What Are Smokers’ Lines (And How to Get Rid of Them)?

Natural ageing affects our face and skin in a variety of ways, as do facial motions and the actions we perform like frowning, smiling, and puckering. This results in a variety of facial features and wrinkles that become more pronounced as we age – some of which are undesirable.

One of these features is smokers lines and if this is something you have developed, read on to find out what causes them, and how to get rid of smokers lines using a combination of lifestyle changes, non-invasive treatments, and surgical procedures. 

Anti-Ageing Injectables

Anti-Wrinkle Injections relax the muscles around the mouth, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This is one of the most common non-invasive treatments for smokers lines together with dermal fillers and the procedure can take just 30 minutes with little to no downtime.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels involve applying an exfoliating solution to the skin to remove the outer layer, revealing smoother, rejuvenated skin underneath. Glycolic peels and Phenol peels can be applied around the lips to reduce the effect of smokers lines.

Dermal Fillers  

Dermal fillers can plump up the skin around the lips and mouth, filling in fine lines and restoring lost volume for a more youthful appearance. Hyaluronic acid is usually the active ingredient within dermal filler for smokers lines which is naturally found in your skin. The process is incredibly quick, and results are shown to last up to 18 months.

Please be aware that this is a different treatment to Lip Filler which targets thin lips and injects volume into the actual lip, as opposed to targeting the skin around the lip and smokers lines. Lip filler is a less common treatment for smokers lines but can be used as part of a combination dermal filler treatment to rejuvenate the lip and mouth area.

At the Cadogan Clinic we feel the best filler for smokers lines in Juvederm, and our consultants will typically use Juvederm products for targeting smokers lines.

Non-Surgical Facelift

Non-surgical facelift procedures can help tighten loose skin and improve overall facial contour around the lips. A non-surgical facelift can combine multiple non-invasive treatments including radiofrequency, and filler for smokers lines. An initial consultation helps determine the best action plan and which treatments offer the best results to get rid of your smokers lines.

Microneedling

Microneedling involves using tiny needles to create micro-injuries in the skin which stimulates collagen production. This, in turn, helps improve skin tone and texture and reduce the effect of smokers lines around the lips. For the best results, 3-6 sessions are usually required.

Morpheus 8

Morpheus 8 is a fractional radiofrequency microneedling device that combines microneedling with radiofrequency energy to tighten the skin and improve texture. The results of this process are usually quick and you can start to notice a difference in your smokers lines in just a few days. 

Fat Transfer to Face

Fat transfer involves taking fat from one area of the body and injecting it into the face to restore volume and fill in wrinkles. The fat is usually taken via liposuction and processed before being reinjected into your face. By injecting processed fat around the lips, the depressions formed as a result of smokers lines are essentially filled in. You can expect this procedure to take between 30-45 minutes and you may a few days off of work.

Full Facelift

A full facelift involves surgically lifting and tightening the skin of the entire face and neck to reduce wrinkles and sagging. This procedure is performed under general anaesthetic and can take up to three hours. Surplus skin is usually remove from around the ears allowing the skin and underlying muscle to be tightened. This tightening effectively removes smokers lip lines and other conditions like marionette lines, whilst targeting a much wider facial rejuvenation.

Mini Facelift

A mini facelift targets specific areas of the face, such as the lower face and jawline, to lift and tighten loose skin and improve facial contours. Compared to a full facelift, a mini facelift is less invasive and the surgery takes between 1-1.5 hours. A mini facelift is performed either under general anaesthetic or sedation depending on the complexity of the procedure and if any other treatments are being performed at the same time.

Lip Lift

A lip lift is a surgical procedure that shortens the distance between the nose and upper lip, reducing the appearance of smokers' lines and enhancing lip definition. This procedure typically takes approximately 1 hour and a full recovery can be expected between 4-6 weeks. 

Conclusion

Smokers' lines are a common sign of aging for many individuals, but there are various treatment options available to help reduce their appearance and achieve smoother, more youthful-looking skin.

If surgery isn’t an option, or you cannot get the time away from work, non-invasive options such a filler for smokers lines, microneedling, and Morpheus 8 treatment offer viable alternatives and great starting points. The effects are not permanent, but there is much less hassle and downtime.

Alternatively, for long-lasting results, surgical treatments like fat transfer to face, and the three different facelift variants are the best options. If you can cope with the downtime and extended recovery period, these are the top solutions to get rid of smokers lines. They are also excellent if you have found that non-invasive treatments have had a minimum impact. 

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