Nasolabial folds

18th February 2021
About your skin, Dermal fillers, Laser clinic, Mesotherapy, Profhilo

Is your smile betraying your age?

Smiling and laughing are obviously never facial expressions to avoid, they light up our faces. But as we age, the lines caused by smiles and laughter can deepen and lead to unwanted expressions that can make us look tired or ‘drawn’.

What are nasolabial folds?

Nasolabial folds are the creases that run from each side of the nose down to the corners of the mouth, separating the cheeks from the upper lip. They appear when we lift the corners of our mouths in a smile or a laugh and can grow in length and depth over time.

Why do nasolabial folds form?

Nasolabial folds are a common facial feature, but as we age there are several factors that can make them more obvious. Simple gravity and sun damage cause the folds to become more prominent.

Another factor is the loss of volume in the cheeks, which gives structure and youthful plumpness to the face. Depending on our musculature and face shape, this can be more significant in some people, accentuating their nasolabial folds. Loss of collagen is a natural part of the ageing process and this is a key reason for this loss of volume and fullness.

What are the treatment options for nasolabial folds?

Fillers

An extremely effective treatment for nasolabial folds is dermal fillers. This very targeted treatment gently plumps out the folds, to reduce the shadow and therefore soften the expression. Fillers can also be used to plump the cheek and create a lifting effect, to further reduce the fold line and restore youthful plumpness in the mid-face.

Fractional mesotherapy

For stubborn or deep nasolabial folds, fractional mesotherapy may also be a recommended treatment. This treatment delivers vital nutrients and hydration directly into the skin using microneedles. The blend of nutrients used is uniquely tailored to each patient’s specific objective, whether that be increased hydration, skin tightening or softening of deep lines.

Profhilo

Profhilo is a revolutionary moisturising treatment, which may also be recommended by your practitioner for your specific requirements. It deeply hydrates and lifts the skin in targeted areas to reduce the appearance of nasolabial folds.

Profhilo is an injectable hyaluronic acid gel. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring chemical. The body uses it to retain water in the skin and support its plumping collagen and elastin.

Read more in our Ultimate Guide to Profhilo.

Laser rejuvenation

For some patients, laser rejuvenation may be the most appropriate treatment. This technology can help restore the skin’s youthful appearance through a process called photo-rejuvenation. Because it can be used to target skin laxity along with fine lines, for some patients it may be the ideal treatment for nasolabial folds. The laser light is delivered (based on the patient’s skin type) to the affected tissue. The body’s natural healing process will then remove the injured tissue, giving the skin a more even, youthful radiance.