One of the early signs of aging is appearance of fine lines around the mouth. These lines, also called nasolabial folds) develop because as you age your body begins to produce less collagen causing ligaments around your mouth and chin to loosen and the fatty tissue in your cheeks to sag.
However, age is not the only factor that causes wrinkles around the mouth; bad habits and an unhealthy lifestyle can cause your skin to wrinkle and sag at quite an early age. Four habits that have been proven to cause early age wrinkling around mouth include smoking, chewing gum, drinking out of a straw and sleeping on your side. A recent research has proven that drinking out of bottle can also cause nasolabial folds. Going out without wearing sunscreen is also one major reason behind appearance of wrinkles at an early age. If you want to avoid these facial lines then always wear sunscreen and avoid repeated facial expressions.
However, if you have already developed deep, etched nasolabial folds then there are numerous treatment options available that can help remove facial lines. Botox treatment for nasolabial folds is the most demanded procedure nowadays, equally popular among men and women. One reason behind popularity of this procedure is that it offers instant results and its effects last for up to 4 months.
Botox is a naturally occurring toxic protein that causes facial muscles to relax, making lines and creases less visible. Expression lines around the mouth are caused by frequent movement of muscles. Botox, brand name for botulinum toxin type A, is injected directly into the muscle causing these lines. The drug temporarily paralyzes the muscle, preventing it from contraction.
It is a safe and easy procedure that hardly takes 10 to minutes, depending on the technique and the extent of lines. The discomfort associated with the injection is almost negligible, however, if you are overly sensitive to needle prick then your practitioner may apply some topical anaesthesia to numb the area before administering Botox.
Botox treatment for fine lines around mouth rarely causes any serious side effects. Some common side effects that have been reported by individuals after the procedure are, swelling and bruising at the injection site, swelling in lips, headache and neck pain. Though these symptoms are not serious and subside at their own in a couple of days, never take them easy and contact your doctor as soon as you notice them.