4 Treatments To Rejuvenate Your Smile Before Holiday Season
Dave MacGregor
September 15, 2022
If you’ve enjoyed spending time outdoors this summer, your skin’s likely showing some signs of photoaging (brown spots, textural changes, and fine lines). We’re currently living in the space between summer and winter, with upcoming social events and holidays just around the corner. In my practice, we typically see an uptick in procedures to reverse the summer signs of the sun. And with cooler temperatures and holidays right around the corner, it makes the fall and winter months the perfect time to rejuvenate your smile.
Besides the neck, chest, and hands, the area around the mouth (known as the perioral area) can betray our efforts to maintain a younger-looking appearance. You might even be noticing some of these signs of aging around the mouth:
- laugh lines (nasolabial folds)
- marionette lines (volume loss at the corners of the mouth)
- jowls (volume loss at the chin and ptosis or “sagging” at the jawline)
- thin lips, or lips that have lost their natural definition
- fine, “etched” lines (smoker’s lines) along the lip line, moving vertically up the upper lip
UV exposure and aging, in general, leave the skin around the mouth dry, dehydrated, and lackluster.
We want to help you look and feel confident as the holidays approach. If you start conservatively now, you can have radiant and healthier skin and a rejuvenated smile. These four treatment options are some of our patient favorites and work well as a stand-alone treatment or in tandem for a nice skin refresh.
BOTOX® Cosmetic and Dermal Lip Filler For Wrinkles and Volume Loss
BOTOX® Cosmetic and dermal fillers are the most popular go-to cosmetic treatments for those who desire rejuvenation with fairly quick results and minimal downtime.
For the aging lines around the mouth caused by dynamic expression (puckering and pursing the lips and chin), BOTOX® Cosmetic has proven a safe and effective treatment for smoothing wrinkles. Because Botox® softens the movement causing wrinkles, small doses placed with precision by your board-certified dermatologist will improve the look of lips and chin. In my practice, I’ll often perform a nonsurgical “lip flip” in place of a surgical lip lift, in addition to softening dynamic expression. It’s something that patients love to have done in conjunction with hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal filler treatments.
Injectable dermal fillers are used by dermatologists to finesse several enhancements to the lips, and correct deeper wrinkles around the mouth like a smile (nasolabial folds), and marionette lines.
Common FDA-approved brands of HA dermal fillers include Juvederm® by Allergan Aesthetics and Restylane® by Galderma Aesthetics. I use both brands in my practice to customize the unique needs of my patients and correct facial asymmetries, restore facial volume loss, and re-contour the lips, cheeks, temples, and chin. Patients can expect mild redness and transient injection site swelling. BOTOX® generally lasts 3 months while fillers last approximately 6-12 months, depending on the type of filler used, the treatment area, and the number of syringes used.
Book an injectable appointment with Dr. MacGregor here.
Ultherapy® for Skin Firming and Collagen Growth
Perioral collagen loss is at the heart of why we notice the signs of aging. Fine lines, volume loss, and saggy skin become more obvious through the gradual breakdown of collagen. Cosmetic energy devices like Ultherapy® have become a patient favorite for improving the appearance of skin texture, tone, and skin tone, and creating firmer skin with no downtime.
Ultherapy® utilizes ultrasound to create maximum collagen synthesis. The visual benefits of Ultherapy® are seen within 3-6 months, with full results at 6 months following treatment. If you’re wanting to get a jump on rejuvenation for your full face or just the area around your mouth, I recommend beginning treatment sooner rather than later.
For more on Ultherapy®, read Dr. MacGregor’s blog here.
Microneedling with PRP for Texture Improvement
Microneedling is an excellent treatment option for the fine, tributary lines around the lips and mouth and the rough orange-peel-like texture at the chin. These lines and depressions are superficial, “etched” into the surface of the skin, and typically don’t respond well with dermal fillers. Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, creates micro-channels in the skin that causes the body to produce more collagen and elastin. The byproduct of microneedling is improvement in overall skin texture, and skin firmness, as well as a reduction in acne scarring, pore size, and fine lines.
