Cosmetic Surgery Tips

Botox for nasolabial folds

One of the most common concerns of middle-aged patients is the development of nasolabial folds. The appearance of these lines can make you look older than you are and affect your self-confidence. Fortunately, there are ways to treat these lines that will make you look years younger.

With advanced treatments like Botox, you can reduce the appearance of nasolabial folds in a safe and effective way that doesn’t involve surgery or other invasive procedures. This treatment is best known for smoothing wrinkles and fine lines on your face by relaxing the muscles underneath them, but it can also be used to treat dynamic wrinkles like nasolabial folds – which means they appear when you smile and fade when you’re not smiling (or laughing). In this guide, we review the aspects of Botox for nasolabial folds, nasolabial folds treatment, how to get rid of nasolabial folds without fillers, and Is filler or Botox better for nasolabial folds?

The way Botox works to smooth wrinkles is by relaxing the muscles underneath your skin that cause dynamic wrinkles like nasolabial folds, glabellar creases (also known as “frown lines”), and crow’s feet around eyes. “Botox” is actually an abbreviation for botulinum toxin type A – a highly diluted form of botulinum toxin which has been proven safe for use in humans. Botulinum toxin A works by preventing signals from nerves reaching muscles so they don’t contract and cause.

Botox for nasolabial folds

Photo of a woman with her nasolabial fold area highlighted. Text: Smile lines? How to Reduce Nasolabial Folds

“Laugh lines” also known as nasolabial folds (NLF), can appear as early as your 20s. These lines, creases, and folds can make you appear tired, sad, or angry, and that’s no laughing matter when it comes to looking fresh, approachable, and your absolute best. If your nasolabial folds are keeping you from looking and feeling your best, we’re here for you! Treating the nasolabial folds is one of the top reasons Bay Area men and women visit our San Francisco office.

At Mabrie Facial Institute, we’ve helped thousands of patients rejuvenate their appearance by correcting their nasolabial folds with dermal filler. Whether your nasolabial folds are just noticeable or deep, our Injectors can help. Drawn from our many years of experience, here is everything you need to know when planning your treatment.

Real Patients, Real Results

Below are two of our patients who received dermal filler treatments to address their nasolabial folds and signs of aging in the midface.

before photo
Before
after photo
After
before photo
Before
after photo
After

What Are the Nasolabial Folds?

Diagram showing the nasolabial folds on a woman
The nasolabial folds are the bottom edge of the cheek.

Unsure if NLF correction is the right treatment for you? Let’s start first by identifying the nasolabial folds on your face. The image below can help when examining your face. The area highlighted in blue is your cheek. The white outline at the bottom of the cheek is the nasolabial fold. And while it’s natural for our eyes to zoom in and notice the crease itself, the nasolabial fold is actually the bottom of your cheeks. This whole area lies within the Midface Zone.

Here’s the bottom line on the bottom of your cheeks: When the Midface “sinks,” the unsupported cheeks skin slides down and forward, creating the nasolabial fold. Read on for 2 other reasons you may have NLF.

What Causes Your Nasolabial Folds? 

The 2 main causes of age-related nasolabial folds are midface volume loss and muscle movement:

Volume Loss

Losing volume in the midface causes cheek skin to droop downward, creating a crease from the nose to the lips. Midface volume loss occurs with age and can increase over time.

before photo
Before
after photo
After
gif depicting how NLFs develop due to volume loss and sagging skin
As midface deflates and cheek sags, the nasolabial fold deepens

Muscle Movement

You may be snarling and not even know it! When your snarl muscles are engaged, the nasolabial folds become visibly pronounced.

diagram showing the "snarl" muscles
A glimpse at the snarl muscles
gif of Kimberly, PA-C snarling
Snarling accentuates the NLF

How To Treat Nasolabial Folds With Midface Rejuvenation

Because the fold results from a loss of support in the midface, we need to restore that underlying structure. That’s what our Midface Rejuvenation package is all about! Midface and cheekbone volume loss causes not just nasolabial folds, but also hollows/shadows under the eyes (dark circles) and sagging cheeks. The right amount and type of filler to the midface and cheekbones restores the underlying structure to the middle third of the face, rejuvenating multiple areas and lifting and smoothing the NLF. This multi-tasking package is a game-changer for so many of our patients!

nasolabial folds before treatment
Before
nasolabial folds after treatment
After
nasolabial folds treatment areas
Treatment Areas

This is a patient who had midface rejuvenation.  Nasolabial folds are diminished with the added benefits of decreasing under-eye bags and making the cheekbones pop. 

