Would a lip lift help remove or reduce the appearance of smokers lines? (photos)

Question

i don’t smoke, but i have these lines above my upper lip that look like smoker lines. would a lip lift reduce the appearance of these? my mom also has these lines when she was younger but she used to smoke. (on the right side of my upper lift, i have a vertical scar)

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

​Fillers such as Restylane Silk, Belotero, or Juvederm can work well to treat lines around the mouth, but the best first option is laser resurfacing or deep peels to induce collagen production. Superficial radiofrequency devices and microneedling can help as well and are less invasive. I suggest going to an experienced cosmetic dermatologist with expertise in lasers and fillers. Best, Dr. Emer​

Jonathan Cabin, MD · Answer

Hi there,
The short answer to your question is: a lip lift does nothing to help these wrinkles, or to the integrity of the skin of the upper lip in general.
The longer answer:
A lip lift surgery can be used to achieve one or more of three things:
1) Improving the "show" of the upper teeth when your mouth is parted2) Decreasing the distance between the nose and the upper lip3) "Everting" the upper lip so that more red lip shows
Your picture is demonstrating the normal movement wrinkles of the upper lip, which are oriented in a mostly vertical, slightly oblique fashion given the positioning of the muscle that creates them. 
These lines come and go with movement when we are younger, but tend to get etched in when we age as our skin thins and loses its youthful elasticity. They are similar to the "crows feet" we get to the sides of our eyes, or the "11 lines" we get between our brows. (Side note: smokers get these lines earlier because the nicotine ages the skin more quickly).
When you're young, the best way to prevent these wrinkles from worsening is by:
1) Softening the movement of the muscle of the upper lip (via light Botox - cannot do anything strong because it will reduce the important functioning of this muscle)2) Maintaining and improving the collagen levels of the skin of the upper lip (via medical grade skincare, regularly scheduled collagen stimulating lasers and/or microneedling treatments, and strict mineral based sun block)
When I have a patient who requires a lip lift but also has etched in lines of the upper lip, I usually perform a resurfacing laser at the same, time as the surgery.
Hope this helps! Best, Dr. Cabin

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