Smoker’s lines or lipstick lines are the vertical wrinkles seen on the overlying skin on the upper lip as well as the area around the mouth. These fine lines aren’t just a bothersome feature that frequent smokers have since they can also be caused by natural aging, loss of collagen, repeated facial expressions, and sun damage. Fortunately, this cosmetic issue can be easily treated with Botox injections.
So how many Botox units should be injected for correcting smoker’s lip lines? Most cosmetic providers can administer around 4 to 6 units of Botox for reducing the appearance of smokers lines. Unlike the common treatment areas like forehead lines and crow’s feet that typically need more Botox injections, the upper lip area requires only small amounts of the injectable to be effective. Too many Botox units for smoker’s lines may result in unwanted side effects, but this rarely happens as long as you receive the treatment from an experienced injector.
Learn More: What Happens When You Stop Doing Botox Lip Injections?
Aesthetica can assist you with all your beauty needs, helping you achieve your maximum beauty and aesthetic potential. Call or contact us today to learn more about our cosmetic services.
There are many options for treatment of dynamic wrinkles and fine lines on the face but the most popular one has to be the Botox cosmetic injectables. Often touted as one of the best non-invasive procedures for cosmetic enhancement, botulinum toxin injections work by limiting facial muscle contractions. When the overactive muscles are in their relaxed state, the wrinkles on the skin soften until they’re no longer visible.
Eliminating vertical lip lines is one of the treatments that Botox excels at. Even though these lip wrinkles are small and thin, they’re very noticeable especially when the lipstick color bleeds into the lines on the skin of the lips.
The number of Botox units needed for smokers’ lip lines can vary depending on the severity of the issue. However, it’s a common practice that no more than 4 units should be placed on the injection sites on each lip. A total of 4 to 6 units on both areas is sufficient to relax the lower and upper lip muscles and get rid of the smoker’s lines.
When addressing the lip lines, an injector strategically places Botox to the orbicularis oris muscles. This facial muscle is primarily responsible for lip and mouth movement. Every time you pucker, drink through a straw, or make a facial expression, this muscle contracts, and by repeated contraction throughout your lifetime, the outer layer of skin wrinkles.
As an FDA-approved cosmetic injection, Botox is a versatile treatment and can be used for a wide range of other skin concerns. In addition to smoker’s lines, here are the common problems that Botox can treat:
| How Botox Can Help | How Many Botox Units Needed | |
| Thin lips | A Botox lip flip provides a subtle enhancement to aging and thin lips. The injections work to curl the upper lip outward to give an appearance of plumper and fuller-looking lips. | An average treatment of lip flip requires about 10 Botox units |
| Gummy smile | Botox for gummy smile treatment relaxes the lip elevator muscles to minimize the excessive showing of gum line when smiling. | 2 to 4 Botox units |
| Crow’s feet | For treating the appearance of crow’s feet, Botox can be placed directly on the fine lines on the outer corners of the eyes. This will minimize its contraction and allow the wrinkles around the eyes to smooth out. | Around 12 Botox units on each side |
| Forehead wrinkles | The horizontal glabellar lines are treated by injecting Botox directly to the muscles in the forehead area. | Around 10 to 20 units of Botox |
| Frown lines | Botox can also smooth away the “11” lines between the eyebrows by injecting the toxin across the glabella area. | 10 to 25 Botox units |
| Nasolabial folds | Botox can also minimize the creasing and fix the drooping of the skin around the mouth area. | Treatment of nasolabial folds may require 5 to 10 Botox units |
| Jawline slimming | This injectable can also be placed to the masseter muscle to help improve jawline contour and slim the overall shape of the face. | Around 20 to 30 units may be injected per side of the muscle |
The procedure for Botox injections is very straightforward and can usually be done within several minutes. It requires little to no downtime - most patients can return to their normal activity shortly after they’re done with the treatment. It has only few side effects like swelling, bruising, and pain at the injection site, most of which are easily manageable and will subside within a few days.
The effects of neurotoxin can start to kick in within 2 to 3 days from the procedure. You can expect to see its full results after at least two weeks. As the muscles are relaxed, the smoker’s lines will disappear and will not return for at least 3 to 4 months. You can get additional treatments if you want to maintain its effects.
There’s no doubt that Botox is a great cosmetic treatment. But when it comes to treating smoker’s lip lines, there are also other procedures that you can consider. Here are the other possible treatments that can help achieve wrinkle-free lips:
| Dermal fillers | A dermal filler treatment involves injecting soft gel-based materials usually made of hyaluronic acid to fill in the wrinkles around the mouth as well as improve lip volume. The Juvederm family of fillers is the most commonly used product for lip enhancement. Unlike Botox, lip filler injections can last for 6 to 12 months. |
| Laser resurfacing treatments | Getting a laser treatment can also help remove deep lines and improve the fullness of the lips. It works by directing a focused beam of laser energy to the skin and stimulating the production of fresh collagen to naturally plump and enhance lip texture. |
| Microneedling | Microneedling is a process of creating micro-injuries to the skin that will initiate the growth of new collagen. It’s also an ideal treatment alternative for improving the appearance of vertical lip lines and wrinkles around the mouth. |
| Chemical peels | Lip peels are also a great skin care treatment that can remove dead skin cells to restore lip smoothness and remove fine lines and wrinkles. |
Although using makeup can conceal some of the fine lines and wrinkles near the lips, Botox injections are still the best treatment option for complete lip rejuvenation. At Aesthetica, our experienced injectors and aestheticians can provide customized Botox solutions for your skin concerns and anti-aging needs.
Our cosmetic team at Aesthetica is committed to helping patients achieve their best beauty potential. We also strive to provide world-class services and excellent customer care for each client that comes to our medical spa. To start your Botox experience, schedule a consultation with one of our specialists today.
Read More: Is There Anything That Can Get Rid of Lines on My Upper Lip Besides Botox?
Aesthetica can assist you with all your beauty needs, helping you achieve your maximum beauty and aesthetic potential. Call or contact us today to learn more about our cosmetic services.