Dr. Mabrie explains how Midface Rejuvenation produces multi-faceted results.

Why Filler to the Folds Alone Is NOT Enough

A common misconception is that you correct NLF simply by adding filler directly beneath the fold. This is how we used to do things, but we’ve learned a better way. Although single area treatment improves the folds, it does little to help patients look younger. We can dramatically improve results by applying our Midface Rejuvenation approach. The support in the midface brightens and refreshes the under-eye area, restores youthful contours to the cheeks, and smooths the NLF. Midface Rejuvenation is the difference between good and awesome results!

In the following video, Dr. Mabrie and Kimberly Rolley, PA-C talk about a particular patient’s treatment journey over approximately 6 years, and how she’s a great example of the evolution of NLF treatment, and why the best results don’t always come from treating the folds themselves.

Reducing Nasolabial Folds With BOTOX

You may be snarling and not even know it! Some people have more prominent NLF due to a facial muscle causing tension in the area. This muscle, responsible for elevating your lip or sneering, can be overactive. This tightness causes a deepening of the crease along the bottom of the cheek. 

before reducing nasolabial folds with botox
Before
after reducing nasolabial folds with botox
After
A diagram depicting involuntary muscle tension making NLF more pronounced.
Involuntary muscle tension making NLF more pronounced.

OK, What’s the Solution? 

Believe it or not, when the fold is caused by a tight muscle, the answer is BOTOX. Our Bay Area patients with a snarl or resting “not-so-nice” face can get two quick, easy BOTOX injections (one on each side of the nose) to relax this muscle and soften their snarl and their nasolabial folds. 

Choosing the Best Nasolabial Treatment for You 

Choosing the best treatment for your nasolabial folds can vary based on your facial anatomy, the severity of your nasolabial folds (is it a crease or a deep fold?), age, etc. The best treatment option is the one that is created for your specific needs.  

The best way to determine the most effective approach to treating your nasolabial folds is to choose an experienced Injector to guide you through the non surgical options.  

How Can I Take My Results to the Next Level? 

Midface Rejuvenation is an excellent choice to correct nasolabial folds with the added benefit of also correcting under-eye bags, dark circles, and hollowness. Adding Upper Face BOTOX or Lower Face Rejuvenation can help take your results to the next level. Be sure to check out these treatment packages that can complement your nasolabial fold treatment. 

How do I Schedule My Nasolabial Fold Treatment? 

We invite you to call us at (415) 322-3038 or request a consultation online for an in-person evaluation with one of our highly trained injectors. Online consultations are also available by request. Let us know what works best for you!  

In the meantime, check out our photo gallery and the amazing results we achieve with BOTOX and fillers. People visit us from Daly City, San Mateo, Palo Alto, Mountain View, and throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as other parts of the state and the country. 

nasolabial folds treatment

Nasolabial folds are the deep wrinkles or lines that form from the bottom of the nose to the corners of the mouth. While they’re extremely common, their severity can vary.

“People should feel reassured that everybody has nasolabial folds,” said Sarah Arron, associate professor of dermatology at UC San Francisco and the associate director of the UCSF Dermatologic Surgery and Laser Center. “Some people would like theirs to be less prominent, and there are lots of options [to treat them].

A dermatologist or skin care professional can help you determine the cause of your deepening nasolabial folds and find the right treatment for you.

“Partnering with a really caring dermatologist to start with a less-invasive procedure and maybe working your way up to something more significant or more invasive is a wonderful approach,” said Arron. “It may be that the end result can only be achieved with a face lift, but there are lots of things to try before undergoing full-on surgery.”

Fillers

Fillers are most often the first step toward reducing nasolabial folds. Dermatologists and other aesthetic professionals inject fillers into the skin around the cheek. This adds volume to the area and lifts the skin. What type of filler and how much is used depends on the severity of the fold. The most common fillers are made from hyaluronic acid, a natural building block of skin, and calcium hydroxylapatite, typically found in bones. Both have been shown to help stimulate the growth of collagen in addition to plumping the skin.

Fillers are easily injected in the office and require little to no recovery time. Some people experience slight bruising, but makeup can be worn immediately after treatment.

