What Causes Nasolabial Folds & Treatment Options

Nasolabial folds, or smile lines, are the creases in the skin between the side of your nose and the corner of your mouth. These become more prominent as we age and our natural production of collagen and elastin decreases – the lack of structure this causes leads the skin to lose firmness and begin to fold. There are many highly effective treatments for nasolabial folds, such as the Fotona 4D facelift and targeted dermal filler.

This article will help you explore the different treatments available for smile lines and help you understand which will be most suitable for your needs.

At the CREO Clinic, you will be treated by our experienced, doctor-led aesthetic team, whose skill and expertise in facial cosmetics allow them to precisely target smile lines and rejuvenate visible signs of ageing in the face.

Discover the many ways our aesthetic Drs can smooth out your nasolabial folds.

Causes of Nasolabial Folds (Smile Lines)

Natural Ageing

A prominent factor in the formation of nasolabial folds is the natural process of ageing. As we age, our body begins to produce less collagen and elastin – proteins that are crucial in the creation of firmer, more youthful and more resilient skin. Once collagen and elastin production diminishes, fine lines and wrinkles can begin to appear, manifesting as smile lines, marionette lines, crow’s feet and other common concerns.

Sun Damage & the Environment

UV rays from the sun also have a deleterious effect on the collagen and elastin in our skin. Long-term sun exposure causes our skin to look older and can deepen wrinkles in the face such as the nasolabial folds.

Lifestyle Factors

Certain lifestyle choices can impact our skin negatively and cause our skin to develop fine lines and wrinkles earlier. For example, poor nutrition can be a lead to reduced skin health and smoking can reduce levels of collagen and elastin in the skin – a key contributor to the development of smile lines.

Genetic Predisposition

Some faces are more likely to develop smile lines than others from the moment we are born – this is a consequence of our genetics. Skin quality and elastin/collagen production are partly determined by our genetics, so people with naturally lower quantities of these proteins are more likely to develop nasolabial folds.

Weight Fluctuations

When our weight fluctuates, this can impact skin elasticity and create lax skin that causes nasolabial folds to become more prominent. Nasolabial folds are more likely to develop when the skin lacks firmness and natural structure, so lax skin can directly lead to increased smile lines.

How to Prevent Nasolabial Folds

Sunscreen & Protecting Your Face from the Elements

Our aesthetic team always stresses the importance of protecting your facial skin with high SPF (30+) sun cream. Preventing UV rays from breaking down collagen and elastin in your face – this will help keep your face free of fine lines, wrinkles and deep creases like nasolabial folds.

Regular Health Skincare

On top of regular application of some cream, moisturisers that can keep your skin hydrated will help maintain your skin’s firmness and bounce. The effect of over-the-counter moisturisers are minimal, but they can contribute. A targeted injectable moisturiser such as Profhilo can be a more effective way to maintain skin quality and hydration.

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Maintaining healthy habits helps reduce the appearance of nasolabial folds by giving your body what it needs to maintain collagen and elastin production. Eating a balanced diet, avoiding nicotine (cigarettes/vaping) and getting plenty of sleep and regular exercise will keep your skin looking smoother and more youthful for longer.

How to Get Rid of Nasolabial Folds or Smile Lines

Non-Surgical Treatments

Botulinum Toxin Injections

While anti-wrinkle injections are highly effective on fine lines and dynamic wrinkles around the face, they are less effective are nasolabial folds – this is because nasolabial folds are not purely the result of muscle contractions, but rather of lax skin and loss of volume in the upper cheek. They can, however, be used in combination with other treatments such as dermal fillers for a comprehensive impact.

Retinoids

Creams and serums that contain retinoids – derivatives of vitamin A reported to improve the appearance of your skin – may have some effect on the appearance of small lines, but it is likely to be minimal. There is currently little evidence that retinoids can create significant improvements to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers can be a highly effective treatment for nasolabial folds, giving the cheek greater volume and decreasing pressure on the nasolabial crease. This makes the crease less visible and smooths out the skin between the nose and the corner of the mouth.

Laser Treatments

Our aesthetic team recommends the use of Fotona laser treatments to improve the appearance of smile lines. The Fotona 4D facelift is a comprehensive enhancement of key areas of aesthetic concern around the face – smile lines, frown lines, crow’s feet and periorbital hollows can all be targeted.

Fotona lasers work to reduce laxity and improve skin texture, stimulating the production of elastin and collagen through targeted use of the ablative Er:YAG and non-ablative Nd:YAG laser modalities. Nasolabial folds are targeted specifically with the first of four stages in the Fotona 4D treatment – the SmoothLiftin’ stage. This uses the Er:YAG laser to reduce fine lines and wrinkles in the nasolabial and perioral zones

Surgical Options

Permanent surgical solutions for nasolabial folds do exist – a facelift is the most common surgery used to treat this area. This is an invasive surgery that must be performed under general anaesthetic and involves a significant recovery time in comparison to nonsurgical options.

Nasolabial Fold Causes FAQs

Why Do I Suddenly Have Nasolabial Folds?

We may feel that nasolabial folds have appeared suddenly when they become more noticeable, but these lines tend to develop gradually as our production of collagen and elastin reduces and external factors such as UV rays begin to have ageing effects on our skin.

What Age Do Nasolabial Folds Appear?

This can vary widely between people – our behaviours, genetics, and environmental factors all impact the age when smile lines appear. For some people they can appear in your late 20s, whereas others may start to notice them in their early to mid-30s.

Does Smiling a Lot Cause Nasolabial Folds?

Facial expressions are a contributing factor to nasolabial folds, but this is not the sole cause. The depletion of collagen and elastin production and the loss of volume in the cheeks are also key factors in the development of more prominent nasolabial creases.

Can Dehydration Cause Nasolabial Folds?

Poor hydration can cause the skin to lose its volume and make nasolabial folds more noticeable, but the effect is minimal in comparison to other factors such as collagen and elastin loss and skin ageing from UV exposure.

Does Stress Cause Nasolabial Folds?

While stress levels can have an impact on skin health, stress is not one of the main causes of nasolabial folds.

Can You Reverse Nasolabial Folds Naturally?

Unfortunately, once nasolabial folds have developed, it is very difficult to reduce their appearance naturally. You can minimise the appearance of nasolabial folds significantly using laser treatments and precise application of dermal filler.

Are Nasolabial Folds Permanent?

Without cosmetic treatments, nasolabial folds are likely to be permanent. Once these wrinkles in the skin deepen, it is very unlikely you can reduce them naturally.

Consult a Cosmetic Specialist on Which Nasolabial Fold Treatment is Best for You

Contact the CREO Clinic today to speak with a qualified cosmetic specialist to discover which nasolabial fold treatment will be best suited for your needs. A consultation with our aesthetic doctors will help put you on the path to smoother, more youthful -looking facial skin.

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