Perfect your pout
Posted Monday, June 04, 2007
Unlike the skin that covers the rest of the body, lips are made of the same tissue that lines the inside of the mouth. They lack protective epidermal cells, leaving them vulnerable to dehydration and environmental assault that more quickly leads to the signs of aging. Lips also contain less melanin, making them more prone to the damage that destroys plumping collagen.
There are many injectable options for temporarily enhancing lips and the areas surrounding them. Hyaluronic acid fillers like Restylane and Juvederm can plump for up to six months. Collagen-based fillers like CosmoPlast can be useful in reducing the appearance of “bleed” lines (or smoker’s lines) for up to four months. For optimal results, your dermatologist or plastic surgeon may recommend a combination of both.
Laser resurfacing can also be used to rejuvenate the perioral area—the skin surrounding the lips—by removing aged, damaged skin to make way for fresh, smoother, younger-looking skin.
Tags: collagen, CosmoPlast, dehydration, environment, filler, hyaluronic acid, injectable, Juvederm, laser, lip augmentation, lip injection, lips, melanin, Restylane, resurfacing