However, fillers are a short-term solution. They last 6 months to 2 years, with most lasting 6 to 9 months. How long a filler lasts depends on the type of filler and how quickly your body dissolves it.

Skin tightening

If loose skin is the cause of unwanted nasolabial folds, dermatologists or skin care professionals may also use a skin-tightening treatment. These can include a fractional radiofrequency device, ultrasound, or a fractional laser.

The procedures work similarly. They damage microscopic areas of the layer of skin beneath the top layer. This stimulates collagen growth for thicker, tighter skin. However, skin tightening alone is unlikely to make a significant difference for most people’s nasolabial folds, according to Arron.

Surgery

A cheek lift or a full-face lift can reduce the appearance of nasolabial folds and other signs of aging. However, cosmetic surgery is expensive and often not covered by insurance. It also has a long recovery time and comes with the risk of complications.

There is no permanent fix for nasolabial folds. While some treatments can last years, you can’t completely halt natural aging. Even surgical alterations will look different over time and begin to show signs of aging.

Age, sun damage, and smoking are the biggest culprits of deepening nasolabial folds. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays break down the collagen and elastin fibers in your skin that keep it smooth and supported. Smoking also breaks down these fibers. As you age, cumulative skin damage can make your nasolabial folds more prominent.

Typical aging can also play a part, even without sun damage or smoking. As you age, the structure of your cheekbones flattens out. This can cause the skin of your cheeks to sag or droop downwards. Add to that years of gravity tugging on your skin and the natural decrease in collagen and elastin, and you have the perfect recipe for wrinkles, loose skin, and nasolabial folds.

Significant weight gain or loss can also contribute to nasolabial folds. Weight loss can lead to looser skin, especially in the face and neck. Weight gain can make the cheeks plumper and accentuate nasolabial folds.

Side sleeping may make one or both of your nasolabial folds deeper, but you don’t have to start sleeping on your back. You can certainly switch to sleeping on your back if deepening folds are a concern. However, a good night’s sleep is equally important for repairing your skin and staying healthy.

Using sun protection and not smoking are key to younger-looking skin and preventing deepening nasolabial folds. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends daily sunscreen usage. It’s important to wear sunscreen to protect your skin from the harmful UV rays if you’re going to be outside or in the sun, even if you’re driving or behind a window.

Moisturizing skincare products can also help reduce the folds and improve the overall quality of your skin. Arron recommends products that contain antioxidants like vitamin C to help protect the collagen and elastin in your skin. Products with retinol can also help boost the production of skin cells and keep the skin looking more youthful. Just be sure always to wear sunscreen and moisturize when using retinols. They can dry out the skin and make it more susceptible to sun damage.

how to get rid of nasolabial folds without fillers

More Smiles, Fewer Laugh Lines: The Best Ways to Treat Nasolabial Folds Without Surgery

“Laugh lines” also known as nasolabial folds (NLF), can appear as early as your 20s. These lines, creases, and folds can make you appear tired, sad, or angry, and that’s no laughing matter when it comes to looking fresh, approachable, and your absolute best. If your nasolabial folds are keeping you from looking and feeling your best, we’re here for you! Treating the nasolabial folds is one of the top reasons Bay Area men and women visit our San Francisco office.

At Mabrie Facial Institute, we’ve helped thousands of patients rejuvenate their appearance by correcting their nasolabial folds with dermal filler. Whether your nasolabial folds are just noticeable or deep, our Injectors can help. Drawn from our many years of experience, here is everything you need to know when planning your treatment.

Real Patients, Real Results

Below are two of our patients who received dermal filler treatments to address their nasolabial folds and signs of aging in the midface.

What Are the Nasolabial Folds?

Unsure if NLF correction is the right treatment for you? Let’s start first by identifying the nasolabial folds on your face. The image below can help when examining your face. The area highlighted in blue is your cheek. The white outline at the bottom of the cheek is the nasolabial fold. And while it’s natural for our eyes to zoom in and notice the crease itself, the nasolabial fold is actually the bottom of your cheeks. This whole area lies within the Midface Zone.

Here’s the bottom line on the bottom of your cheeks: When the Midface “sinks,” the unsupported cheeks skin slides down and forward, creating the nasolabial fold. Read on for 2 other reasons you may have NLF.

What Causes Your Nasolabial Folds? 

The 2 main causes of age-related nasolabial folds are midface volume loss and muscle movement:

Losing volume in the midface causes cheek skin to droop downward, creating a crease from the nose to the lips. Midface volume loss occurs with age and can increase over time.

