Abstract
Perioral region, although severely impacted by facial aging, is often overlooked in
texts on facial rejuvenation. Sun exposure, bone resorption, dynamic contraction of
the sphincteric and nonsphincteric oral musculature, gravitational pull, histological
changes of the skin, and unhealthy habits all take their toll in this area. Fine wrinkling
on the lips, deep nasolabial and mentolabial folds, elongation and flattening of the
upper lip, downturned corners of the mouth, marionette lines, diminished vermillion
and upper teeth show and chin irregularities are the main signs of this process, raising
great concern amongst patients and making the perioral region the most demanded area
for facial rejuvenation treatment. A huge armamentarium of surgical and nonsurgical
techniques, with or without complex technology, are available to tailor patient's
specific needs, from chemodenervation and mild chemical peels to operations designed
to restore the size and shape of the lips. In this article we perform a comprehensive
review of the contemporary treatment of the aging perioral area, detailing the most
common techniques and their nuances.
Keywords
perioral rejuvenation - lip lift - vermillion - hyaluronic acid - marionette lines
