Nose and Mouth Concerns

• Injectables
• Conditions
• Nose and Mouth Concerns

Medically Reviewed 8th May 2024, by Dr. Susan Mayou (GMC: 2405092) - founder of the Cadogan Clinic and one of the world's leading dermatologists

Which Conditions Affect the Nose and Mouth?

There are a number of aesthetic and functional concerns that impact the nose and mouth area. While some of these issues such as lines and wrinkles can be caused by the natural ageing process, other concerns occur due to a person’s natural facial anatomy.

The speed that some nose and mouth concerns arise, and their overall severity, can be influenced by external factors such as sun exposure, genetics, trauma and injury and facial weight changes. It is normal for people to feel self-conscious about nose and mouth concerns, as they affect the centre of the face, often making them more prominent than other facial concerns.

Here, we outline some common nose and mouth concerns as well as looking at some Injectable treatments which treat conditions around the nose and mouth effectively with no surgical intervention. 

Bunny Lines

Bunny Lines are diagonal and vertical lines which appear at the sides of the nose when the nose is wrinkled through laughing or squinting. They do not occur on everyone, and some people like how they look, whereas others seek treatment to reduce their appearance.

Bunny Lines are dynamic lines, caused by facial movements. Over time as collagen and elastin in the skin breaks down, these lines can become permanent, known as static lines. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, sun exposure and dehydration can cause the Bunny Lines to become static sooner.

Having Bunny Lines can make the eyes look smaller and may also worsen the appearance of concerns around the cheeks and eyes such as sunken cheeks, undefined cheekbones, under-eye wrinkles, sunken eyes. They can also emphasise disliked elements of the nose such as the shape or size.

Gummy Smile

A Gummy Smile describes a disproportionate amount of the upper gumline showing when someone smiles. Some people feel this looks unappealing and can affect their confidence, affecting how they smile for photographs, or stopping them from showing their teeth.

• The gumline showing when someone smiles can have a few causes:
• The teeth not erupting (coming through the gums) properly during childhood
• The upper teeth moving downwards or backwards
• Excessive growth of the upper jawline
• Short or overactive upper lip muscles which move the lip upwards when you smile.

Having a Gummy Smile can worsen the appearance of a thin or flat upper lip and may also draw unwanted attention to concerns such as Smoker’s Lines or Nasolabial Folds. 

Lip Shape and Volume

The shape and volume of the lips are a common cause for concern in people of all ages. Especially recently, having fuller lips has been a more popular look. Having overly thin lips can make the face look sad and make people look older than they are.

The natural shape and volume of the lips is usually the result of genetics, but the lips do get thinner with age and the upper lip may become flatter, losing the shape of the cupid’s bow.

Having overly thin lips can cause an unbalanced appearance to the face, affecting the overall proportions of the facial features. It can also make the mouth look sad, creating a frowned appearance which some people feel makes them look less approachable. 

Nasolabial Folds

Nasolabial Folds, also known as smile lines, are the lines that run downwards from the outer corners of the nostrils diagonally towards the outer corners of the mouth.

They are a natural feature of the face, but are deeper on some people than others, and can also become more apparent due to ageing or weight loss. Although they are not a medical concern, some people dislike their appearance, and also find that it may make applying makeup smoothly, or shaving comfortably, more difficult.

Having deep Nasolabial Folds can make the appearance of other concerns, such as the shape or volume of the lips or lines and wrinkles around the mouth more severe. 

Nose Shape Contour

The shape of the nose can be affected by several concerns, including being crooked or wide, having a prominent Dorsal Hump, a droopy nasal tip, or disliking the size of the nose.

The natural shape of the nose usually results from genetics; however, it can also be significantly impacted by trauma or injury. A change in the shape of the nose due to injury or illness can have a sudden and significant impact on the appearance of the face.

As the nose is very central to the face, its shape can impact your overall appearance quite dramatically. Not being satisfied with the shape of your nose can lead to a drop in confidence.  

