Nasolabial Folds

What are Nasolabial Folds?

Nasolabial folds, often referred to as "nose to mouth lines" or "smile lines," are the lines that run from the bottom of the nose to the outer corners of the mouth. These lines typically develop over time - while they're usually not present in youth, they become more pronounced with age, which is why some people associate them with an aging appearance.

Nasolabial folds are a natural part of aging and are not a cause for concern.

What Causes Nasolabial Folds?

Facial Fat: Several factors contribute to nasolabial folds, with facial fat and skin being the primary ones. Our faces consist of skin, fat, muscle, and bone. Beneath the skin lies a layer of fat divided into sections called "fat pads." These fat pads change in size as we age. A specific fat pad located just above the nasolabial fold tends to increase in size and weight over time, pushing down on the skin and creating a more pronounced fold.

The Skin: Skin quality plays a crucial role in the appearance of nasolabial folds. When skin loses significant elasticity due to damage and aging, it becomes less effective at supporting facial fat, resulting in reduced support and more prominent nasolabial folds.

Facial Ligaments: The "retaining ligament" in this area also contributes to nasolabial fold formation. Facial ligaments help secure fat pads in place. The ligament in this area acts as a firm structure which fat pushes against, potentially deepening the fold.

What Treatments Are Available for Nasolabial Folds?

Since nasolabial folds typically result from multiple factors, including changes in both fat distribution and skin quality, a combination approach to treatment often yields the best results.

Dermal Fillers: Dermal fillers are gel-like substances composed of hyaluronic acid. We use these fillers to add structure and replace lost facial volume that occurs with aging. This treatment effectively reduces the appearance of nasolabial folds through targeted injections that lift the skin and smooth out the fold.

Skincare: Medical-grade skincare products can help restore skin elasticity and firmness by promoting healthy cell renewal. These new cells contribute to skin structure, providing elasticity, hydration, and structural integrity that better supports facial features. In our clinic, we offer two medical-grade skincare brands: Obagi and Alumier. We assess each patient's skin to determine the most appropriate skincare plan.

Skin Tightening Treatments

HIFU (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound): HIFU technology delivers focused ultrasound energy into the skin's deeper layers, creating controlled heat at specific depths. This heating process triggers the skin's natural regeneration, stimulating new collagen and elastin fibre production. As collagen and elastin levels increase over time, the skin becomes tighter, more lifted, and better contoured, creating a more youthful appearance.

Micro-needling: Micro-needling is a minimally invasive treatment that uses a device equipped with fine, sterile needles to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin. These tiny punctures activate the body's healing response, stimulating new collagen and elastin production – essential components for smooth, firm, and supple skin.

The treatment creates numerous microscopic channels in the skin's surface, initiating a wound-healing response. As the skin repairs these micro-injuries, it produces increased amounts of collagen and elastin, the proteins responsible for skin's youthful elasticity and bounce.

Chemical Peels: We offer "The Perfect Peel" in our clinic, a unique blend of powerful ingredients that penetrates to cellular levels to reduce wrinkles and boost collagen production. This synergistic formula exfoliates the skin, stimulates new cell growth, and enhances overall skin health and appearance.

Polynucleotides: Polynucleotides are DNA fragments derived from fish sources. They work to repair damage caused by aging and various internal/external factors, including stress, pollution, and free-radical damage. When injected into the skin, they initiate a healing response that targets damaged cells, promoting the production of new collagen, elastin, hyaluronic acid, and other structural proteins essential for healthy skin.