In my practice, we partner microneedling with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for its growth factor benefits and its ability to regulate pigment production. PRP also ensures that patients experience better results with less downtime. Patients love it because it restores vitality and radiance, and it’s significantly more cost-effective than ablative and non-ablative lasers and surgery.
Medical Grade Skincare for Healthier Skin
It’s normal to feel frustrated about the fine lines, textural changes, and skin laxity on your face and around your mouth, but it’s also important to be realistic. There aren’t any treatments on the market today that will make your skin flawless, but you can commit to taking care of your skin correctly every day. This includes the daily repeated use of a UVA/UVB SPF 45 or higher. It also means using potent skincare that will correct and prevent damage to your skin.
Medical-grade skin care products contain concentrations of prescription-strength ingredients. Over-the-counter products sold at department stores and drug stores do not. Medical-grade products get results and continue to promote your overall skin health while helping you look and feel your best. For more on our top pics, see below.
Age-Defying Skincare- Vitamin C
It’s no question that vitamin C is the powerhouse antioxidant for all skin types, and it would seem that the benefits are endless. Vitamin C works effectively to correct and prevent hyperpigmentation, boost collagen, elastin, and hydration, reduce skin redness and sagginess, and more. We’re big fans of:
- SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic- vitamins c, e, and ferulic acid combat free radicals and minimize photoaging, wrinkles, and skin laxity.
- Obagi Clarifying C Serum- effective in defending the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and photoaging of the skin.
It can be tricky to decide which is right for you, but we’re happy to review a few questions with you to determine which product you’d like best.
Contact our team about our age-defying products
Skin Hydrators
Lipids, which serve as building blocks for cell membranes and help keep our bodies functioning properly, are found throughout the body. They can be found in the topmost layers of the epidermis (the outermost part of the dermis), where they provide a protective coating for the body. Within the dermis, lipids function as moisturizers and lubricants, helping to protect the collagen fibers that make up the connective tissue. Proper skin hydration is vital to maintaining healthy, youthful-looking, supple, and resilient tissue. I recommend the following products for skin hydration and anti-aging benefits:
- Hydrate Lux & Hydrate- packed with peptides, this ultra-rich moisturizer nourishes dehydrated skin for all skin types.
- SkinCeuticals B5 Serum- oil-free moisturizer combines vitamin B5 with hyaluronic acid to help bind moisture to the skin; an ideal hydrator for acne-prone skin.
- SkinCeuticals Biocellulose Restorative Mask- for sensitive, post-procedure, or stressed skin, this sterilized mask creates a protective barrier that helps alleviate discomfort.
Contact our team about skin hydration products here
Skin Plumpers
2 in 1 corrective treatments provide anti-aging benefits plus skin plumping to improve concerns like fine lines, wrinkles, and rough texture. With daily use, you’ll notice an improvement in moderate to severe skin conditions and an overall revitalized appearance of the skin. We’ve listed our two most popular products here for you:
- Skinceuticals HA Intensifier- multi-beneficial corrective serum proven to amplify skin’s hyaluronic acid levels, delivering surface hydration and improving skin firmness and plumpness.
- Obagi Elastiderm Facial Serum- patented Bi-Mineral Contour Complex™ helps support skin elasticity so it can bounce back from the signs of skin aging, resulting in firmer-looking, more resilient skin.
Contact our team about skin plumping products here.
Boost Your Natural Brow Beauty with Obagi Nu-Cil Brow Serum
Obagi’s clinically-proven blend of nutrients boosts natural brow growth to improve the appearance of thinning and patchy brows. Our patients are seeing noticeable results within 12 weeks of daily use and more pronounced results within 12 weeks.
Ask Your Derm Next Door For More
We understand that it can be easy to get lost in knowing exactly what procedures and products will be right for you, given your unique skin type, ethnicity, timeline, and budget. We’re here to assist you every step of the way so you can decide how to best rejuvenate your smile in time for the holidays. Put your best face forward this fall!