Q1 – What are Lip Wrinkles?

Lip wrinkles, which are sometimes called lip lines, lipstick lines, or smokers lines are tiny vertical lines that form on the lips as we age.

Lip wrinkles can be difficult to conceal and often become more noticeable over time. These lines can appear both on the lips and in the surrounding skin, especially the upper lip area, sometimes stretching from one side of the mouth to the other.

What makes them even more visible is how makeup behaves on textured skin. Lipstick and foundation can settle into these lines, exaggerating their depth and making them appear darker or more defined than they really are. Wrinkles above the lips are often more pronounced than those on the lips themselves, and are commonly referred to as ‘smoker’s lines’, though they can form regardless of smoking due to factors like collagen loss, repetitive movement and sun exposure.

Q2 – What causes Lip Wrinkles or Lines on Lips?

Peak Volume Until Age 20 Lips typically look their fullest in early adulthood, when collagen production is at its highest. After that, collagen production declines by about 1% per year, resulting in gradual thinning, reduced elasticity, and more visible perioral lines and dryness.

Collagen, Elastin & Hyaluronan Decline Age-related reduction in structural proteins (collagen and elastin) and natural hyaluronic acid leads to thinner, less supported lips. Histology studies show poorly organized collagen and reduced hyaluronan in aging lips.

Muscle and Bone Changes The orbicularis oris muscle around the lips can atrophy, while bone loss and gum recession alter lip support, leading to deeper wrinkles.

Additional Contributing Factors

Sun exposure (photodamage) damages collagen and elastin in the lip area via UVA and UVB, accelerating aging.
Smoking, puckering, and straw use increase free radicals and muscle contraction around the mouth, contributing to “smoker’s lines”. Chronic dryness, due to the lips’ lack of oil glands and environmental stressors, further exaggerates lines.

Q3 – What are the best non surgical Treatments for Upper Lip Lines and lip wrinkles?

morpheus8 skin tightening lip lines jowls before and after

For those with shallow vertical lip lines, a good place to start would be prescription Retin-A creams. These creams and serums help stimulate the production of collagen. These have been shown to improve the appearance of fine lines around the lips. Our team of medical practitioners can help you choose the best course of treatment.

Many medical practitioners now use injectable fillers to treat the effects of photodamage as well as intrinsic factors such as fine lines and wrinkles. A gel containing hyaluronic acid (such as Juvéderm® Volbella) has been designed specifically for the lip area, it is injected directly into the lips and the surrounding area. This stimulates the production of new collagen which is depleted due to general damage including photodamage and helps restore skin health as well as restore a youthful appearance.

Chemical peel for Lip Lines

Chemical skin peels are another solution to improve the appearance of your skin, especially if your skin is dull or of poor quality, or you suffer from fine lines and wrinkles or acne damaged skin. The chemical peel procedure removes the top layer of skin so that a new, healthier-looking layer can take its place. It can also help the improvement of light scarring and blemished skin. Chemical peels are particularly well suited for the upper lip.

Morpheus8 for Lip lines

Morpheus8 is a state-of-the-art skin remodelling technology that combines microneedling with radio-frequency energy. Ideal for perioral rejuvenation, it tightens, lifts, and improves texture by stimulating collagen deep within the dermis, resulting in smoother skin around the lips and lower face. It’s effective on fine lines, laxity, acne scars, enlarged pores, and sun-damaged skin.

Laser treatment for Lip wrinkles

Laser treatment can be used to lighten lip pigmentation; lasers used for skin resurfacing and rejuvenation can also have the added effect of smoothing the skin as well. It’s particularly effective on the skin around the mouth, nose and eyes.

Tixel for Lip Lines

Tixel treatment is another innovative and extremely versatile new treatment option that uses heat to treat the skin, with less pain and downtime. With the option of ablative and non-ablative settings, the treatment is tailored to the individual patient without the downtime and side effects associated with that of regular lasers. Tixel can achieve superb results when treating a number of conditions such as wrinkles, age spots, skin discolouration, sun photodamaged skin and even acne scars.

