Beyond the Teeth: Rejuvenate Your Smile with LipLase and SmoothLase

20 March 2026

When you hear the term "smile makeover," your mind likely jumps straight to the teeth. You might picture professional whitening treatments that lift years of coffee stains, or perhaps porcelain veneers that create a perfectly symmetrical row of pearly whites. While bright, straight, and healthy teeth are undeniably the foundation of a stunning smile, they aren't the whole story.

Think of your smile like a fine piece of art. Even the most beautiful masterpiece needs a complementary frame to truly shine. In the world of dentistry and aesthetics, the "frame" of your smile consists of your lips, the skin around your mouth, and your overall facial contour. At Raines Over the Rockies Family Dentistry, we've recognized that many of our patients in Lakewood and Littleton want a comprehensive approach to their appearance—one that honors their natural beauty without the need for invasive surgery or synthetic fillers.

That is why we are proud to offer advanced Collagen Rejuvenation through SmoothLase™ and LipLase™. These innovative laser treatments help you look as vibrant and young as you feel, right here in the comfort of our dental office.

The Science of the "Smile Frame": Why Collagen Matters

To understand how these treatments work, we have to look under the surface of the skin. Our skin and lips rely on a protein called collagen for their structure, volume, and elasticity. Think of collagen as the "scaffolding" of your face.

When we are young, our bodies produce an abundance of collagen. This is why children and young adults have that "plump," firm look to their skin. However, as we age—and especially for those of us living at the high altitudes of Colorado where UV exposure is more intense—collagen production begins to slow down. Starting in our mid-20s, we lose about 1% of our collagen every year.

The results of this loss are most visible around the mouth:

• Thinning Lips: Lips lose their "pillowy" volume and the borders become less defined.
• Marionette Lines: Lines that run from the corners of the mouth down toward the chin.
• Nasolabial Folds: The "smile lines" that run from the nose to the corners of the mouth.
• Smoker's Lines: Fine vertical wrinkles above the upper lip (which occur even in non-smokers due to repetitive muscle movement).

Traditional solutions usually involve needles. Dermal fillers can add volume, and Botox can freeze muscles. But for many patients, the idea of injecting foreign substances is unappealing. This is where Laser Collagen Rejuvenation changes everything.

LipLase™: Naturally Fuller, More Defined Lips

If you have ever considered lip enhancement but were deterred by the "overfilled" or "duck lip" look often associated with fillers, LipLase™ is the breakthrough you've been waiting for.

How LipLase Works

Unlike a filler, which adds volume by "stuffing" the lip with a synthetic gel, LipLase works by stimulating your body's own biological processes. We use a specialized Fotona laser to apply controlled, gentle heat to the deep layers of the lip tissue.

This thermal energy does two things:

1. Immediate Contraction: It causes existing collagen fibers to tighten slightly, providing a very subtle, immediate lift.
2. Neocollagenesis: It signals your body to enter "repair mode," flooding the area with new, fresh collagen over the following weeks.

The Benefits of LipLase

• No Needles, No Bruising: Since there are no injections, there is zero risk of the bruising or swelling that typically follows a filler appointment. You can go straight from our office to a lunch date in Lakewood.
• Natural Symmetry: Because the laser treats the entire lip surface and the surrounding "vermillion border," the result is a balanced, symmetrical enhancement that looks like your lips, only better.
• Inside and Out: We treat the lips from both the outside and the inside (the moist membrane), ensuring the collagen is stimulated through the entire thickness of the lip.

SmoothLase™: Tighten and Tone from the Inside Out

While LipLase focuses on the lips themselves, SmoothLase™ targets the skin around the mouth, chin, and jawline. It is often referred to as a "non-surgical facelift" for the lower third of the face.

The "Inside-Out" Advantage

What makes SmoothLase truly unique—and why it is perfectly suited for a dental office—is that it is performed intra-orally. Instead of applying the laser to the outside of your face, we use the laser on the inside of your cheeks and lips.

This might sound unusual, but scientifically, it is brilliant. The inside of your mouth is a mucous membrane, which allows the laser energy to penetrate much deeper into the "dermis" (the deep layer of skin where collagen lives) without burning or peeling the outer surface of your face.

What SmoothLase Can Do for You:

• Tighten Sagging Jowls: By stimulating collagen in the cheek area, the skin is pulled tighter, defining the jawline.
• Soften Deep Folds: It fills in nasolabial folds and marionette lines from the inside, essentially "plumping" them out with your own natural tissue.
• Zero Downtime: Because the "wound" created by the laser is on the inside of the mouth, there is no redness, peeling, or sun sensitivity on your face afterward. You don't have to hide at home while your skin heals.

Why See a Dentist for Facial Aesthetics?

You might wonder why a dentist is providing skin and lip treatments. The truth is, there is no professional better qualified to handle the aesthetics of the lower face than a dentist.

1. Anatomy Experts: Dr. Raines and our clinical team spend their entire professional lives studying the maxillofacial region. We understand every muscle, nerve, and blood vessel from the tip of your nose to the base of your chin. This precision ensures your treatment is both safe and effective.
2. The "Total Smile" Vision: We don't just look at a tooth in isolation. We look at how your teeth support your lips and how your lips frame your smile. By offering LipLase and SmoothLase, we can provide a holistic transformation that a traditional dermatologist might miss.
3. Convenience: We know our Lakewood and Littleton patients are busy. The ability to receive a collagen-boosting treatment during the same visit as your dental cleaning or a check-up is a massive time-saver.

The Patient Experience: What to Expect

One of the biggest hurdles to aesthetic treatments is the fear of pain. We have designed our rejuvenation protocols to be as comfortable as possible.

Does it hurt?

Most patients describe the sensation of LipLase and SmoothLase as a "hot tingling" or a "warm snapping" sensation. Because we can precisely control the laser settings, we can adjust the intensity to your comfort level. No numbing or anesthesia is typically required.

How many sessions do I need?

Collagen isn't built overnight. While some patients see a "glow" immediately, the real results appear over time as the new collagen matures.

• The Protocol: We generally recommend a series of treatments (usually 3 to 5) spaced about 3 weeks apart.
• Maintenance: Once you achieve your desired look, a single "touch-up" session once or twice a year is usually enough to keep your collagen levels high and your skin firm.

Comparison: Laser vs. Fillers

Realizing Your Full Potential in Lakewood

At Raines Over the Rockies Family Dentistry, our goal is to help you feel confident in every aspect of your smile. We live in a beautiful part of the country where we value authenticity and health. LipLase and SmoothLase reflect those values—they don't change who you are; they simply restore what time and the Colorado sun have taken away.

If you've noticed that your lips are thinning, or if you feel like the skin around your mouth is starting to look tired or saggy, you don't have to turn to surgery. You have the power to rejuvenate your appearance using your body's own incredible healing potential.