Three Common Causes of Smile Lines

Smile lines! They sound so cheerful. After all, smiles are fabulous, right? Unfortunately, even when you’re not smiling these parenthesis-like creases on either side of your mouth, also known as nasolabial folds, are still visible. With age, these smile lines often become exaggerated by some common factors.

The great news for men and women who live in The Woodlands is that there is a way to relax the underlying muscles that cause these unattractive grooves. With Botox treatments, Dr. Myers smooths out smile lines and gives you a refreshed appearance without any invasive surgery or painful recovery. Botox is an extremely safe and popular facial rejuvenation procedure that typically lasts between 3 to 6 months.

Here is a list of three common causes of smile lines:

1. Years of repeated muscle contraction.

Ironically, years of laughter and joy go hand and hand with smile lines. Over time, reoccurring muscle contractions etch these marionette-like lines onto our faces. Most men and women in The Woodlands who are interested in Botox treatments do not see laugh lines as a nostalgic record of happy times, but rather, as “scars” that the aging process has drawn on to their faces.

2. The sun.

Another common reason for smile lines is sun damage. In our younger days, being out by the pool or lake all day without sunscreen was great. A nice tan made us think that we looked healthy. But today, more than ever, we understand how incredibly powerful the sun’s rays are. The sun causes all types of skin damage and the delicate skin on our face is often the first place we begin to notice the signs of aging as a result of harmful sun exposure. Luckily we are living in a time where the sun’s effects are taken very seriously. We also live in an age where we have access to Botox treatments that can reduce the conspicuous signs of sun damage.

3. Smoking

It will not shock anyone to hear that smoking causes smile lines to show up even if you’ve kicked the habit long ago. The deep creases Dr. Myers sees on his patient’s faces who are current or former smokers are unmistakable. Just go anyplace in The Woodlands and you can usually spot a smoker right off the bat. The lines around the mouth are quite pronounced when cigarette smoking is a factor because the chemicals in cigarettes damage collagen and elastin in the skin. These tell-tale types of smile lines are not only unattractive, but because of the notorious reputation cigarettes have earned, these smile lines can actually interfere with other aspects of your life, be it social or career related. With Botox, you can actually look as great on the outside as you do on the inside.

We hope you have learned more about what causes smile lines, but more importantly we hope you have learned that there is a simple, safe, and effective solution.

To set up an appointment, call at (936) 483-8511.