Aging lips are those that have lost volume, definition, colour and firmness over time. They become thinner, lose their Cupid's bow, the corners droop downwards and vertical lines appear (the famous smoker's lines). It is one of the areas that most reveals age on the face.

Effective lip rejuvenation must be comprehensive, addressing volume loss, elongation, skin quality and structural support.

The first signs (subtle volume loss, appearance of the first vertical lines) start to become visible from age 30-35. By age 40-45 they are evident. By age 50-60, the changes are very noticeable if left untreated.

The upper lip ages much more than the lower lip. It loses volume faster, develops more wrinkles (smoker's lines), and the philtrum (distance between nose and lip) lengthens. The lower lip also loses volume, but more slowly and with fewer wrinkles.

In youth, the upper lip typically measures 13-15 mm. After age 45-50, it can lengthen to 18-22 mm. This lengthening causes a flatter smile, loss of tooth visibility and inversion of the red border.

Yes. The skin of the lip is thinner than the rest of the face, has fewer sebaceous glands (becomes drier), and is in constant motion (talking, eating, smiling). Additionally, it receives less sun protection than the rest of the face. All of this accelerates its ageing.

Transepidermal water loss in the lips is approximately three times higher than on the cheeks.

Lips become thinner due to loss of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid in the lip tissue. From age 25, we lose approximately 1% of collagen per year. Lips, having very thin skin, are among the first areas to notice it.

Research indicates that women can lose up to 60% of their natural lip volume due to oestrogen decline, which directly impacts collagen production, hydration and elasticity.

The pink colour of lips is due to rich vascularisation (many blood capillaries near the surface). With age:

• Capillaries thin and decrease in number
• The skin becomes thicker (due to sun damage)
• The result is pale, whitish or greyish lips

The philtrum is the distance between the base of the nose and the vermilion border of the upper lip. With age, due to volume loss and maxillary bone resorption, this distance lengthens. In a young person, the philtrum measures about 10-12 mm. In an older person, it can measure 15-20 mm or more.

A long philtrum makes the lips look "droopy" and the mouth smaller. Upper lip elongation is one of the most significant and least understood changes of lip ageing.

Drooping corners are due to:

• Volume loss in the cheeks (the skin "falls")
• Atrophy of the levator anguli oris muscle
• Contracture of the depressor anguli oris (DAO) muscle, which pulls the corner down
• Loss of bone support from the maxilla and mandible

The result is a sad or tired smile even at rest.

The sun is the main factor in skin ageing in all areas, including the lips. UV radiation destroys collagen and elastin, thins the skin and accelerates the appearance of wrinkles. The lower lip, which receives more direct sun exposure, usually shows more pronounced damage than the upper lip.

If you never use sun protection on your lips, they will age much earlier.

Not literally, but it accelerates dramatically. The drop in oestrogen during menopause accelerates collagen loss throughout the body, including the lips. Many women notice that their lips worsen noticeably in the 2-3 years following menopause.

Better. People with naturally full lips have more volume to lose before they appear thin. That's why their lips age "better" (more slowly) than those of people with naturally thin lips.

Yes, a lot. Teeth are the support for the lips. When teeth are lost, the alveolar bone resorbs (shrinks), and the lips sink and wrinkle. That's why elderly edentulous people have a "sunken" mouth and practically invisible lips.

The best way is to compare photos of yourself from 10-15 years ago. If you notice:

• Your lips are thinner than before
• The red border has blurred
• Vertical lines appear where there were none
• The corners are more droopy
• The colour is paler

Then your lips are ageing.

These are smoker's lines (also called lipstick lines or perioral lines). They are caused by a combination of collagen loss, dehydration and repetitive contraction of the orbicularis oris muscle. It is one of the most characteristic signs of lip ageing.

They typically appear between ages 30 and 40.

Chronic dryness is due to:

• Decrease in minor salivary glands in the lips
• Loss of hyaluronic acid (less water retention)
• Sun damage that thickens the stratum corneum
• General dehydration associated with age
• Medications (diuretics, antihistamines)

In very elderly people (80+ years) or with extreme sun damage, lips can literally look like crumpled paper: thin, dry, full of crossed lines. It is the final stage of lip ageing.

Ageing cannot be prevented, but its signs can be delayed and minimised with:

• Daily lip sun protection (SPF 30+)
• Not smoking (or quitting as soon as possible)
• Constant hydration with quality balms
• Avoiding repetitive gestures (straws, pursing lips)
• Topical retinoids under medical prescription
• Not losing weight rapidly

Yes, it's the most important thing. Sunscreen is the most important preventive measure. Use a lip balm with SPF 30+ every day, even in winter. Reapply every 2 hours if you are in the sun.

Daily sun protection and constant use of topical sunscreens form the basis of long-term lip health. Everything else is built from there.

Yes, for fine lines. Retinol (vitamin A) stimulates collagen production and can improve fine lines on the upper lip. It has been shown to be effective in regenerating collagen when used together with sun protection.