Polynucleotides for Lip wrinkles

A cellular-level treatment using DNA fragments, polynucleotides stimulate collagen, elastin, hydration and skin regeneration, perfect for addressing fine perioral lines and improving skin quality.

Lip fillers for Lip Lines

Injections of lip fillers performed by a trained medical practitioner can improve the appearance of fine lines of the lips. By applying lip fillers in micro amounts around the outside of the lines can significantly reduce the appearance of lip lines by reducing the movement of the muscles. This requires a practitioner with a very high skill set.

Book a Lip Fillers Consultation at our Clinics in London and Buckinghamshire

How to prevent upper lip wrinkles, lines on lips

The best approach to managing lip wrinkles is prevention. By taking early steps to protect the delicate skin around your mouth, you can slow down the signs of ageing and preserve a smoother, more youthful appearance.

Here’s how you can help prevent lip lines from forming:

Limit sun exposure to minimise photodamage, one of the leading causes of premature skin ageing.
Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily, SPF 30-50 in winter, and at least SPF 50 in summer.
Use a lip balm with SPF to shield the lips from sun, wind and cold weather. These balms provide essential moisture and protect against the elements that contribute to fine lines.
Avoid smoking, as repetitive puckering and the toxins in cigarettes accelerate collagen breakdown. The longer you smoke, the deeper the wrinkles can become.

If lip lines have already started to develop, there are a variety of advanced non-surgical treatments available to help smooth and soften their appearance. Some treatments may require a course of sessions to achieve optimal results, and mild redness, swelling or bruising can occasionally occur. Our team will advise you on what to expect, including any necessary downtime.

At your initial consultation with one of our qualified medical practitioners, we’ll assess your skin and create a personalised treatment plan tailored to your needs. Investing in your skin health today can lead to lasting improvements in both appearance and confidence.

To book a lip line treatment appointment please contact our clinics in London, Buckinghamshire, Bournemouth, Northampton, Lymington and Kent on 0330 057 1407!

How to find our clinics?

The Cosmetic Skin Clinic in London

The Cosmetic Skin Clinic in London is located in Harley Street and within walking distance of Baker Street, Oxford Circus and Bond Street tube stations. We’re also conveniently located and just a quick train ride away from Paddington or Kings Cross St Pancras Train Stations.

The Cosmetic Skin Clinic in Buckinghamshire

The Cosmetic Skin Clinic in Buckinghamshire is situated in Stoke Poges and near Gerrards Cross (Chiltern Railway) and Slough’s (First Great Western) station. If you’re travelling by car, the M25, M4, M40 and A40 roads, makes it very convenient to reach from Kingston upon Thames, Wembley, Richmond, and from the Surrey area.

The Cosmetic Skin Clinic in Bournemouth

The Cosmetic Skin Clinic Bournemouth is situated in the centre of Bournemouth, the golden strand of the South Coast. Our Bournemouth location is a stone’s throw away from award-winning beaches and a short drive from luxurious Sandbanks, home to ‘Millionaires Row’.

The Cosmetic Skin Clinic in Northampton

The Cosmetic Skin Clinic Northampton is situated in a charming period building called The Gatehouse within St Andrew’s Hospital grounds on the outskirts of Northampton city centre where we are co-located with our surgical sister clinic – The Private Clinic, providing a peaceful and discreet setting for your skin treatment or consultation.

The Cosmetic Skin Clinic in Lymington

The Cosmetic Skin Clinic Lymington can be found in a beautiful mews on Gosport Street, Lymington.

The Cosmetic Skin Clinic in Kent

The Cosmetic Skin Clinic Kent is located within Barham Court, a beautiful English country house in the village of Teston, Maidstone.

For more details about our clinic’s locations and the best way to reach us based on your means of transportation, please take a look at our dedicated clinic location pages.