Nasolabial folds are commonly referred to as “smile lines” or “laugh lines.” These folds are the two creases in your skin that run from the corner of your mouth to your nose, separating your upper lips from your cheeks.
Nearly everyone has them. They are part of normal facial anatomy rather than a flaw, and they become more visible as the face changes over time. What brings most people in is not the fold itself but how deep it has gotten.
What Causes Nasolabial Folds
With age, these folds will become deeper and more noticeable due to the long-term effects of gravity. When you are young, your cheeks are plump and tall on your face. With time and over the years, this volume begins to decrease, and your nasolabial folds become deeper.
Several things drive that change:
- Volume loss. The fat pads in your midface shrink and shift downward, so your cheek no longer supports the skin above the fold.
- Collagen and elastin decline. Skin loses the structure that keeps it firm, and creases that used to bounce back begin to stay.
- Sun exposure. Years of ultraviolet damage break collagen down faster and deepen lines that are already forming.
- Repeated expression. Smiling, laughing and talking crease the same spot thousands of times, and skin with less elasticity holds that crease.
- Weight changes. Significant loss can hollow the midface and make the fold more pronounced.
- Genetics. Facial structure influences how early and how deeply folds form, which is why some people notice them in their twenties and others not until much later.
Treating Nasolabial Folds with Dermal Fillers
The most common treatment for nasolabial folds is injectable dermal fillers. These injections work by pushing unattractive folds outward, thereby lessening their appearance on your face.
Some of the more popular injectable fillers include:
- Juvederm. A hyaluronic acid filler placed under the fold to restore support. Results show immediately.
- Restylane. Another hyaluronic acid option, often chosen for how it behaves in this part of the face.
Hyaluronic acid is a substance your body already produces, which is part of why these fillers are so widely used and why they can be dissolved if you are unhappy with the result. That reversibility is worth understanding before you commit, and it is covered in more detail in our guide to hyaluronic acid fillers.
Collagen Stimulators Work Differently
Sculptra is not a filler in the usual sense. Rather than adding volume directly, it prompts your own body to build collagen across a series of treatments. The change appears gradually over several months instead of the same day, and it tends to hold longer than hyaluronic acid does.
Which approach fits depends on how deep the fold is, how much midface volume you have lost, and how quickly you want to see a difference. Dr. Desman goes through that at the consultation rather than defaulting to one product.
Why Botox Is Not the Answer Here
Neuromodulators like Botox and Dysport relax the muscles that create movement lines, which is why they work well across the forehead and around the eyes. Nasolabial folds are a volume and structure problem, not a muscle problem. Neuromodulators will not lift a fold that exists because the cheek above it has deflated, and anyone telling you otherwise is worth a second question.
How Long Results Last
Hyaluronic acid fillers in this area generally hold for six months to about a year, depending on the product, how much is placed, and how quickly your body breaks it down. Collagen stimulators build more slowly but often last two years or longer.
Neither is permanent. Maintenance treatments keep the result steady, which works better than letting it fade completely and starting over.
When Surgery Makes More Sense
If your problem area is strictly nasolabial folds, a facelift is generally not recommended. Only consider a facelift if you have other severe facial problems that cannot be adequately corrected with injectable fillers alone.
That distinction matters. A facelift repositions deeper tissue and addresses sagging along the jawline and neck, which is a far larger undertaking than an injection and the wrong answer for someone whose only concern is a crease beside the mouth. Dr. Desman will tell you when a procedure is not worth it, which is often the most useful thing to come out of a consultation.
Common Questions About Nasolabial Folds
Can nasolabial folds be removed completely?
No, and that is not the goal. The folds are part of normal facial anatomy and everyone has them. Treatment softens the depth so the fold reads as a natural crease instead of a shadow.
Do filler injections hurt?
Most patients describe brief pressure rather than pain. Most fillers used in this area contain a numbing agent, and topical numbing is available beforehand.
How soon will I see a difference?
With hyaluronic acid fillers, right away, though some swelling over the first few days is normal. With collagen stimulators, the change builds over two to three months.
Will treatment change how I look?
The aim is a rested version of your own face, not a different one. Overfilling this area is what creates a heavy, unnatural result, which is why placement and restraint matter more than volume.
Do creams or at-home devices help?
Good skincare and consistent sun protection slow the process down and are worth doing either way. Neither will replace volume that has already been lost.
Schedule a Consultation
If you live in Northern Virginia and would like to learn more about how to treat your nasolabial folds, please contact our Alexandria office to set up your facial rejuvenation consultation.