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 | | The Patient’s Guide™ is the most respected online publication providing information about collagen injections, aged and damaged skin, skin care treatments, and laser medicine. Our mission is to provide you with unbiased, scientifically accurate information about wrinkles and fine lines, as well as potential treatments. | | >>More About the Patient's Guide | |
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Nasolabial Folds (Nose to Mouth) | | |
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Among the most aging features of the face are the deep crevices that run from the corners of the nose to the corners of the mouth—the nasolabial fold lines. They usually begin to deepen when people are in their late 30s or early 40s, although genetics and sometimes life experiences may cause them to form earlier or later in life.
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What causes these deep folds?
As with all facial wrinkles, the nasolabial fold lines are primarily the result
of sun exposure, age, and hereditary factors. As you age, your skin loses collagen
(a factor that can be sped up by too much time in the sun), which causes your skin
to lose its elasticity. Lax skin sags. As the skin sags (including skin “let loose”
when the fat pads in your cheeks shrink), it forms the nasolabial folds. These folds
can cause you to look not just older than your actual age, but also haggard and
tired.
If you’re overweight or obese, you may not notice the folds until you shed a lot
of pounds and get down to a healthier weight. When you diet, your face loses fat
just like the rest of your body, and your nasolabial folds “suddenly” appear.
What treatments are available?
A somewhat permanent solution is, of course, surgery—a full-face lift or a “check” or “mid-face” lift. In these procedures, the loose skin and cheek pad fat are pulled upward into a “younger-looking” position. The incision can often be hidden behind the hairline.
Other, less invasive procedures are now available, however. Specifically, a variety
of dermal fillers can be injected directly into the folds in small amounts (and
with an ultra-fine needle). These fillers “puff up” the crevices, smoothing out
the folds. Some types of fillers complement the procedure by stimulating the body
to produce its own natural collagen in the treatment area.
Despite their effectiveness, dermal fillers offer only a temporary solution. You’ll
need maintenance treatments every six months or so. Your doctor can help you choose
the best dermal filler for your skin—and the one that will give you the longest-lasting
solution.
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Dr. Geronemus discusses the use of fillers in his practice
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