Bunny lines and dimpled chins: the smaller treatment areas

Most people know about anti-wrinkle injections for frown lines, forehead lines and crow's feet. These are the classic upper face areas. There are also a handful of smaller areas where tiny amounts of treatment can make a subtle difference. Here's a look at a few of them.

Bunny lines

Bunny lines are the little creases that fan out across the sides of the nose when you scrunch up your face or laugh. They come from a small muscle called the nasalis. Some people find these lines become more noticeable after frown lines have been treated, because they start scrunching more with the nose instead.

Because the area is small, very little product is needed. The aim is to soften the creasing while letting you still smile and laugh naturally.

A dimpled chin

Some people notice a dimpled, uneven texture on the chin when they talk or purse their lips. It's sometimes described as looking like orange peel. This is caused by the mentalis muscle, which can become overactive. Over time it can also deepen the crease below the lower lip.

Relaxing the mentalis can help the chin look smoother when you move. In some faces the dimpling is partly due to a lack of chin support. Your practitioner will look at this during your assessment.

Gummy smile

A gummy smile is when more of the upper gum shows than you'd like as you smile. It often happens because the muscle that lifts the top lip is particularly strong. A small amount of anti-wrinkle treatment can relax this muscle so the lip doesn't rise quite as high.

Lip flip and smokers' lines

A lip flip relaxes the muscle around the mouth very slightly so the top lip rolls outwards a touch. It can make the upper lip look a little fuller without adding volume. The same muscle is responsible for the fine vertical lines above the lip. These are often called smokers' lines even though they can affect anyone.

The lips are used constantly for talking, eating and drinking. Doses are therefore kept very small. For a few days some people notice it's harder to drink through a straw or say certain sounds.

What to know about smaller areas

• Tiny doses are used because these muscles are delicate
• Results usually start to show within a few days and settle by around two weeks
• Effects around the mouth can wear off a little sooner than in the forehead
• Possible side effects include bruising, mild swelling and temporary changes to your smile
• Results vary from person to person

Not every concern in these areas is best treated with anti-wrinkle injections. Some lines respond better to other options, such as skin boosters or dermal filler. A face-to-face consultation with a prescriber is the only way to know what's suitable for you.

If one of these smaller areas has been on your mind, Lucy can talk you through your options at a free consultation in Addlestone.