Restores lost volume directly in the fold. For deeper folds, volume is often added to the cheek area as well for a more complete result.
Nasolabial Folds
Nasolabial folds, more commonly known as smile lines or laugh lines, run from the edge of the nose down to the corner of the mouth. They’re most noticeable when smiling, since the fold attaches to the upper lip and creates a visible crease as the skin folds over. While these lines typically become more pronounced with age, some people develop them earlier, and a few are born with them.
How It Happens
Understanding
Nasolabial Folds
Several factors contribute to the depth of nasolabial folds, often overlapping. Natural volume loss is a primary driver; as we age, collagen and elastin decline, making our skin less elastic and more prone to sagging around the fold. Sun exposure speeds this process by generating free radicals that break down collagen and elastin more quickly than aging alone would. Smoking compounds both effects, accelerating collagen loss while also speeding the loss of facial volume. Beneath the surface, the face also loses fat over time, which removes support from the skin and deepens the crease. Even the bone structure beneath the face gradually reabsorbs with age, removing another layer of support for the tissue above it.
Prevention
Quitting smoking is one of the most effective steps you can take, since it directly slows the aging process contributing to deeper folds. Daily sun protection with a quality broad-spectrum sunblock guards against UV damage that accelerates collagen breakdown. It’s also worth noting that rapid or repeated weight fluctuations can increase the depth of nasolabial folds, so maintaining a stable weight or losing weight gradually helps maintain skin elasticity.
How We Treat Nasolabial Folds
Sculptra
Stimulates your own collagen production gradually rather than filling space directly, for a more natural long-term improvement.
Bellafill Dermal Filler
A longer-lasting filler option for patients wanting to minimize repeat treatments.
Vivace Microneedling with RF
Helps tighten skin around the cheeks and mouth, though results with any skin-tightening approach vary by individual.
Fat Transfer
Uses fat taken from another area of the body, often paired with PRP to improve how well the transferred fat survives, for long-term volume restoration using your own tissue.
Erbium Laser Resurfacing
Can soften the wrinkle from nose to mouth, though resurfacing alone typically provides less tightening than filler-based approaches.
Facelift
For patients with more advanced folds, a surgical facelift may offer the most significant improvement, often combined with volume restoration for the best result. We’ll discuss whether that’s the right fit for you during your consultation.
Why choose Lazaderm
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