You may be snarling and not even know it! When your snarl muscles are engaged, the nasolabial folds become visibly pronounced.

How To Treat Nasolabial Folds With Midface Rejuvenation

Because the fold results from a loss of support in the midface, we need to restore that underlying structure. That’s what our Midface Rejuvenation package is all about! Midface and cheekbone volume loss causes not just nasolabial folds, but also hollows/shadows under the eyes (dark circles) and sagging cheeks. The right amount and type of filler to the midface and cheekbones restores the underlying structure to the middle third of the face, rejuvenating multiple areas and lifting and smoothing the NLF. This multi-tasking package is a game-changer for so many of our patients!

This is a patient who had midface rejuvenation.  Nasolabial folds are diminished with the added benefits of decreasing under-eye bags and making the cheekbones pop. 

Dr. Mabrie explains how Midface Rejuvenation produces multi-faceted results.

Why Filler to the Folds Alone Is NOT Enough

A common misconception is that you correct NLF simply by adding filler directly beneath the fold. This is how we used to do things, but we’ve learned a better way. Although single area treatment improves the folds, it does little to help patients look younger. We can dramatically improve results by applying our Midface Rejuvenation approach. The support in the midface brightens and refreshes the under-eye area, restores youthful contours to the cheeks, and smooths the NLF. Midface Rejuvenation is the difference between good and awesome results!

In the following video, Dr. Mabrie and Kimberly Rolley, PA-C talk about a particular patient’s treatment journey over approximately 6 years, and how she’s a great example of the evolution of NLF treatment, and why the best results don’t always come from treating the folds themselves.

Reducing Nasolabial Folds With BOTOX

You may be snarling and not even know it! Some people have more prominent NLF due to a facial muscle causing tension in the area. This muscle, responsible for elevating your lip or sneering, can be overactive. This tightness causes a deepening of the crease along the bottom of the cheek. 

OK, What’s the Solution? 

Believe it or not, when the fold is caused by a tight muscle, the answer is BOTOX. Our Bay Area patients with a snarl or resting “not-so-nice” face can get two quick, easy BOTOX injections (one on each side of the nose) to relax this muscle and soften their snarl and their nasolabial folds. 

Choosing the Best Nasolabial Treatment for You 

Choosing the best treatment for your nasolabial folds can vary based on your facial anatomy, the severity of your nasolabial folds (is it a crease or a deep fold?), age, etc. The best treatment option is the one that is created for your specific needs.  

The best way to determine the most effective approach to treating your nasolabial folds is to choose an experienced Injector to guide you through the non surgical options.  

How Can I Take My Results to the Next Level? 

Midface Rejuvenation is an excellent choice to correct nasolabial folds with the added benefit of also correcting under-eye bags, dark circles, and hollowness. Adding Upper Face BOTOX or Lower Face Rejuvenation can help take your results to the next level. Be sure to check out these treatment packages that can complement your nasolabial fold treatment. 

How do I Schedule My Nasolabial Fold Treatment? 

We invite you to call us at (415) 445-9513 or request a consultation online for an in-person evaluation with one of our highly trained injectors. Online consultations are also available by request. Let us know what works best for you!  

In the meantime, check out our photo gallery and the amazing results we achieve with BOTOX and fillers. People visit us from Daly City, San Mateo, Palo Alto, Mountain View, and throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as other parts of the state and the country.

Meet Your Injectors

Our team is made up of experienced medical professionals with a shared passion for facial rejuvenation and contouring with injectables. Hand-picked and trained by Dr. Mabrie, they work with you to create a treatment experience that exceeds your expectations.

Is filler or Botox better for nasolabial folds

“Laugh lines” also known as nasolabial folds (NLF), can appear as early as your 20s. These lines, creases, and folds can make you appear tired, sad, or angry, and that’s no laughing matter when it comes to looking fresh, approachable, and your absolute best. If your nasolabial folds are keeping you from looking and feeling your best, we’re here for you! Treating the nasolabial folds is one of the top reasons Bay Area men and women visit our San Francisco office.

At Mabrie Facial Institute, we’ve helped thousands of patients rejuvenate their appearance by correcting their nasolabial folds with dermal filler. Whether your nasolabial folds are just noticeable or deep, our Injectors can help. Drawn from our many years of experience, here is everything you need to know when planning your treatment.

