This input:
@startuml
participant a
participant b
create b
a --> b : hello()
a --> b : how_are_you()
a --> b : goodbye()
destroy b
create b
a --> b : hello()
a --> b : how_are_you()
a --> b : goodbye()
destroy b
create b
a --> b : hello()
a --> b : how_are_you()
a --> b : goodbye()
destroy b
@enduml
results in a lifeline only being drawn for the third "create b/destroy b" pair.