Facial Ageing
Creases running from the sides of the nose toward the corners of the mouth that are shaped by facial movement and midface support.
Physician-led assessment · individualized care · Vancouver clinic
Understanding Smile Lines & Nasolabial Folds
Often it's a selfie or a video call that does it: the lines running from your nose to the corners of your mouth suddenly look deeper than you remember, and you look more tired than you feel. You're definitely not the only one who has noticed.
Everyone has these folds. They come from years of smiling and talking, which is a lovely thing. What changes over time is the support behind them. As cheek fat gets a little smaller and slides lower, and the bone in the midface slowly changes, the fold has less backing and casts a deeper shadow. So the most natural way to soften it is usually to rebuild some of that cheek support, with just a light touch in the fold itself, which keeps your expressions soft and natural.
Causes and Contributing Factors
These folds mark the boundary between the mobile tissue of the upper lip and the fuller tissue of the cheek, so they naturally become more defined with years of smiling and speaking. They tend to deepen as cheek fat reduces and shifts downward, as skin loses collagen and elasticity, as facial ligaments loosen, and as bone in the midface recedes. Sun exposure, smoking, sleeping position, and weight change can contribute, and genetics and facial shape strongly influence their prominence.
Signs and Symptoms
Assessment
At your consultation, our physicians look at your whole midface: how full your cheeks are and where they sit, your skin quality, any settling of tissue, the balance between the two sides, and how the folds change when you smile. That shows whether lost cheek fullness or the skin crease itself is the bigger factor. We then shape a plan around how much support you'd like to restore, your timing and your budget.
Cosmetic consultations are complimentary.
Prevention and Ongoing Care
Daily broad-spectrum sun protection preserves the collagen that keeps the midface firm, and a retinoid supports smoother texture over time. Not smoking, and a hydrating moisturizer, help the skin around the fold stay supple. Our team can recommend products from our online shop that suit your skin.
Treatment Options
These are some of the options connected to this concern. The appropriate plan depends on assessment, suitability, and your goals.
At our clinic, nasolabial folds are treated by restoring balance across the midface. Dermal fillers such as hyaluronic acid fillers, Radiesse, HarmonyCa or Sculptra rebuild cheek support so the fold softens naturally, with a fine touch in the crease where it adds something. Injectable skin boosters like SKINVIVE, Restylane Skinboosters or NCTF 135 HA Boost improve hydration and skin quality around the area.
Our experienced physicians perform these treatments.
Uses injectable fillers to restore or reshape facial volume and contour, selected for the structure and balance each area needs.
Places small amounts of injectable hydrating or regenerative product within the skin to improve its quality, hydration and smoothness.
For the fuller picture, explore the treatment pages above or discuss the options during a consultation.
Medical Assessment
Nasolabial folds aren't usually a medical concern. See a doctor promptly if you notice sudden one-sided facial drooping or weakness, trouble moving part of the face, new asymmetry, or a lump or skin change near the fold.
Frequently Asked Questions
The fold is often deepened by lost support in the cheek above it, so restoring cheek volume softens it in a natural way and keeps the crease from looking over-filled. Your physician will show you where support helps most for your anatomy.
These folds are part of your natural structure and movement, so the goal is to soften them and bring back balance. Results vary from person to person and are kept up with maintenance. We'll show you at your consultation the kind of change that suits your face.
Cost depends on which treatment suits you and how much product your plan needs. You'll receive clear pricing for your own plan at your consultation, before you decide anything.
Physician Assessment
An assessment can help clarify what may be contributing, which options may be appropriate, and what a reasonable next step could look like for you.
Visit Our Clinic
Anti-Aging Medical & Laser Clinic combines medical assessment, individualized planning, physician oversight, and a broad range of treatment options in its Vancouver clinic.
Bring your questions, treatment history, and goals. Your provider can help you understand appropriate options, expected recovery, and realistic outcomes.
Make an Appointment
Use our consultation form below and the clinic can guide you toward the appropriate starting point.
