Nasolabial folds are one of those facial changes that people often notice in photos before they notice them in the mirror. They tend to appear gradually, and once you see them, they’re hard to unsee.
These folds are a normal part of facial movement and aging. For many patients, the goal isn’t to erase them completely, but to soften their appearance so their face looks more rested and balanced.
Facial fold from midface volume loss and skin laxity
Lines from nose to corners of mouth
Softer, more balanced facial appearance
What Are Nasolabial Folds?
Nasolabial folds are the lines that run from the sides of the nose down toward the corners of the mouth. They’re sometimes called “smile lines” or “laugh lines” because they become more visible when you smile or talk.
Everyone has nasolabial folds to some degree — they attach to the upper lip and cause the skin to fold over during facial expressions. Some people are born with more prominent folds, while others don’t develop noticeable ones until later in life. You may even see them in younger children.
Over time, changes in skin elasticity, facial volume, bone structure, and repeated movement can make these folds deeper and more noticeable at rest.
Why Nasolabial Folds Develop
Nasolabial folds develop due to a combination of structural and environmental factors.
Volume loss — As we age, there is a natural process of losing collagen and elastin in the skin. This causes facial skin to become less elastic and allows it to sag around the nasolabial folds.
Loss of fat — There is a normal pattern of volume loss in the face as we age, partially due to loss of fat. Less volume in the midface causes the skin to sag, leading to deeper smile lines.
Reabsorption of bone — Just like in other areas of the body, we lose bone in the face and skull as we age. This gives less support to the overlying tissues and can deepen nasolabial folds.
Sun exposure — UV rays produce free radicals that destroy collagen and elastin, speeding up the aging process and contributing to deeper folds.
Smoking — Smoking acts as a pollutant that accelerates collagen and elastin loss while also speeding up volume loss in the face.
Repeated facial expressions — Years of smiling, talking, and laughing contribute to the depth of these dynamic lines.
In many cases, nasolabial folds become more pronounced as volume loss occurs in the cheeks, allowing the skin to fold more deeply in this area.
How to Prevent Nasolabial Folds
While nasolabial folds are a natural part of aging, certain habits can slow their progression.
Quit smoking — Smoking speeds up the aging process significantly. Quitting will slow the breakdown of collagen and volume loss.
Sun protection — Protecting the skin with a good quality sunblock (such as EltaMD) will help prevent the sun’s damaging rays from accelerating collagen breakdown. Sunblock should be worn daily. Wearing a broad-brimmed hat and practicing sun avoidance also helps prevent sun damage.
Maintain stable weight — Rapid changes in weight may increase the depth of nasolabial folds. Maintaining a stable, healthy weight helps preserve facial volume.
Skincare — Using products that support collagen production (like retinoids and vitamin C) can help maintain skin quality over time.
How Nasolabial Folds Can Affect Appearance
Nasolabial folds can change how the lower face looks, even at rest.
Patients often say these lines make them feel like they look:
These reactions are common. Addressing nasolabial folds is usually about restoring balance to the midface rather than focusing on the fold alone.
What to Expect During a Consultation
A consultation at Lazaderm is designed to be thoughtful and individualized.
During your visit, your provider will:
You’ll have time to ask questions and decide what feels right. The right treatment depends on what’s contributing most to the folds.
Setting Realistic Expectations
Treatment for nasolabial folds provides improvement, not permanent change.
Dermal fillers are temporary and require maintenance over time — typically every 6-18 months depending on the product used. Results vary based on anatomy, product choice, and placement technique.
For patients with deeper folds, addressing cheek volume in addition to the fold itself often produces the most natural, balanced results.
The goal is a softer, more balanced appearance that still looks natural and allows for normal facial expression.
The right treatment depends on what’s contributing most to the folds — whether that’s volume loss, skin laxity, or a combination of both. A consultation helps determine the best approach for your specific anatomy.
Dermal fillers are the most common treatment for softening nasolabial folds.
How they work: Rather than simply filling the line directly, experienced providers often focus on restoring support to nearby areas (such as the cheeks) to create a more natural, lifted result. This approach improves the fold while maintaining natural facial movement.
For less prominent folds: The area can be filled directly with filler.
For deeper folds: Volume is typically added to the cheek area in addition to the nasolabial folds for the best results.
Filler options include:
For patients with skin laxity contributing to their nasolabial folds, skin tightening treatments can help improve results.
Vivace RF Microneedling — Combines microneedling with radiofrequency energy to help tighten skin on the cheeks and around the mouth. This can support filler results and improve overall skin quality.
What to understand: The difficulty with any skin tightening procedure is that results will vary. Skin tightening works best for mild to moderate laxity and is often used as a complement to volume restoration rather than a standalone treatment for deep folds.
Fat transfer offers a longer-lasting alternative to temporary fillers for volume restoration.
How it works: Fat is harvested from one area of the body (such as the abdomen or inner thighs) and then processed and injected into the cheeks and nasolabial fold area.
Enhanced techniques:
Considerations: Fat transfer requires a more involved procedure than filler injections, and some of the transferred fat may be reabsorbed over time. However, the fat that does survive can provide long-lasting improvement.
Laser resurfacing can have some impact on nasolabial folds, though it is typically not the first choice for this concern.
Why it’s limited: Lasers tend not to achieve enough skin tightening to dramatically improve deep folds, but they can help decrease the appearance of surface wrinkles and improve skin texture in the area.
Laser options:
Laser resurfacing is often considered as part of a comprehensive treatment plan rather than a standalone solution for nasolabial folds.
If nasolabial folds are something you’ve been noticing, a consultation can help you understand your options. At Lazaderm, consultations focus on education, safety, and helping you feel comfortable with your decisions.
