Facial aging lines and wrinkles can develop for lots of reasons, from normal aging to sun damage, to facial muscles continuously moving and tugging on our skin.

Here’s a simple principle to remember: most horizontal lines on the face are the result of repetitive motion, such as frowning, laughing or even smoking. Most vertical lines are the result of aging.

Horizontal Aging Lines

Horizontal lines can be softened by Botox, which is typically used around the crows’ feet eye area and on the forehead. Read more about:

Botox
When to Consider Botox and Fillers

Vertical Aging Lines

There are several types of vertical aging lines and each has a different method of treatment. Starting at the top of your head, the vertical lines across the glabella, or the junction of your nose and forehead, are caused by deepening of furrows caused by frowning. Botox is the non- invasive method to weaken these muscles and reduce the deepening of the furrow. A medium longevity filler – such as Restylane or Juvederm – can be used to fill in the furrow, but the injector must be very conservative, because this are is prone to injury by ischemia, and subsequent skin loss. Thicker fillers, such as Radiesse or Perla ne, are forbidden here.

The nasolabial fold lines extend from the corners of the nasal alae to the corners of the mouth. They are caused  by the descent of the cheek fat with aging. These lines can be softened by thicker fillers, such as Juvederm XC or Radiesse. Too much filling here makes the mid face look like a chipmunk-which is not the natural look that we are aiming for in our patients!

The marionette lines extend from the corners of the mouth to the jawline, and are caused by the fall of the jowl fat to the jawline. These lines can be softened by Restylane.  Injection of Voluma XC into the cheek area plumps up the high cheek and subsequently can lift and soften that line.

The vertical lines around the lips are produced by volume loss in the subcutaneous tissue of the upper lip and chin. These lines can be filled by Restylane Silk, and treated superficially with laser resurfacing, such as the lighter fractional CO 2 laser, or the surgical level Palomar Ultrapulse laser.

Vertical lines that appear in the midcheek  are due to sun damage. These can only be treated with laLaser resurfacing or chemical peeling.

Radiance Skin Care Clinic

Susan Mowry, R.N. is our Radiance Skin Clinic nurse-aesthetician, injector specialist and laser technician.

She is a registered nurse with degrees from Community College of Allegheny County and South Hills Beauty Academy, and has 15 years of experience leading our skin care clinic. She continues her Aesthetic education by attending yearly advanced skin care seminars. Susan maintains a membership with The Society of Plastic Surgical Skin Care Specialists, which keeps her active in the medical aspects of skin care as well as maintaining certifications in various Dermal Fillers and Botox injections. All of the skin care treatments Susan performs are under the supervision of Board Certified Plastic Surgeons.

Contact our office to schedule your consultation with Susan today!