What are Nasolabial Folds or Smile Lines?
The creases that run from the edges of the nose to the sides of the mouth, also known as smile lines because when smiling, these creases become much more pronounced with maturity. The most common factors in deepening nasolabial folds are age, relating to the loss of support under the skin, “the base of the face”.
How do Nasolabial Folds form?
The main reason these folds appear to deepen with age is because of the loss of foundation underneath the mid-face and under- eye area, also known as the “base of the face.” As the foundation beneath this mid-face area wears away, the skin in this area, particularly the cheek, begins to sag downward over the nasolabial fold, creating a shadowy effect that makes the crease more apparent.
Is there anything in particular that causes Nasolabial Folds to appear?
The most common factor in the deepening of nasolabial folds is age and natural foundation loss (base loss) . In addition to aging, the appearance of nasolabial folds may be caused by excessive weight loss or tooth loss, which leads to bone loss. Additionally, smoking can be a major accelerant in the appearance of nasolabial folds.
Treatments for Nasolabial Folds?
There are two methods that one can choose from to treat nasolabial folds. The simplest way to treat nasolabial folds is to fill in the skin beneath the folds themselves.
The more effective method involves lifting the skin in the mid-face region and the outer cheeks in addition to filling in the skin below the Nasolabial folds. By restoring the base support of the skin in the areas above the nasolabial folds, we are able to BaseLift™ the skin up rather than just filling in the creases.
