A doctor-performed treatment to soften the fine vertical lines that form above the upper lip. Known as pleats or smokers lines. These lines develop from the repeated puckering and pursing of the lips over years. M1 Med Beauty offers two treatment approaches for these lines at our Sydney CBD and Melbourne CBD clinics. Free consultations.
Pleats are fine vertical lines that can appear above the upper lip. They are also commonly referred to as lip lines or, sometimes, smokers’ lines. Despite the name, these lines are not limited to people who smoke and can be seen in individuals with a wide range of lifestyles and backgrounds.
The appearance of pleats is associated with repeated movement of the muscles around the mouth during everyday activities such as speaking, eating, smiling and other facial expressions. Factors such as genetics, sun exposure and individual skin characteristics may also influence how these lines develop and appear.
Pleats can vary in depth and visibility. In some people they are most noticeable during lip movement, while in others they may also be visible when the face is at rest.
A doctor-performed treatment placed in very small, precise amounts around the lip border can reduce the activity of the muscle responsible for the puckering motion that creates these lines. With the muscle’s movement gently reduced, the lines can soften and their further development slows. This approach addresses the underlying cause of the lines and is the first-line treatment for most patients. Results are temporary and your doctor will advise on expected longevity at your consultation.
For patients where the skin quality in the upper lip area is also a concern, a skin booster treatment can be added or used as a standalone approach. The skin booster works on the skin itself, improving hydration, texture, elasticity and overall quality in the perioral area. This can make the lines less visible by improving the surface quality of the skin and supporting the structural integrity of the tissue. Your doctor will advise which approach or combination is appropriate at your consultation.
For patients with both muscle-driven lines and reduced skin quality in the upper lip area, combining both treatments at the same appointment can address the concern more completely. Your doctor will assess which is appropriate and discuss the plan at your free consultation.
These are related but distinct concerns. Pleats are the fine surface lines above the lip caused by muscle movement. Upper lip folds are the deeper creases at the lip border itself driven more by structural volume loss. The upper lip folds treatment uses a volumising approach and is available on the Upper Lip Folds page of the M1 Med Beauty website. The two can often be addressed together, and your doctor will assess both at consultation.
Smokers lines are the fine vertical lines that radiate upward from the upper lip border. They are caused by the repeated contraction of the muscle around the mouth during puckering, speaking, eating and expression. Smoking accelerates their development through repeated lip contraction and the effect of smoke on skin quality, but they develop in non-smokers too.
Despite the name, smokers lines are extremely common in people who have never smoked. They form from the same muscle activity that all lip movement creates over a lifetime. Someone who whistles, plays a wind instrument, drinks through straws frequently or simply has an expressive face can develop these lines without ever having smoked. Smoking does make them worse and earlier, but it is not the only cause.
The muscle-relaxing treatment addresses the muscle activity that creates the lines, reducing how actively the lip area puckers and slowing the deepening of the lines over time. The skin booster works on the skin surface itself, improving its hydration, texture and elasticity so that the lines are less visible and the skin around the lip is in better overall condition. Many patients benefit from both. Your doctor will assess which is the more appropriate starting point for your upper lip at consultation.
For the skin booster approach, the volumising component typically lasts up to six months, after which the treatment can be repeated. For the muscle-relaxing approach, results are temporary and vary between individuals. Your doctor will advise on expected longevity and the right timing for follow-up treatment at your consultation.
