A smile line, unlike the name suggests is not something that puts a smile on the face. It is a fold that forms around the mouth because of aging, i.e., it represents the age line. Technically known as the nasolabial fold, it runs from the corner of the nose and curves around the corner of the mouth. With age, the fold becomes more visible because of the depth it gains and the shadow it casts. No wonder, many people want to get rid of them by any means as they make the person look much older and tired.
What are smile lines?
Aging makes the skin loose its volume, particularly in the face. The fat pads in the cheek compartments flatten with time. They loosen up and hence descend down to the jaw area and make the smile lines more prominent. It is a false assumption to think that only older people will have smile lines. Younger people with unhealthy lifestyle habits such as smoking, and following crash diet plans, can also lead to the development of smile lines. The natural components in the skin such as collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid help skin to stay firm and healthy. But from the early 20s onwards, these elements gradually decline thus helping the skin to age. Studies indicate that in people above the age of 80, collagen production has decreased by 75% compared to 20-year-old adults. These components together keep the skin young providing support and strength. As they deplete with age, skin becomes lax and forms deeper folds and wrinkles.
How do Smile Line Fillers Work?
Fillers are nothing but hyaluronic injections. Hyaluronic acid is naturally available in our body which can attract moisture and hold up to 1000 times its own weight. It acts as a good humectant for the skin to retain its young texture. No wonder, it is the standard component used by most dermatologists as an injectable filler. Fillers are used in two major ways to reduce smile lines around the mouth. Either they are injected along the cheekbone or around the lip lines. The first technique is often used in combination with injecting fillers in nasolabial folds. With this, the skin appears smooth as the depth of the fold reduces. In the second technique, dermal fillers are used to fill the lip line to make them appear smoother. When combined with toxin injections, the fillers will loosen the muscles that are responsible for these lines.
For how long do the fillers work?
Derma fillers give instant results and the smile lines will improve in no time. Depending on the person’s age and the nature of the body, the injections can last between six to 12 months. In case you are not satisfied with the results, the treatment can be reversed. Injecting hyaluronidase, an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid will reverse the process. Derma filling is a safe process provided you take it up at medically authorized clinics with good safety record. Seek the treatment only with highly skilled doctors who have a reasonably good reputation. Though derma fillers work for all skin types, pregnant and breastfeeding women and people with skin ailments like acne should not undertake them.