The two lines that run from the sides of your nose down to the corners of your mouth are softened and eased, so that when you look in the mirror your face looks fresher and less drawn, while still looking like you.
The nasolabial folds are the two lines that run from the sides of your nose down to each corner of your mouth. You may also hear them called smile lines. Almost everyone has them to some degree, and they tend to become more noticeable over time as the face gradually loses its cushion of fat and supporting tissue, as the cheeks settle lower, and as the skin responds to a lifetime of smiling and talking each day. The non-surgical approach to nasolabial folds usually relies on a filler — most often a gel based on hyaluronic acid, a water-holding substance that occurs naturally in your body. It is placed under the skin to replace lost volume and soften the fold. Because there is no incision or surgery, the downtime is short, but the result is temporary. Here is how to tell whether this approach is a good match for you.
Everything begins with a consultation. Your doctor will listen to what you are hoping for, examine both nasolabial folds in person while you look straight ahead, in profile, and while you smile, and look for the reason the folds have become more noticeable — loss of volume in the cheeks, cheeks that have settled lower, loose skin, or several factors at once. Your doctor will also ask about your medical history, the medicines you take, and any allergies. This is the time to spell out your expectations and agree together on where the filler should go — sometimes adding volume to the upper cheek gives better support and softens the fold more effectively than injecting directly into it — how much filler is sensible, and whether filler is the right answer for your concern at all.
Before the injection, your doctor usually applies a layer of numbing cream to the skin to keep you more comfortable; many fillers also come pre-mixed with a local anaesthetic. The treatment is done right in the procedure room, while you are awake, with no general anaesthetic needed.
Your doctor places the filler in the correct layer under the skin at the planned points along the fold or in the supporting cheek above it, using a fine needle or a blunt-tipped tube called a cannula. The filler goes in a little at a time and is gently shaped so the surface sits smooth and the two sides stay balanced. Throughout, your doctor injects while watching your face at rest and as you smile, adjusting as they go. The area around the nasolabial folds has blood vessels lying close by, so your doctor works carefully within the safe anatomical plane.
The overall time varies with how much filler is used and how many points need treating. One advantage of a hyaluronic acid filler is that an enzyme called hyaluronidase can be injected to dissolve some of it if the result is not what you hoped for — your doctor will talk this through with you.
The aim of the treatment is to replace lost volume so the nasolabial folds are softened, helping your face look fresher and less drawn — not to create a new face. This is a modest, temporary change, visible almost as soon as the filler is placed, and how long it lasts differs from person to person.
Most people go home right after the injection and return to their usual day-to-day activities the same day. You may notice some swelling, mild redness, or a few needle marks where you were treated, and sometimes a little bruising. The points below are general estimates; everyone heals at their own pace.
This approach is generally safe when it is carried out by a doctor with the right training using the correct technique, but as with any injection there are risks. Most problems do not happen, yet they can — especially since the area around the nasolabial folds has blood vessels lying close by. You should understand the points below before you decide, and your doctor will go through them with you in detail.
The area around the nasolabial folds has blood vessels lying close by, so placing filler here calls for a clear understanding of the anatomy and for putting the filler into the correct, safe layer. For this reason, at The Gioi Dep, the procedure is carried out in a sterile setting by a specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery who understands the blood vessel and nerve anatomy of the face — an important factor in limiting the rare but serious risks. Before turning to technique, our doctors take the time to find out why your nasolabial folds have become more noticeable, so they can decide whether to add volume right at the fold or to support the cheek above it — a plan built around your own face rather than a one-size-fits-all template.
Our doctors speak plainly with you about what filler can genuinely do for your nasolabial folds — including when the honest answer is that the folds are mainly caused by sagging cheeks and skin, and would be better suited to another supporting approach such as a facelift, rather than steering you toward this treatment. We talk with you beforehand about the type of filler used and how things can be adjusted if needed, including the option of injecting dissolving enzyme, and we arrange for you to come back so we can review the result once the treated area has settled. You can always reach out again if something is worrying you.
Before the injection, your doctor usually applies numbing cream to the skin, and many fillers also come pre-mixed with a local anaesthetic, so most people feel only a slight prick or mild pressure during treatment. Afterward, the area may feel a little tight or tender for a short while.
The aim is to soften the nasolabial folds discreetly so your face looks fresher, not to make an obvious change. The result usually looks natural when the filler is placed in modest amounts and in the right layer. How natural it looks also depends on your expectations and your own features, so talk through what you want carefully with your doctor.
Most people return to their activities and work the same day, since this is an injection that needs no surgery. If there is mild swelling or a little bruising, it usually fades within a few days. The exact time depends on your own body and the nature of your work.
Filler helps soften and ease the folds, but with deep nasolabial folds the result is limited and they usually are not erased completely. Your doctor will assess your folds and tell you honestly how much improvement is realistic.
Filler is temporary and gradually dissolves over time, usually somewhere from a few months to over a year depending on the type of filler, the area treated, and your own body. When the fold begins to show again, you can have a top-up if you want to maintain it.
Because the filler goes in through a fine needle or cannula rather than through an incision, the approach usually leaves no scar. There may be tiny needle marks or mild bruising at the injection points, and these usually disappear within a few days.
The nasolabial folds often become more noticeable as the cheeks lose volume and settle lower. In many cases, adding supporting volume to the upper cheek softens the fold more naturally than injecting straight into it. Your doctor will assess the cause in each person to choose the approach that suits you.
If a hyaluronic acid filler is used, your doctor can inject an enzyme called hyaluronidase to dissolve some of it and adjust the result. This is one advantage of this type of filler. Your doctor will talk through the right approach with you.
Most cases go smoothly, but the area around the nasolabial folds has blood vessels lying close by, so there is a rare risk that filler enters or presses on a blood vessel. This is why the procedure needs to be carried out by a doctor who understands the blood vessel anatomy of the face and knows how to prevent and manage this. Your doctor will go through the risks clearly with you.
Age on its own is not a barrier. What matters more is your general health, the condition of your skin, and the reason your nasolabial folds have become more noticeable. Your doctor will assess these factors during the consultation to see whether the approach suits you.
Book a consultation to find out if this is right for you.
The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.