Lines around the mouth appear as we age, commonly from our mid 30s. The lines appear due to repeated contraction of the mouth – similar to how creases develop in clothes that are being crumpled. Loss of volume around the mouth as we age provides less support and structure allowing lines to develop.

Peri-oral means ‘around the mouth’ and this term can apply to lines that form both above and below the lips. The most commonly treated pero-oral lines are those above the top lip.

How to treat peri-oral lines

The best way to treat peri-oral lines is with a combination of dermal filler and anti-wrinkle injections.

Anti-wrinkle injections can be used above the upper lip to reduce the ability to purse and contract the muscles around the mouth. We tend to use 2 – 4 units to reduce movement but we have to be careful – upper lip anti-wrinkle treatment can make it more difficult for you to purse the lips or drink from a straw. Anti-wrinkle treatment to the upper lip tends to last up to 8 weeks.

Dermal fillers are more commonly used to reduce lines around the mouth. There are 2 main techniques when it comes to placing filler in the lines around the mouth. The first technique is to place the filler in a parallel fashion under the lin to reduce its appearance. The second technique is to place struts of filler perpendicular to the lines – this provides support and structure to the upper lip and reduces its’ ability to crunple and crease.

We tend to use a fairly thin dermal filler when treating upper lip lines as the injections are superficial. We use anaesthetic cream around the mouth before treatment to minimise discomfort.

How much does it cost to treat peri-oral lines?

• Dermal filler costs from $650 for 1ml to treat peri-oral lines
• Anti-wrinkle injections to reduce peri-oral lines cost $24 – $48

Which other treatments can reduce upper lip lines?

Ablative laser such as CO2 laser and deep chemical peels can reduce the appearance of upper lip lines. There is recovery time of a few days following these procedures. We do not offer these treatments at Cityskin but a dermatologist with a specialist interest in cosmetic procedures may be able to provide these treatments.