When you look up close at your face in the mirror, do ever wonder if your lips are getting thinner? In all those pictures you’ve shared on social media from a few years back, could it be that your lips had more volume, more plumpness, making you look younger?
Well, it’s no secret – our bodies go through lots of changes as we age. Starting in our mid-twenties, our skin starts to lose its youthful volume; thinning, deflated lips are an unfortunate reality we must face.
What Causes Lip Thinning?
There are several leading causes behind lip thinning, and a few of these are outlined below.
UV damage: There’s a link between UV damage resulting in the loss of collagen, a major structural protein found in the skin and other connective tissues.
Age: Collagen production decreases in most people’s bodies starting in the late teens or early 20s.
Smoking: As a significant cause of collagen damage, smoking decreases the amount of oxygen delivered to tissues.
Genetics: Unfortunately, we can’t control how our genetics determines how much collagen your body makes and breaks down. Some of us are blessed to have good genes; those of us that are not experience more dramatic losses in fullness of the facial features, including the lips.
Your Options to Plump up Your Lips
Now that you understand the reasons behind your thinning lips, you may be wondering what you can do to achieve fuller lips? Well, your first step is to schedule an assessment with the team at The Maryland Institute of Plastic Surgery. Your initial consultation will provide you with an individualized treatment plan to restore plumpness, perkiness, and youthfulness to your lips.
During your consultation, you’ll learn about the most sought-after trend in aesthetic medicine, injectable dermal fillers. With no-downtime from this minimally invasive procedure, this is an excellent option for taking care of age-related volume loss in your lips.
Two popular families of dermal fillers are especially suited to the treatment of thinning lips:
Juvéderm®
These smooth, gel-based fillers are a non-surgical choice for looking younger when there has been mild to moderate volume loss. They are bio-compatible, since they are made of hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring substance in our bodies. HA provides plumpness in and of itself, and it also has the amazing ability to attract and retain additional moisture.
Restylane®
Also made with hyaluronic acid, this family of products is designed to address more severe volume loss by plumping up lips and other areas of the face and body affected by the aging process.
Both of these easy, in-office injectable treatments can be delivered in under an hour, giving you fast and natural rejuvenation without a “worked-on” look.
Tips for Keeping Lips Plump
Stay Hydrated
The most basic action you can take, no matter what products you use on your lips, is to make sure you stay hydrated.
Eat Your Protein and Vitamin C
A diet high in protein and vitamin C is essential for making and maintaining strong, healthy collagen levels.
Wear Sunscreen
Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher and be sure to reapply it every two hours.
Take the Next Step!
You can look your best with dermal fillers! They can enhance your appearance by plumping thin lips, softening facial creases, removing wrinkles, and improving the appearance of recessed scars.
The Maryland Institute of Plastic Surgery team, with our four board-certified cosmetic surgeons, looks forward to helping you with your decision to perk up your lips, giving you back that full, youthful, sexy smile. Call our practice at (410) 744-0900 to schedule your consultation. You can also reach out and contact us through our website with questions or to request more information.