Laugh lines refer to wrinkles or creases that appear around the corners of the mouth. They occur due to frequent smiling, laughing, frowning and other facial movements and make a person appear older than his or her actual age.
When it comes to determining how to get rid of laugh lines, there are many factors to consider. To better understand laugh line treatment, let’s examine laugh lines, their impact on a person’s facial appearance and different options to get rid of laugh lines.
What Are Laugh Lines?
Laugh lines are wrinkles and folds that begin at the sides of the nose and run toward the corners of the mouth. In addition to occurring around the corners of the mouth, laugh lines sometimes form around the eyes. As a result, laugh lines can impact a person’s facial appearance, especially when an individual smiles, laughs or makes other facial expressions.
Both men and women are susceptible to laugh lines due in part to the natural aging process. As a person gets older, there is a reduction in the proliferation of cells in the surface layer of the skin. This causes the surface layer of the skin to become thinner, which can impact a person’s facial appearance.
Additionally, the body’s production of collagen slows as a person ages. Collagen is the primary structural protein in the body’s connective tissues, and it supports skin structure, elasticity and hydration. When the body’s production of collagen declines, the risk of dry skin increases, as does the risk of developing laugh lines.
In a study of the skin’s collagen metabolism, researchers found that naturally aged skin had a reduced collagen synthesis level in comparison to photoaged skin. Researchers also noted that collagen synthesis induced by chronic ultraviolet (UV) irradiation hampered collagen production. They ultimately concluded that the natural aging process and UV irradiation can cause collagen deficiency that impacts the skin, causing laugh lines and other visible signs of aging.
Genetics has been linked to laugh lines and other forms of skin aging, too. Research shows that genetics can play a role in skin aging, but environmental and ethnic factors likely do the same. Thus, the extent to which genetics causes visible signs of aging requires additional study.
Laugh lines can occur for a wide range of reasons, but regardless of why they happen, it is important for an individual to evaluate all of the laugh line treatment options at his or her disposal. In doing so, an individual can find a safe, effective way to treat laugh lines and prevent them from recurring.
What Are the Best Ways to Remove Laugh Lines?
Non-surgical treatments are commonly used to correct laugh lines. These treatments are generally fast and simple to perform, and multiple options are available, including:
Restylane Defyne
Restylane Defyne is a hyaluronic acid dermal filler shown to correct laugh lines, and it simultaneously helps an individual regain a youthful, natural-looking appearance and maintain natural facial expressions. That way, Defyne revitalizes a person’s facial appearance without hampering his or her ability to perform facial movements.
To determine how much Defyne should be used, a patient assessment is first performed. Then, if a patient qualifies for a Defyne procedure, he or she undergoes treatment that requires about 30 minutes to finish. Upon completion, a Defyne treatment delivers results that last up to one year.
Juvederm XC
Juvederm XC is an injectable gel that treats laugh lines. It smooths moderate to severe facial lines, with results lasting up to 18 months.
Unlike other injectable treatments, Juvederm XC contains lidocaine, a local anesthetic that reduces pain. A patient can receive Juvederm XC injections into areas of the mouth where laugh lines are present, and the results of these injections often become visible within 24 hours of treatment.
The benefits of injectables to treat laugh lines can be significant. Injectable procedures cause little to no downtime, and pain associated with injectable treatments is usually minimal. Patients often find injectable treatments for laugh lines are more affordable than alternative treatments. Some patients also prefer injectables due to the fact that a injectable procedure can be performed in a matter of minutes, and results of this procedure can last for several months.
Of course, patients who want a permanent treatment for laugh lines can consider other options. Beyond non-surgical treatment, a facelift can be used to address laugh lines. Thanks to a facelift procedure, an individual can improve facial symmetry, as well as correct laugh lines and other visible signs of aging.
A facelift treats visible signs of aging in the face and neck, and it is tailored to a patient’s facial appearance. It provides a permanent treatment for laugh lines, making it a great alternative to non-surgical treatment. On the other hand, a facelift is much more extensive than a non-surgical treatment for laugh lines and requires a patient to go under the knife. Therefore, a patient should weigh his or her laugh line treatment options closely. This allows a patient to determine the best laugh line treatment based on his or her facial rejuvenation goals.
Which Laugh Lines Treatment Option Is Better: Injectables or Facelift Surgery?
Before undergoing a laugh lines treatment, an individual should meet with Dr. Babak Azizzadeh. This allows an individual to receive a full evaluation and expert laugh lines treatment recommendation from a globally recognized and Harvard-trained facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon.
Dr. Azizzadeh requests a consultation before an individual undergoes a laugh lines procedure or any other facial rejuvenation treatment. At this time, Dr. Azizzadeh evaluates a patient’s facial appearance and medical history and finds out why this individual is considering a facial rejuvenation procedure. Next, Dr. Azizzadeh explains which facial rejuvenation treatments that a patient can receive; Dr. Azizzadeh only recommends a facial rejuvenation procedure if he believes that it can be performed safely and will enhance a patient’s facial appearance. If a patient agrees to a facial rejuvenation procedure, Dr. Azizzadeh then crafts a custom treatment plan.
In certain instances, Dr. Azizzadeh recommends injectables to correct laugh lines. Or, Dr. Azizzadeh sometimes recommends a facelift. Dr. Azizzadeh even recommends a combination of injectable and surgical procedures at times, and he can perform multiple treatments at once to help a patient achieve his or her desired results.
Dr. Azizzadeh helps his patients throughout the course of a laugh lines treatment, too. He responds to patient concerns and questions to alleviate stress in the days leading up to a laugh lines procedure. Dr. Azizzadeh offers detailed instructions to help a patient prepare for the recovery period following a laugh lines procedure as well.
Finally, Dr. Azizzadeh stays in contact with a patient in the weeks and months following a laugh lines procedure. If a patient chooses an injectable laugh lines treatment plan, Dr. Azizzadeh monitors his patient’s progress after each treatment and schedules follow-up appointments. Comparatively, if a patient undergoes a facelift surgery, Dr. Azizzadeh continues to track his patient’s progress to ensure that he or she fully recovers from treatment.
Schedule a Laugh Lines Treatment Consultation with Dr. Azizzadeh
Laugh lines around the mouth sometimes make it difficult for a person to look his or her best. Fortunately, non-surgical and surgical laugh line treatments are available. When performed by Dr. Azizzadeh, a laugh line treatment reduces visible signs of aging in the face and improves the facial appearance.
For people who are considering injectables or facelift surgery to treat laugh lines, Dr. Azizzadeh is available to discuss different facial rejuvenation treatment options. To schedule a facial rejuvenation treatment consultation with Dr. Azizzadeh, please contact us online or call us today at 310-657-2203.