Nasolabial folds are the lines that run from the nose’s sides to the mouth’s corners. These lines are commonly referred to as smile or laugh lines. They become more pronounced with age due to the loss of facial volume, collagen, and skin elasticity.
Let’s find the quick fixes if you are bothered by their presence. But knowing their causes is essential so you may change your lifestyle habits. Let’s get into the details.
Causes of Nasolabial Folds
The following factors cause nasolabial lines:
- Ageing: Loss of collagen and elastin leads to skin sagging and deepened folds.
- Loss of Facial Volume: Diminishing fat pads in the cheeks cause the skin to sag.
- Genetics: Genetic predisposition can result in deeper nasolabial folds.
- Repeated Facial Expressions: Constant smiling or laughing etches lines into the skin.
- Sun Exposure: UV exposure accelerates collagen degradation and contributes to wrinkle formation.
- Smoking: Damages skin fibers, and repetitive motions contribute to folding development.
Top 7 Treatments For Nasolabial Folds
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers, especially those based on hyaluronic acid like Juvéderm and Restylane, are popular as they plump the skin and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles by adding volume and promoting collagen production. Injecting nasolabial fold fillers into these lines or surrounding areas like the cheeks can lift and soften the lines, providing immediate results that typically last between six and twelve months and sometimes more, depending on the type and amount of filler injected.
Thread Lift
A thread lift is a non-surgical treatment option. It involves inserting dissolvable threads under the skin to lift and tighten sagging facial tissues. This procedure provides immediate results by improving skin texture and reducing the prominence of nasolabial folds. It also triggers the body’s collagen production. Consult your skin doctor, who will confirm if you are a suitable candidate for thread lift treatment.
Ultherapy For Skin Tightening
Ultherapy is a non-invasive skin tightening treatment that uses focused ultrasound waves to lift and tighten the skin on the face, neck, and décolletage. This FDA-approved procedure stimulates collagen production in deeper layers of your skin, giving a natural and gradual lifting effect. Unlike lasers and other technologies that affect only the skin surface, Ultherapy targets the foundational layers typically addressed in cosmetic surgery without disrupting the outer skin layer.
This treatment is particularly beneficial for reducing sagging in the jawline, lifting the brow, and smoothing the décolletage, offering noticeable improvements without the downtime associated with surgical facelifts.
Facelift
A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical treatment. It reduces visible signs of aging in the face and neck, including the reduction of nasolabial folds. During the procedure, a surgeon makes incisions around the hairline and ears, then lifts and tightens the underlying facial muscles and tissues. Excess and saggy skin is removed, and the remaining skin is lifted and attached precisely to the underlying structure to create an elevated appearance.
This comprehensive approach addresses deep nasolabial folds and improves overall facial contours, providing long-lasting results. A facelift is particularly beneficial for individuals with significant sagging and deep folds that non-surgical treatments do not address sufficiently.
SkinPen Microneedling
SkinPen microneedling is a minimally invasive procedure that effectively treats nasolabial folds by stimulating the body’s natural healing processes. This FDA-cleared device uses fine needles to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin, which triggers collagen and elastin production, essential for skin tightening and rejuvenation.
Your doctor may prescribe several sessions to see significant improvements in the depth and appearance of nasolabial folds. The new collagen and elastin fibers plump and smooth the skin, reducing the visibility of these folds and restoring a youthful appearance.
Skin Resurfacing
Skin resurfacing techniques, such as laser and chemical peels, are highly effective for treating nasolabial folds. Laser resurfacing removes the outer layer of dead skin, revealing newer, more youthful skin underneath. It uses concentrated light beams to target and remove skin layers precisely. At the same time, chemical peels utilize acidic solutions to exfoliate the skin. Both techniques stimulate collagen and elastin production, which aids in diminishing the depth and visibility of nasolabial folds.
Morpheus 8
The radiofrequency energy warms the tissue, encouraging collagen contraction and the generation of new collagen, thereby diminishing the appearance of nasolabial folds. The radiofrequency energy heats the tissue, prompting collagen to tighten and promoting the generation of new collagen, thereby reducing the visibility of nasolabial folds. This technology targets the deeper layers of the skin to remodel collagen and elastin, providing a tightening and lifting effect.
The radiofrequency energy warms the tissue to encourage collagen tightening and the generation of new collagen, aiding in diminishing the visibility of nasolabial folds. Morpheus8 Leeds is a good option if you’re seeking a non-surgical procedure with minimal downtime and effective results.
Conclusion
Nasolabial folds are common signs of aging caused by the loss of facial volume, collagen, and skin elasticity. Understanding causes like aging, genetics, facial expressions, sun exposure, and smoking can help you make lifestyle changes to potentially delay their development.
Various effective treatments are available for nasolabial folds, including dermal fillers, thread lifts, Ultherapy, SkinPen microneedling, Morpheus 8, and surgical facelifts. All these treatments give natural results, but their downtimes and lasting vary.
Consult a qualified health practitioner to determine the best treatment based on severity, skin type, and aesthetic goals.
