How to Get Rid of Nasolabial Folds and Look 5 Years Younger

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When you smile, you might notice that the lines around your mouth look deeper. Although everyone has these nasolabial folds, also called laugh lines, they can become more pronounced with age. How can you treat nasolabial folds for a more youthful appearance or prevent these smile lines?

Before we talk about treatment options, let's talk a bit about why we develop lines like these in the first place.

The Cause of Smile Lines (Nasolabial Folds)

Nasolabial folds, commonly known as laugh lines or marionette lines, are the lines that form from the bottom of the nose to the corners of the mouth. These lines become more pronounced as the skin ages and loses its natural building block, collagen.

Normal aging causes the skin beneath the affected skin to sag, causing wrinkles and deepening nasolabial folds. Sun exposure, significant weight gain, and facial expressions can also contribute to the formation of nasolabial folds.

Keep in mind that everyone has these folds. They develop as part of the natural aging process. These are also called smile lines that run from your nose to the corners of your mouth. Smiling can make them show up more, but there are ways to stop this from happening without erasing your beautiful smile. Read on to learn about nasolabial folds treatment options.

How to Reduce the Appearance of Nasolabial Folds

To prevent nasolabial folds, it's important to wear sunscreen and use moisturizing skincare products. Skin resurfacing treatments, skin tightening procedures, laser skin resurfacing, chemical peels, and vitamin C can help improve the appearance of nasolabial folds.

Skincare specialists and plastic surgeons can provide an initial consultation to determine the right treatment plan for an individual's needs. For a more significant reduction in nasolabial folds, surgical procedures like cheek lifts or surgical removal of sagging skin may be necessary.

A skilled plastic surgeon can help guide individuals to the most effective cosmetic procedures, like fractional radiofrequency devices, to improve the appearance of nasolabial folds and achieve a smoother, more youthful-looking cheek area.

Let's look at each of these treatment options more in-depth.

1. Erase with makeup

Putting makeup on can help minimize the appearance of smile lines. Just be careful not to put too much concealer or foundation on directly in the crease. This might accentuate nasolabial folds with certain brands of makeup or if it is not applied correctly. 

A small amount of concealer or foundation with the right blending and setting methods can decrease the appearance of these laugh lines.

Follow these steps to minimize face lines with makeup:

1. Moisturize and allow to absorb
2. Use a face primer
3. Apply concealer and foundation
4. Set with a setting spray

Setting with powder may cause the powder to cake in the deeper wrinkles and lines of your face, accentuating the lines rather than erasing them. So opt for a good setting spray that works for you. 

2. Consider dermal fillers

Knowing how to decrease the appearance of nasolabial folds isn't always as easy as putting a bit of makeup on. Unwanted lines and wrinkles can happen as collagen production decreases with age. This can leave you with prominent nasolabial folds, especially when you smile.

Dermal fillers can help correct this by boosting collagen growth and filling in deep laugh lines for younger-looking skin. These fillers contain ingredients that stimulate collagen production, which makes skin plumper. Common fillers used to decrease nasolabial lines include hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxylapatite.  

Consult with a cosmetic dermatologist before purchasing any deals for fillers online. 

3. Explore microneedling

Microneedling might not sound pleasant, but it can be a highly effective way to decrease nasolabial folds. This treatment involves puncturing the skin with tiny needles to stimulate collagen production. This results in tighter skin and reduced nasolabial crease lines. 

The needles used for this procedure are extremely thin, which helps prevent you from feeling much discomfort. Numbing creams are also often applied prior to this procedure. Expect your skin to appear red for up to 48 hours following microneedling. Repeated sessions are usually required to see more dramatic results.

It is sometimes combined with radiofrequency treatment for even better results. Radiofrequency may not be best for you if you have dermal fillers, as the heat can interfere with the filler. So consult your dermatologist to see whether microneedling with or without radiofrequency treatment is best for you. 

4. Look into radiofrequency

When you're learning how to do skin tightening treatment to decrease nasolabial folds, consider radiofrequency. This treatment employs a handheld device to heat skin tissue, leading to skin tightening. When heat reaches tissue, it stimulates collagen growth in your facial skin.

Radiofrequency can be a great way to decrease nasolabial folds. Keep in mind that repeated treatments (usually 4 to 8) are needed to see results. Occasional follow-up treatments are then needed to maintain results.