

The main ingredient: You may be glad to know that the fillers used for lip enhancements are made of hyaluronic acid (HA). HA is a naturally occurring substance in the body that is responsible for keeping the tissues hydrated and lubricated. This makes the procedure safe with low risk of allergy. 

Safe and FDA-approved: At Cutis Laser Clinics, we have FDA-approved fillers (Volift, Ultra, and Volbella) that have been proven effective for years. These are made with HA and are favored over fillers made of silicone, which are known to result in harder lips that are susceptible to lumps.

Immediate results: You may be able to see improvements almost immediately, but your lips are likely to be a little swollen at first. You will need to give them at least 24 hours to settle, which means avoiding touching the lips.

Improvement in skin quality: Over time, the lip fillers slowly disappear, as the body metabolizes the injectable gels. Studies also suggest that repeated filler injections are associated with overall improvement of skin’s hydrobalance and quality. 

Tolerable procedure: Although the treatment involves the use of needles, most patients find it tolerable. This is because numbing creams are used and some fillers already contain anesthesia like lidocaine. This numbs the lips, making the procedure more comfortable.

Important Things to Take Note of

Things to avoid – Avoid taking fish oil, Vitamin E supplements, aspirin, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications two weeks before and after the procedure. You should also avoid exercise and alcohol after the treatment. Check out our previous blog to learn the 7 things you need to know before doing lip fillers.

After the injection – You may see some bruising or swelling at the site of the injection. This can last at least seven days and you can use cold compresses to minimize swelling. if bruising is present, it can last up to 10 days.

Sensation in the area – The presence of fillers can make the treated area feel firm or different. It can take two weeks for the injectable gels to completely blend with the surrounding tissues.

Only see a skilled injector – Injecting fillers is a process that takes time and requires the skill of the doctor to achieve desirable results. Be sure to only see a skilled aesthetic doctor who has extensive experience of providing natural-looking results.

Schedule a Consultation

Take good care of your lips and consider fillers for a younger-looking pout. To learn more, contact Cutis Laser Clinics in Singapore and schedule a consultation with our Harvard-trained aesthetic doctor, Dr. Sylvia Ramirez.