As you age, it is inevitable to experience certain changes from head to toe. In terms of your face, the skin stops producing as much collagen as it once did, which is responsible for loss of plumpness and eventually, sagging. Your skin also begins to lose its radiance, which leads to a duller appearance and age spots. Finally, years of facial movements create wrinkles, and most prominently forehead wrinkles, crow's feet, and smile lines.
While getting older is absolutely a luxury and visible signs of aging are essentially badges of honor, it's only natural to feel some resistance towards your changing appearance. So, should you be looking to minimize the marionette lines around your mouth, there are some treatments you can try.
To best understand what causes smile lines and how to treat them, we spoke to two board-certified dermatologists, an esthetician, and a plastic surgeon. Keep reading for all their best tips.
Meet the Expert
- Kavita Mariwalla, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist specializing in facial reconstruction, skin cancer detection, and treatment.
- Anna Guanche, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist, celebrity beauty expert and founder of Bella Skin Institute.
- Renée Rouleau is a celebrity esthetician and founder of her eponymous skincare brand.
- Alexis Parcells, MD, board-certified plastic surgeon, owner of Parcells Plastic Surgery and founder of SUNNIE Wrinkle Reducing Studio.
What Are Smile Lines?
According to dermatologist, Kavita Mariwalla, MD, smile lines are the common—aka non-scientific—term for nasolabial folds. Which, she explains, are the vertical lines that extend from the sides of the nose and curve around the mouth. They're a natural part of aging and, therefore, can be tricky to treat unless you're willing to opt for a cosmetic procedure. (But more on that in a minute).
Why Do We Get Smile Lines?
"Smile lines occur due to the natural loss of volume that occurs in the face with age," Dr. Mariwalla says. "Our cheek compartment has seven fat pads that descend and shift with time. The smile lines become more prominent due to the way these fat pads shift and move."
And though smile lines are basically an inevitable and a natural part of the aging process, Dr. Mariwalla stipulates that certain lifestyle factors can make them worse. For instance, sun damage, sudden drastic weight loss, or diet.
