Can I Do Anything About My Resting B*tch Face?

Ever wondered why some people can unintentionally look angry, annoyed, or irritated all the time, even though they don’t really feel that way? Well, this is popularly known as having the resting b*tch face, or RBF for short. If you have it too, don’t be discouraged. Marionette lines are one of the factors contributing to RBF, and they can be lightened with the right treatments.

WORDS HANNAH MAY-LEE WONG

FEATURED EXPERT DR HANNAH LO FUI JIN Medical Director Clique Clinic

UNDERSTANDING MARIONATTE LINES

“Marionette lines are vertical creases that appear at the corners of the mouth. Sometimes, these lines extend downwards, towards the chin,” certified aesthetic physician Dr Hannah Lo Fui Jin explains.

“Because these lines create the look of a downturned mouth, people who have marionette lines may look less friendly. They may also perpetually look sad, even when they are not feeling that way,” she adds.

A NATURAL SIGN OF AGING

Marionette lines are mainly caused by facial volume loss and bone loss as part of your body’s natural ageing process.

• Facial volume loss happens when you lose fat and collagen in the skin as you age.
• Bone formation rate slows down while resorption rate increases with age, which results in the loss of bone mass.

“As a result of these processes, everything that sits on top of your bones, including the skin, will sink in. This creates shadows, creases, folds, and lines,” Dr Hannah explains.

She adds that marionette lines usually appear when you reach your mid-40s.

HOW MARIONETTE LINES CAN FORM EARLIER IN SOME PEOPLE

Too Much Sun Exposure

Ultraviolet light from the sun can cause skin damage and premature aging.

Stress, Lack of Sleep, and Poor Diet

When you’re stressed, your body releases stress hormones that can speed up the skin aging process, leading to the early formation of wrinkles.

Excessive Alcohol Consumption

Drinking too much alcohol can dehydrate the skin.

When the skin is very dry, lines and wrinkles may look more prominent.

Habitual Lip Pursing

Just below the corners of your mouth are muscles called the depressor anguli oris muscles. They pull the mouth corners downwards when you purse your lips.

Dr Hannah notes that the habitual pursing of your lips can strengthen your depressor anguli oris muscles and this can cause the corners of your mouth to droop downwards even at rest.

This is why many smokers develop marionette lines at a younger age—smoking involves the pursing of their lips for long periods of time!

HOW TO GET RID OF MARIONETTE LINES

Dermal Fillers

• These are injections that can help plump up your skin.
• When placed appropriately under the corners of the mouth, they can lighten your marionette lines.

However, Dr Hannah cautions against going overboard with fillers.

• “Traditionally, volume-based injections were the main method of treatment for all types of unattractive lines on the face, and large amounts of fillers would be needed,” she says.
• “This method is associated with a higher risk of filler migration and facial overfilled syndrome, or more commonly known as Pillow face,” she adds.
• For natural results, she recommends using small amounts of fillers in combination with other treatments mentioned below.

Laser Treatments

• Laser treatments, such as Pico laser or fractional CO₂ lasers, will emit high-energy laser towards the targeted area of the skin, in order to stimulate the growth of collagen.
• An increased level of collagen in the skin results in a fuller and more youthful appearance.
• It also improves the elasticity of the skin, hence reducing creases and fine lines.

Microneedling

• This treatment involves the use of many tiny needles to puncture the concerned skin areas, in order to create intentional controlled injuries called microinjuries.
• The treated skin will then initiate healing process, which involves more stimulation of collagen growth.

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)

• This treatment works by directing focused ultrasound energy into the targeted layers of the skin.
• It stimulates collagen growth and tightens the skin.

Botulinum Toxin (Botox) Injections

• A small amount of Botulinum toxins can be injected into the depressor anguli oris muscles.
• This will relax these muscles and prevent them from pulling the corners of the mouth downwards.

Topical Treatments

• A good daily skin care routine can help maintain healthy skin and prolongs the results of your aesthetic treatments.
• Look for creams or serums that contain antioxidants such as vitamin C and E, as these can help to slow down the skin ageing process.
• Retinol, a vitamin A derivative, can help stimulate collagen growth on your skin if used appropriately.
• Most importantly, make sure to apply daily sunscreen with SPF 35 and above when you go out under the sun.

MAINTAIN REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

It is important to remember that aesthetic treatments have their own limitations too.

Most of these treatments yield temporary results that last for 6 months to 2 years. Thus, it is important for you to commit to your treatments if they wish to maintain a youthful appearance.

“If you are trying to achieve more dramatic results — say, you want to look 10 years younger — then more invasive or surgical treatments such as a face lift will be required,” Dr Hannah says.