Real Patients, Real Results

Below are two of our patients who received dermal filler treatments to address their nasolabial folds and signs of aging in the midface.

What Are the Nasolabial Folds?

Unsure if NLF correction is the right treatment for you? Let’s start first by identifying the nasolabial folds on your face. The image below can help when examining your face. The area highlighted in blue is your cheek. The white outline at the bottom of the cheek is the nasolabial fold. And while it’s natural for our eyes to zoom in and notice the crease itself, the nasolabial fold is actually the bottom of your cheeks. This whole area lies within the Midface Zone.

Here’s the bottom line on the bottom of your cheeks: When the Midface “sinks,” the unsupported cheeks skin slides down and forward, creating the nasolabial fold. Read on for 2 other reasons you may have NLF.

What Causes Your Nasolabial Folds? 

The 2 main causes of age-related nasolabial folds are midface volume loss and muscle movement:

Losing volume in the midface causes cheek skin to droop downward, creating a crease from the nose to the lips. Midface volume loss occurs with age and can increase over time.

You may be snarling and not even know it! When your snarl muscles are engaged, the nasolabial folds become visibly pronounced.

How To Treat Nasolabial Folds With Midface Rejuvenation

Because the fold results from a loss of support in the midface, we need to restore that underlying structure. That’s what our Midface Rejuvenation package is all about! Midface and cheekbone volume loss causes not just nasolabial folds, but also hollows/shadows under the eyes (dark circles) and sagging cheeks. The right amount and type of filler to the midface and cheekbones restores the underlying structure to the middle third of the face, rejuvenating multiple areas and lifting and smoothing the NLF. This multi-tasking package is a game-changer for so many of our patients!

This is a patient who had midface rejuvenation.  Nasolabial folds are diminished with the added benefits of decreasing under-eye bags and making the cheekbones pop. 

Dr. Mabrie explains how Midface Rejuvenation produces multi-faceted results.

Why Filler to the Folds Alone Is NOT Enough

A common misconception is that you correct NLF simply by adding filler directly beneath the fold. This is how we used to do things, but we’ve learned a better way. Although single area treatment improves the folds, it does little to help patients look younger. We can dramatically improve results by applying our Midface Rejuvenation approach. The support in the midface brightens and refreshes the under-eye area, restores youthful contours to the cheeks, and smooths the NLF. Midface Rejuvenation is the difference between good and awesome results!

In the following video, Dr. Mabrie and Kimberly Rolley, PA-C talk about a particular patient’s treatment journey over approximately 6 years, and how she’s a great example of the evolution of NLF treatment, and why the best results don’t always come from treating the folds themselves.

Reducing Nasolabial Folds With BOTOX

You may be snarling and not even know it! Some people have more prominent NLF due to a facial muscle causing tension in the area. This muscle, responsible for elevating your lip or sneering, can be overactive. This tightness causes a deepening of the crease along the bottom of the cheek. 

OK, What’s the Solution? 

Believe it or not, when the fold is caused by a tight muscle, the answer is BOTOX. Our Bay Area patients with a snarl or resting “not-so-nice” face can get two quick, easy BOTOX injections (one on each side of the nose) to relax this muscle and soften their snarl and their nasolabial folds. 

Choosing the Best Nasolabial Treatment for You 

Choosing the best treatment for your nasolabial folds can vary based on your facial anatomy, the severity of your nasolabial folds (is it a crease or a deep fold?), age, etc. The best treatment option is the one that is created for your specific needs.  

The best way to determine the most effective approach to treating your nasolabial folds is to choose an experienced Injector to guide you through the non surgical options.  

How Can I Take My Results to the Next Level? 

Midface Rejuvenation is an excellent choice to correct nasolabial folds with the added benefit of also correcting under-eye bags, dark circles, and hollowness. Adding Upper Face BOTOX or Lower Face Rejuvenation can help take your results to the next level. Be sure to check out these treatment packages that can complement your nasolabial fold treatment. 

How do I Schedule My Nasolabial Fold Treatment? 

We invite you to call us at (415) 445-9513 or request a consultation online for an in-person evaluation with one of our highly trained injectors. Online consultations are also available by request. Let us know what works best for you!  

In the meantime, check out our photo gallery and the amazing results we achieve with BOTOX and fillers. People visit us from Daly City, San Mateo, Palo Alto, Mountain View, and throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as other parts of the state and the country.

Leave a Comment