It is recommended to start with low concentrations (0.01%) and gradually increase to 0.5%. It is not safe during pregnancy.

It doesn't rejuvenate them, but it stops future damage. Quitting smoking does not eliminate already formed wrinkles, but it stops future damage. Lips will not worsen at the same rate. Additionally, colour improves (blood flow returns).

Lip balm helps, but it's not enough. It hydrates and protects the skin barrier, preventing dryness and cracks. But it does not prevent collagen loss or sun damage. You need a balm with SPF for complete protection.

They accentuate them. Matte lipsticks settle into wrinkles and accentuate smoker's lines. For ageing lips, it's better to use satin or gloss lipsticks, which reflect light and hide imperfections.

Yes, it's the star treatment. Hyaluronic acid is the treatment of choice for ageing lips because it:

• Restores volume (thicker lips)
• Defines the border (restores Cupid's bow)
• Fills wrinkles (smoker's lines)
• Deeply hydrates (retains water)
• Stimulates collagen (long-term)

The result is younger, more defined and healthier lips.

Yes, with proper technique. The key is:

• Using an appropriate product (medium-density hyaluronic acid)
• Injecting small amounts (0.5-1 ml per session)
• Respecting anatomy (not overfilling)
• Combining with Botox (for dynamic wrinkles)

An expert doctor can rejuvenate very aged lips without them looking "operated".

Important: Do not use filler alone for a long upper lip. Adding volume to a long lip can create a "duck" appearance. Always evaluate lip length: if it measures more than 15 mm, a lip lift may be more appropriate than filler alone.

Yes, it's very effective. Botulinum toxin injected into the depressor anguli oris (DAO) muscle relaxes that muscle, which pulls the corner down. By relaxing it, the corner lifts slightly, giving a more smiling and youthful appearance. Conservative doses are recommended: approximately 2 units per side are usually sufficient. Excess can cause paralysis and loss of movement.

Yes, it softens them. Botox on the upper lip (injected in small amounts around the border) relaxes the orbicularis muscle, softening vertical wrinkles. It doesn't eliminate them completely, but noticeably improves them.

Yes, especially fractional laser (CO2 or erbium:YAG). It can:

• Stimulate collagen in the lips
• Improve texture (smoother skin)
• Lighten colour (eliminates sun damage)
• Reduce fine lines

For deep smoker's lines, deep laser resurfacing is highly effective. Don't be too aggressive; seek improvement, not perfection.

PRP improves hydration, texture and colour of the lips, but does not add volume. For very thin lips, hyaluronic acid is needed as the main treatment.

Lip blush is a semi-permanent lip tattoo that restores pink colour. It can improve the appearance of pale lips, but does not add volume or fill wrinkles. It is a complement to filler.

Lip lift (or lip lifting) is surgery that shortens the distance between the nose and upper lip (philtrum). A small piece of skin is removed just below the nose and sutured, lifting the upper lip. The result is a more visible lip, with more volume (because the lip is no longer "hidden") and a more youthful philtrum.

It is an outpatient procedure under local anaesthesia. Results are very long-lasting (years) and very effective for very aged lips.

Measure your upper lip. If it measures more than 15 mm and your upper teeth are not visible when smiling, a lip lift may be more appropriate than filler alone. Adding volume to a long lip can create a "duck" appearance.

A lip lift is also beneficial when there is a horizontal wrinkle on the upper lip or when the smile has flattened.

The scar is right at the base of the nose, in the natural crease. With good technique, it is very faint (looks like a shadow). In people with very thin skin or a tendency to keloids, it may be more visible.

The most important thing: a lip lift performed without supporting procedures (such as a facelift) can distort proportions and make the mouth look triangular.

Yes, autologous fat (lipofilling) can be injected into the lips. Advantages: it is autologous material (no allergies). Disadvantages: it is unpredictable (some fat is reabsorbed), requires minor surgery (liposuction), and can create lumps.

When correcting volume loss is the main objective and sufficient fat is available, fat transfer is an excellent option. Fillers (in conservative amounts) are an alternative.

Yes, there is corner lip lift surgery (corner lip lift), which removes a small triangle of skin at the corner to lift it. It is less common than full lip lift, but effective.

For more advanced cases, a full facelift may be necessary to restore facial support.

It's a personal decision. If ageing lips don't bother you, you don't need to do anything. If they bother you and affect your self-esteem, treatments can be very effective. It's not "better" or "worse", it's a personal decision about your body.

The goal is not to look different, it's to look like the best version of yourself.

No. Men have thicker, more irrigated lip skin, and many also have beards (sun protection and concealment). That's why men's lips age more slowly and less visibly. There are gender differences in the manifestations of lip ageing, and women usually show more noticeable perioral wrinkles compared to men.

No, it's a myth. Wrinkles on the lower lip have the same cause as those on the upper lip: collagen loss and muscle movement. They have nothing to do with personality.