What Causes Them and How to Reduce and How to Fix Nasolabial Fold Problems
When nasolabial folds appear, they can make you look older than your actual age. The more prominent the folds, the older you appear. Nasolabial wrinkles are a common concern for many people, but they can be corrected. Here are the different ways to reduce nasolabial folds.
What Are Nasolabial Folds?
Nasolabial folds are lines that run along the sides of the face, starting from the sides of the nose and curving down to the corners of the mouth on both sides. They become more noticeable when you express emotions, such as when smiling, laughing, or making other facial expressions.
Anatomically, nasolabial folds are caused by the movement of facial muscles, particularly the orbicularis oris muscle (which controls lip movement and smiling) and the zygomaticus major muscle (which is responsible for smiling). When these muscles move, wrinkles and folds on the face are created.
As we age, the skin starts to lose collagen and elastin, causing it to lose elasticity and sag. This leads to deeper and more pronounced nasolabial folds. Additionally, changes in the structure of bones and fat beneath the skin, such as the collapse of bone around the eyes and the reduction of facial fat, contribute to more prominent folds.
What Causes Nasolabial Folds?
Several factors contribute to the development of nasolabial folds, including:
- UV Radiation: UV rays from the sun break down collagen and elastin in the skin, leading to loss of elasticity and the formation of nasolabial wrinkles.
- Facial Movement: Emotions like smiling, laughing, or crying cause facial muscles to move, leading to the formation of wrinkles that gradually become permanent.
- Smoking: Smoking causes oxidative stress, which accelerates the breakdown of collagen and elastin, leading to faster wrinkle formation.
- Aging: As we age, the bone structure around the eyes and deep facial fat begins to shrink, causing the upper cheek area to sag and form folds, which eventually leads to visible nasolabial lines.
Fixing Nasolabial Folds with Fillers
Hyaluronic acid fillers are injected into the skin to help make deep nasolabial folds look shallower. This treatment is also effective for people with under-eye bone loss. Fillers can be injected not only into the nasolabial folds but also into the cheeks to lift and restore volume.
Who is Suitable for Nasolabial Filler Treatment?
This treatment is ideal for individuals who have nasolabial folds due to sagging skin. A combination of filler injections under the eyes and into the cheeks will provide more natural results compared to just filling the nasolabial folds. If only the nasolabial folds are filled, a large amount of filler may be needed for deep folds, which can result in lumps and puffiness, making the face appear larger than usual.
Thread Lift for Nasolabial Folds
A thread lift for nasolabial folds is a non-surgical facelift technique that involves inserting threads into the skin and lifting the sagging skin, thereby reducing the depth of the folds.
Advantages of Thread Lifting for Nasolabial Folds
- Stimulates collagen production
- No surgery required, and there are no visible scars
- Provides visible and long-lasting results
Fat Injection for Nasolabial Folds
Fat injection involves using fat from your own body to fill the nasolabial folds. Since the fat is taken from your body, there is no risk of allergic reactions, and the amount of fat injected can be adjusted as needed.
Advantages of Fat Injection
- Uses your own body fat, so there is no risk of allergic reactions
- Provides long-lasting results if the body does not absorb the injected fat
- Ideal for those seeking a natural result
Botox to Reduce Nasolabial Wrinkles
Botox injections help reduce the activity of facial muscles, so when you smile, the nasolabial folds appear less prominent. However, Botox may make your smile appear stiff or unnatural.
Advantages of Botox
- Reduces muscle activity that causes wrinkles
- Suitable for people with nasolabial folds caused by facial expressions
Disadvantages of Botox
- May make the smile appear stiff and unnatural
- More suited for preventing nasolabial folds rather than treating deep folds
Summary
Nasolabial folds are a natural part of aging, but they can be prevented and reduced with the right treatments, such as thread lifting, fillers, or Botox. If you already have prominent nasolabial folds, don’t worry. There are several effective treatments available to help reduce their appearance.
