Fine Lines vs. Deep Rhytids
Wrinkles are an inevitable part of aging—but not all wrinkles are created equal. You may have heard terms like fine lines, wrinkles, or creases, but in the medical world, we refer to all of them collectively as rhytids.
Understanding the different types of rhytids and how to treat them can help you choose the right approach for smoother, more youthful skin. In this post, we’ll break down what rhytids are, why they form, and the best treatment options based on their severity.
What Are Rhytids?
Rhytids is simply the medical term for wrinkles. Whether you call them lines, folds, creases, or wrinkles, they all refer to the same thing—changes in skin texture caused by a combination of movement, sun damage, aging, and skin laxity.
Common examples include:
Fine lines around the eyes and forehead
Dynamic wrinkles from repeated muscle movements (like frown lines or crow’s feet)
Static wrinkles that remain even at rest
Deep folds like nasolabial folds or marionette lines
Why Do Rhytids Develop?
Wrinkles form due to a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. As we age, collagen and elastin production slows down, skin thins, and natural fat pads begin to shift and descend. These changes cause the skin to lose elasticity and structure.
Major risk factors for developing rhytids include:
Poor hydration and nutrition
Genetics
Repeated facial expressions
Hormonal changes
Environmental pollution
Fine Lines vs. Deep Rhytids
Fine Lines:
These are superficial creases that typically show up in your late 20s to 30s, especially in expressive areas like around the eyes and mouth. They’re usually the result of repetitive muscle movement and early collagen loss.
Best Treatments for Fine Lines:
Microneedling: Stimulates collagen production with minimal downtime.
Non-ablative lasers (e.g., Halo): Improve skin tone and texture without removing the top layer of skin.
Neuromodulators (Botox, Jeuveau): Prevent and soften movement-related wrinkles by temporarily relaxing the muscles.
These treatments can be very effective when started early and performed consistently.
Deep Rhytids:
These are more entrenched lines that result from a combination of volume loss, skin laxity, and long-term collagen breakdown. They often appear around the mouth, on the cheeks, and as jowls along the jawline.
Best Treatments for Deep Rhytids:
Ablative Laser Resurfacing: For deeper lines, especially around the mouth, more intensive resurfacing is needed.
Profractional: Targets deep layers of the skin while leaving small areas of intact skin to speed healing.
Contour TRL (Tunable Resurfacing Laser): Can be customized to treat both superficial and deep wrinkles.
Full-field Contour TRL: Particularly effective for vertical lip lines and deep perioral rhytids.
Surgery for Structural Laxity: When rhytids are worsened by sagging tissue, skin treatments alone won’t cut it.
Deep Plane Facelift: This advanced surgical technique repositions deeper facial structures, providing dramatic improvement in:
Nasolabial folds
Marionette lines
Jowls
The facelift addresses the root of the issue—laxity—offering long-lasting, natural results that skin treatments cannot match.
Choosing the Right Treatment Plan
The best way to treat rhytids is to first determine their depth and cause. Early intervention with non-invasive treatments can keep fine lines from becoming deep creases. But once significant skin laxity and volume loss set in, a surgical approach is often needed to achieve optimal results.
At Saxon MD, we combine advanced surgical techniques with the latest in laser and skin technology to customize treatments for your individual needs—whether you’re just starting to notice fine lines or you’re ready to address deeper aging changes.
Ready to treat your rhytids? Schedule a consultation to find out which approach is best for you.
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