Nasolabial Fold Fillers – Everything You Need To Know

They may be called laughter lines, but nasolabial folds can be anything but funny. 

These lines can make your face seem older and more drawn – but thanks to nasolabial fold fillers, you can transform how you look in less than 30 minutes!

No surgery, no stitches and no long recovery period… Want to learn more? Keep reading… 

What Are Nasolabial Folds?

Nasolabial folds are the lines that can form from each side of your nose down towards the corners of your mouth. They’re commonly called laughter lines or smile lines since they’re more prominent when you smile. 

As you age, these lines grow in length and depth – and for some people appear obvious even when they’re not smiling. The folds can make you feel self-conscious and anxious about how you look. Some folds cause the skin around your nose to ‘pouch’ which can cast a shadow, making your lines look deeper and unbalancing your appearance.

Nasolabial folds can appear alongside creases that run downwards, from the corners of your mouth to your chin. These are called marionette lines (because they can make you resemble a Marionette puppet). You can read more about marionette lines here.

What Causes Nasolabial Folds?

So, what’s going on beneath the skin that makes these so-called laugh lines form? As with anything, as you age the structures of your skin begin to degenerate. Collagen, the protein responsible for the plumpness of your skin, slows in production, as does elastin, which is what keeps your skin springy and supple. Without these two key factors, your skin begins to settle into lines and wrinkles.

Your cheeks sit on the buccal fat pad, and as you age, this can start to droop causing deep nasolabial folds in your face. Couple that with less supple, sagging skin and you can look much older than you are. 

There are also a number of external factors that can make your nasolabial fold look much worse. These are; 

• Smoking – the nicotine in cigarettes causes blood vessels to narrow which impairs your oxygen flow and nutrients delivered to your skin. Toxins can also break down collagen fibres. 
• Sun Damage – harmful UV rays break down collagen and elastin fibres, which will exacerbate the ageing process.
• Gravity – annoyingly unavoidable, gravity does its thing and pulls down on your sagging skin. You can counteract a little of this when you sleep by trying to sleep on your back (easier said than done!). 

Surgical Options

There are surgical options that reduce the folds in your skin. A traditional facelift or more localised cheek lift allows the fat pad to be relocated back to its original position. This, however, requires cutting and sutures, with significant healing time and all the risks usually associated with surgery.

What Are Nasolabial Fold Fillers?

If you don’t fancy the pain (or the cost) of going under the knife, there are equally successful non-surgical solutions that take less than your lunch hour to do.

The nasolabial fold fillers are a practically painless way to lift the skin and effectively fill out the area. Dermal fillers have been developed to safely reduce the depth of wrinkles and lines. Made from hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance found in your skin, eyes and joints, the nasolabial fillers are carefully injected into your cheeks, gently replacing your lost structure.

What Does Nasolabial Fold Filler Treatment Entail?

The nasolabial fold filler procedure is very straightforward. Following your in-depth consultation at our multi-award winning clinic, you will be asked to relax in our treatment room. While you sit comfortably, the area is numbed with a topical cream to minimise any discomfort.

The nasolabial fold filler is injected into the desired area with minimal skin trauma, leaving you looking instantly younger.

What To Expect After Nasolabial Fold Fillers? 

Following your nasolabial fold filler procedure, you may have very slight redness at the injection site, however, this will fade quickly.

You will see an immediate transformation in your face, with your lost facial volume restored – making you look more youthful and rejuvenated. As you can see from the before and after treatment images here, the results can be significant. 

Following your treatment you will be able to go about your usual routine, however, you will need to avoid; 

• alcohol at least 12 hours before and after your nasolabial fold fillers
• exercise for 12 hours following your treatment
• direct sunlight (both outside and sunbeds) for 12 hours after
• touching or rubbing your face for at least 8 hours

It’s also important that you drink plenty of water. Well-hydrated skin can boost the appearance of your nasolabial fold fillers, helping you to achieve your ideal look.

How Long Does The Nasolabial Fold Fillers Last?

The longevity of dermal fillers is affected by how your body responds, the type of filler used and the location of your filler. Typically, you can expect the results to last between 8 and 12 months but this can increase with subsequent treatments. 

So, if you’re looking for a quick, painless and lasting solution to your laugh lines, nasolabial fold fillers are the ideal option. We’d love to invite you for a personal consultation, where we can get to know you a little better and make recommendations for the most effective treatment.

We welcome you to our beautiful and discreet clinic, located just 10 minutes from Dartford and Gravesend station, 15 minutes from Maidstone and 20 minutes from London. At Elite Aesthetics, our clinicians are friendly,  highly trained and dedicated to making your experience as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. To book your consultation, just get in touch…