Have you ever looked in the mirror and noticed the lines from your nose to the corners of your mouth becoming more pronounced, even when you’re not smiling? If so, you’re not alone.
Nose to mouth lines, or ‘nasolabial folds’, are the folds of skin that extend from the corners of the nose to the corners of the mouth. Nasolabial folds are a natural part of facial anatomy, but their prominence tends to increase with age, often becoming a common concern for those seeking a more youthful appearance. You might have also heard them being called smile lines.
Luckily there are now a wide range of treatments that can help to minimise the appearance of nasolabial folds. But which treatment is right for you? In this blog, we’ll explore the best non-surgical treatments for nasolabial lines, featuring expert insights from Dr Rekha Tailor, Founder and Medical Director of Health & Aesthetics.
What causes nasolabial folds?
Nasolabial folds are natural in most people, but their depth and prominence can vary based on certain factors:
- Ageing: As we age, our skin loses collagen and elastin, which are proteins that keep the skin firm and full of elasticity. We also lose fat pads in our cheeks.
Dr Tailor explains, “These losses lead to sagging skin, which can cause more pronounced folds around the mouth region. How our skin ages depends on lots of factors like our genetics, and other parts of our lifestyle.”
- Lifestyle: Smoking, alcohol, poor nutrition and inadequate skincare can contribute to premature skin ageing, which may lead to the development of deeper nasolabial folds. External environmental factors such as pollution and excessive sun exposure can also accelerate collagen breakdown, making lines appear more pronounced.
- Facial expressions and weight fluctuations: Repetitive facial expressions, such as smiling, can cause the skin to crease over time, hence why nasolabial folds are often referred to as smile lines. Additionally, significant weight loss or gain can contribute to fat fluctuations in the face, leading to sagging skin and deepened folds.
Treatments for nasolabial folds
“Although nasolabial folds aren’t a medical concern, lots of people still want to improve how they look,” Dr Tailor says, “Thankfully there are lots of different treatments available to soften how prominent nasolabial folds appear.”
Endolift
Endolift is a minimally invasive laser-based skin tightening treatment. It uses a special optical fiber inserted under the skin to deliver laser energy, which stimulates collagen production and tightens the skin in targeted areas. This treatment is popular for lifting sagging skin around the jawline and nasolabial folds.The effects improve over time as collagen remodeling continues.
Endolift is a safe and effective treatment with minimal downtime for most. At Health & Aesthetics, we only use the FDA-approved Endolift device.
Learn more about Endolift aftercare and what to expect.
Sofwave
Sofwave is a non-invasive ultrasound skin-tightening treatment designed to stimulate collagen production and firm the skin. It uses high-intensity ultrasound energy that penetrates the skin’s dermal layers, triggering a natural healing response. It’s used in areas of skin laxity, and can be very effective in reducing nasolabial folds.
Alongside the innovative ultrasound technology, there is an integrated cooling safety mechanism that protects the uppermost skin layer. Patients can expect smoother, firmer skin within six months of treatment, with improvements continuing over time.
Dermal fillers
Dermal fillers are a type of injectable made from hyaluronic acid. They’re used to restore volume, adding plumpness into certain areas which have started to sag or hollow. This filler helps to lift the face, which smooths out of surrounding skin and reduces the appearance of wrinkles and lines like nasolabial folds. Dermal fillers are commonly used to treat areas like nasolabial folds, achieving a youthful and refreshed appearance.
Results typically last 12 to 18 months and maintenance treatments can help prolong their effects.
Profhilo Structura
Profhilo Structura is an advanced injectable treatment that restores superficial layers of fat in the face. This helps to lift the facial structure and provide more support for the skin, effectively tackling concerns like skin laxity and hollowing.
Profhilo Structura is a great option for those seeking subtle enhancements to nasolabial folds without drastically altering their appearance. It’s also suitable for people in their 30s.
JULÄINE™ of Sweden
JULÄINE helps to reduce the appearance of nasolabial folds by stimulating your skin’s natural collagen production. Over a series of sessions, it gradually restores lost volume and improves skin firmness, leading to a more youthful, refreshed appearance. The results are subtle and natural-looking, developing progressively and lasting for up to two years.
A combination of treatments for nasolabial folds
A combination of treatments usually helps to provide the best results for nasolabial folds.
Dr Tailor explains, “Very often, we use a combination of a treatment that targets skin laxity, like Endolift or Sofwave, with a treatment such as dermal fillers, which helps to reintroduce volume. Nasolabial folds often form due to a mixture of both sagging skin and tissues (due to loss of collagen) and lost volume in this region, which happens when we lose facial fat as we age. So having a combination of treatments that target both sagging skin and volume loss of usually leads to the most optimal results.”
Read our blog post on combining skin laxity treatments with dermal fillers.
The specific combination of treatment will depend on your unique skin goals, as well as any personal needs that should be considered. During our full medical consultation at Health & Aesthetics, we explore a wide range of factors to help us find the best selection of treatments for you.
Are there other ways to reduce nasolabial folds?
Nasolabial folds are largely unavoidable. But Dr Tailor suggests that there are things you can do at home that may slow premature skin ageing.
“A medical-grade skincare routine is important for keeping the skin as healthy as possible. Using products personalised to your needs can reduce the severity of signs of aging, like nasolabial folds, or delay their onset.”
Dr Tailor adds, “At Health & Aesthetics, we love the ZO Skin Health Range by Dr Zein Obagi. They have a range of products which help to promote collagen and elastin, two vital proteins for the skin, and lots of other products to suit unique needs. During a consultation, we can help explore products which may help you.”
In addition to skincare, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can also contribute to youthful skin. Eating a diet rich in nutrients, staying well-hydrated, avoiding excessive sun exposure, and not smoking or drinking alcohol in excess can all have a positive impact on your skin’s health and appearance.
While it may not be possible to eliminate deep-set lines entirely, taking these lifestyle and skincare practices into account can complement professional treatments by keeping the skin as healthy as possible.
We also have a range of other popular non-surgical treatments such as polynucleotides and exosome treatments that can help to keep your skin healthy and youthful. To learn more about our full range of treatments and how they can support your skin, book in a consultation with our team.
Ready to learn more about treatments for nasolabial folds?
If you’re looking to get rid of nasolabial folds or simply want to learn more about maintaining youthful skin, book a consultation with Health & Aesthetics today.
Our experienced professionals are here to guide you through the best options for your unique skin needs. Take the first step towards a refreshed, more youthful appearance!
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