Smoker's Lines

Although Smoker’s Lines are associated with long term smoking, they can appear on anyone. They are the fine lines that radiate outwards from the upper lip.

In smokers, they are caused by a combination of the continuous pursing of the lips during smoking, with the faster breakdown of collagen and elastin in the skin, that smoking causes. However, they can also be caused by the natural ageing process.

Having Smoker’s Lines can worsen the appearance of a thin lips or deep Nasolabial Folds and create a sad or closed look to the face. This may make someone look older than they are or give the wrong impression about their emotions. 

Teeth Grinding

Chronic Teeth Grinding, also known as Bruxism, is a functional concern of the mouth characterised by the clenching of the jaw or rubbing the teeth together, often without realising you are doing this or during your sleep. It can lead to jaw pain, teeth problems and headaches.

Teeth Grinding is usually caused by stress or anxiety, but when it occurs at night it can be connected to snoring, breathing problems or acid reflux. Consuming too much alcohol, caffeine, or smoking are also connected with a higher risk of Bruxism.

Grinding your teeth doesn’t inherently affect your appearance and won’t affect other concerns around your mouth and nose. However, if it continues for a long period of time, it can cause the masseter muscle, in the jaw, to become larger which can lead to a squarer looking jaw. 

Injectables for Nose and Mouth Concerns

A variety of injectable treatments can be used to treat common concerns around the nose and mouth. 
 
During your in-person consultation at our award-winning clinic in Chelsea, London, your injectables specialist consultant will recommend a treatment plan based on the symptoms and severity of your conditions. 

Anti-Ageing Injectables for Nose and Mouth Concerns

Anti-Ageing Injectables are primarily used to lessen the appearance of lines and wrinkles. However, their ability to affect the function of the nerves, changing the way muscles move, can also be used to treat other concerns as well.

Anti-Ageing Injectables are a versatile treatment option to address a range of nose and mouth concerns:

• Gummy Smile – Injecting neurotoxin into the Nasolabial Folds, the muscle which controls the movement of the upper lip is relaxed. This results in the upper lip not moving as much when you smile, revealing less of the upper gum. By having this treatment regularly, the muscle will effectively continue to be weakened, meaning top-ups appointments may be required less often.
• Nasolabial Folds and Smoker’s Lines – The active ingredient in Anti-Ageing Injectables, a neurotoxin, relaxes the underlying muscle in the area between the nose and mouth smoothing the appearance of the Nasolabial Folds. With consistent use, Anti-Ageing Injectables will stop the Nasolabial Folds from worsening and may prevent further Smoker’s Lines from forming.
• Teeth Grinding – As Bruxism is characterised by clenching and tension in the jaw, relaxing the jaw muscles can be a very effective treatment to prevent Teeth Grinding or lessen how severely it occurs. Neurotoxin is injected into the masseter muscle, in the jawline, to reduce Teeth Grinding and jaw clenching. For people whose Teeth Grinding has led to the masseter muscle becoming larger, this treatment can also help to slim the appearance of the jawline.

Anti-Ageing Injectables last a different amount of time for different people, and how often maintenance appointments are needed is also influenced by the condition that is being treated. Initially, most patients find they need follow up appointments every 3-4 months, but with regular treatment, this time can be extended. 

Dermal Fillers for Nose and Mouth Concerns

Dermal Filler can be used to treat a number of concerns affecting the nose and mouth. Typically used to increase volume in hollowed areas, or areas that are felt to be too small, Dermal Fillers can also support loose and sagging skin and lift areas of the face.

