Your motto may be that aging gracefully is the only way to age. Yet you still may be surprised to learn the ways in which your skin and face age and what changes you can expect to see with each passing decade. Some transformations may be totally expected — it’s no secret that wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots are just par for the course for many people and that they can start as early as your late twenties and early thirties. Your facial features can change as well — including your lips. You may realize one day that it isn’t as easy to outline your lips with a liner or that their plumpness has diminished somewhat. Don’t panic — this is completely normal. And it’s not your imagination: lips do deflate with age, according to anti-aging beauty experts. Here’s how to prevent that as much as possible and plump up your lips.
Why do lips get smaller with age?
As we age, our skin loses elasticity and collagen production declines, resulting in wrinkles and sagging, according to Dr.HariKiran Cheruki, a certified(dermatologist), hair transplant expert, cosmetic surgeon, and the medical head of ClinicSpots. “Our lips are no exception: they can deflate as we age,” he adds. “This is largely a result of the loss of fat in the face which also causes cheeks to become hollowed out. In addition, collagen that naturally keeps lips looking plump begins to deplete, making them look thinner and less defined. The rate at which this occurs varies from person to person but it’s an inevitable part of aging.”
Can you prevent this from happening?
We live in a world where beauty and skincare products are marketed to us left and right, many of which make huge claims about how they can prevent perfectly normal skin changes from occurring. It’s important to know which claims are false (so that you don’t spend a fortune on ineffective serums) and what steps can actually be helpful. Unfortunately, there is no real way to stop your lips from deflating over time — though certain lifestyle choices can help slow down the process, Dr. Cheruki says.
“Eating a healthy diet, avoiding smoking and excessive sun exposure, and using a moisturizer with SPF can all go a long way in preserving the plumpness of your lips,” Dr. Cheruki says. “While there are no miracle cures for age-induced lip deflation, taking these precautions may help you keep them looking fuller for longer.” On the bright side: the preventative measures aren’t going to break the bank — invest a few dollars in a lip balm that contains SPF and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
How can you make lips look plumper?
If your lips have already started to deflate with age and it’s something that bothers you, Dr. Cheruki advises not panicking. “There are plenty of ways to make them look plumper and more defined,” he says. “Lip fillers such as Juvederm or Restylane can instantly add fullness — particularly to the upper lip area which tends to be most affected by age-related deflation. Lip plumping serums can also be used to temporarily add some volume to your lips, though they won't last as long as fillers.”
Finally, he reminds us, makeup can be used to create the illusion of fuller lips with techniques like highlighting and contouring. “Try a lip liner that is slightly darker than your natural lip color and use it to draw an outline around the edges of your lips,” he says. “Blotting powder or shimmery gloss can also be applied in strategic areas for added fullness and definition.”
What to consider when choosing lip treatments
Just as there are myriad skincare products on shelves, there are myriad skincare professionals who offer lip-plumping procedures. But they aren’t all equally qualified to safely perform these treatments.
“When considering any lip treatments, it's important to consult with a professional first,” Dr. Cheruki says. “Make sure you are aware of all the risks and benefits associated with the treatment in question before committing to it. For more temporary solutions like serums or makeup tricks, always use high-quality products that won't irritate your skin. Finally, remember that beauty is not just about looking younger — it's about feeling confident and comfortable in your own skin. With the right approach, you can still make your lips appear plump and beautiful at every age.”
At the end of the day, Dr. Cheruki says, aging gracefully means accepting the changes that come along with getting older — including lip deflation. “With preventative measures and the right beauty products, however, you can still make your lips look plump and youthful — no matter what your age.”
