Smile--Luscious Lips and a More Youthful Mouth Can Be Yours In Minutes
Posted: Wednesday, September 13, 2006
by Nelson Lee Novick
Nelson Lee Novick, M.D.
In Western culture, when it comes to judging looks, we tend to focus on the eyes first and then the mouth. Not surprisingly, then, any esthetic improvements you make in these two regions can make a big difference in your overall appearance. Look at any photo in the fashion magazines, and you will be quickly convinced of just how key an element the mouth is for creating a younger, sexier face. Unfortunately, genetics, time, gravity, and sunexposure all take their toll on this critical sensual area.
Lips that have become thinned and pursed-looking with time due to a loss of tissue volume and those in whom the “Cupid’s Bow," the sensual V-shaped area of the upper lip, has flattened can be quickly plumped and rejuvenated with the use of Restylane injections. Restylane is a synthetically produced hyaluronic acid derivative whose molecules have an enormous affinity for attracting water to them. For this reason, it is an excellent filler for restoring youthful fullness. Its use does not require pre-treatment allergy testing and its very smooth texture, in part due to the water it binds to itsef, leaves your lips soft and natural in appearance and feel.
The areas to be treated usually require a small amount of pre-procedure topical anesthetic followed by the use of a local anesthetic. Afterward the Restylane may be injected along the borders of the lips to provide definition and directly into the lips themselves for adding volume. The filler is then massaged and molded to ensure proper placement. The whole process usually takes only a few minutes.
Following treatment, you may experience some redness, mild swelling, and tenderness, which may last one to two days. Occasionally, you may develop slight bruising that can last several days, but this is easily coverable with appropriate lipstick and coverup makeup. Results generally last several months before a touch-up is needed.
Another problem, “smoker’s lines," or “lipstick bleeding lines," those unsightly vertical wrinkles along the upper and lower lips, can be managed with a few properly placed microdroplets of Botox Cosmetic. Botox, which has proven safe and highly effective in millions of people worldwide, works by weakening the muscular contractions responsible for these lines. Significant improvement can be seen in as many as 80 percent of cases after just one treatment, and results may last as long as six months. More resistent or deeper lines may benefit from additional plumping with a small amount of Restylane.
The sad lines (also called “marionette lines") on the sides of the mouth can likewise be addressed with Restylane, or Radiesse, another filler, or a combination of these. The choice of agent will depend upon your specific needs. Like Restylane, Radiesse is an FDA-approved filling material, and its safety has been well established in human use. It is a synthetic bone-like material made up of calcium hyroxylapatite, a substance that not only fills wrinkles and furrows, but stimulates the production of your own collagen, which in turn is responsible for tightening and remodeling. Results with Radiesse may last between 12 and 18 months. Radiesse is not recommended for lips, however, since small bumps and lumps have occasionally occurred when it has been injected in that location.
Although your chin is not technically part of the mouth unit, it is close enough to affect its appearance. And one of the most common complaints is the development with age of unsightly dimpling that looks something like an orange peel. Although at one time this was a problem very difficult to treat even by surgery, the solution is now quite simple, quick and easy. In many cases, a droplet of Botox placed into the center and on each side of the chin can dramatically smoothe out these surface irregularities.
The take home message: Aged lips can be rejuvenated and thin lips can be enhanced. So, if you’ve been dreaming of fuller, more youthful and sensual lips and a wrinkle-free smile, dream no more. Go see your cosmetic dermatologist.
Dr. Nelson Lee Novick is a Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, an Attending Physician, and a former OPD Clinic Chief within the department of dermatology of the Medical Center. He also maintains a private practice in Cosmetic Dermatology and Cosmetic Dermasurgery on Manhattan's Upper East Side. His biography has been included in the most recent 46th through 61th editions of Who's Who in America, and he has been listed in Consumer Research Council of America’s Guide to America’s Top Physicians--2003-2006. He is also the author of nine trade books, over a hundred by-lined articles, and more than a half dozen audiotapes on skin care. He has written for many popular magazines and newspapers, such as Good Housekeeping and Reader’s Digest and has been quoted in all the major print venues, including the The New York Times, The Washington Post, and USA Today. He is a familiar face to network media and has been featured with Oprah Winfrey, Paula Zahn, Matt Lauer, and Joan Hamburg. http://www.skinsavvy.fromyourdoctor.com
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