Either as a standalone treatment, or in combination with other injectables, Dermal Filler can address:

• Lip Shape and Volume – One of the most popular uses for Dermal Filler is to increase the size of the lips and define the vermillion border (the lip border). Treating the size of the lips and enhancing the shape with Lip Filler can be carried out as separate treatments or together depending on your exact needs and concerns. 
• Nasolabial Folds and Smoker’s Lines – In instances where lines and wrinkles around the nose and mouth are very deep, Anti-Ageing Injectables alone may not result in a fully smooth appearance. Where this is the case, Dermal Filler can be used to fill the areas where the wrinkles are deeper enhancing the overall result and making the area more even.
• Nose Shape Contour – Known as a Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty, Dermal Filler can be injected into the nose to alter its shape and appearance. Concerns such as a Crooked Nose, a prominent Dorsal Hump and a Droopy Nasal Tip can all be improved through a Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty. Skilled injectables specialists can also use Dermal Filler to create an optical illusion, making the nose appear smaller and slimmer, even though more volume is being added to it.  

The effects of Dermal Filler usually last for 6-12 months. To maintain the results of your Dermal Filler treatment you will need to return to see your consultant for follow-up appointments.

Profhilo for Nose and Mouth Concerns

Profhilo is a skin booster, related to Dermal Filler. It is made from the same active ingredient, Hyaluronic Acid, which is naturally found within the joints, skin and eyes. However, whereas Filler is designed to remain in one area, Profhilo spreads throughout the skin, increasing hydration levels and improving the tone of the skin.

Profhilo can be used on its own, or in combination with other treatments to address:

• Nasolabial Folds and Smoker’s Lines – By increasing the hydration levels in the skin, the appearance of lines and wrinkles in the nose and mouth area is improved. Using Profhilo to treat the Nasolabial Folds and Smoker’s Lines, may result in a slightly more subtle result than Dermal Fillers or Anti-Ageing Injectables
• Lip Shape and Volume – The shape and definition of the lips can be subtly enhanced by increasing hydration in the skin. Unlike Dermal Filler, Profhilo works throughout the face with one treatment, so the lips can be treated at the same time as other areas of the face.

Profhilo is administered in two sessions, 4-6 weeks apart. After this initial treatment, the results last around 6-12 months. Follow-up treatments are recommended around every 6 months to maintain the results of Profhilo. 

Sculptra for Nose and Mouth Concerns

Sculptra is another injectable treatment which falls into the Dermal Filler family. Instead of injecting Hyaluronic Acid to directly increase the volume of an area, Sculptra’s active ingredient is Lactic Acid, which the body can use to stimulate collagen and elastin production. This then results in a fuller, plumper appearance to the treated area.

Sculptra is an effective treatment for nose and mouth concerns including:

• Nasolabial Folds and Smoker’s Lines – Similar to Dermal Filler, Sculptra can be used to fill the area which has become sunken due to the appearance of deep lines and wrinkles.
• Lip Shape and Volume – For patients who are concerned about having overly thin or flat lips, Sculptra can be used to increase the size and improve the shape and projection of the lips, resulting in a fuller more proportionate appearance to the face.

Following the initial treatment, which is administered over two appointments, Sculptra can last for up to two years. Some patients even notice ongoing results for between five and ten years. Annual follow-up appointments are recommended with your consultant to make adjustments and maintain the results of Sculptra.

Nose and mouth concerns can have a significant impact on someone’s appearance, and this can lead to a decrease in self-esteem. Injectable treatments help people who are worried about conditions affecting their nose and mouth to regain their confidence and present themselves in the way they feel most comfortable. 

How To Find Us

The Cadogan Clinic is based at 120 Sloane Street in Chelsea, just off Sloane Square and the Kings Road.

We are accessible by all major bus routes that pass through Sloane Square and Sloane Street, as well as Sloane Square tube station.

We are just a 5 minute walk northwards up Sloane Street once you have arrived at Sloane Square.

Local pay parking is available just around the corner from the Clinic on Cadogan Gate, Cadogan Square and Cadogan Gardens. Our local residential parking zone is the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.

Address: 120 Sloane Street, Chelsea, London, SW1X 9BW