Smile Line
Smile Line (Nasolabial folds) are creases in your skin extending from both sides of your nose to the corners of your mouth. They’re also called Nasolabial folds or laugh lines. The creases can become prominent and permanent as you age, especially if you smoke or don’t protect your skin from the sun. Certain treatments can reduce their appearance.
Smile lines are very common among women and men of all races — even more so as you age.
What causes Smile Line?
The leading causes of smile lines/nasolabial folds are:
- Aging: As you age, your cheekbones can flatten, and gravity can pull down loose skin in the area. You also have less collagen and elastin in your skin. These natural substances give skin its elasticity, resilience, stretchiness and ability to hold its original shape.
- Smoking: Smoking destroys collagen and elastin in your skin.
- Sun damage: The sun’s rays also break down collagen and elastin.
- Weight loss or gain: If you lose a lot of weight, you may have extra, looser skin. If you gain weight, you may have bigger cheeks. Both situations can accentuate nasolabial folds.
The symptoms of laugh lines are:
Laugh lines appear as folds in your skin from both sides of your nose to the corners of your mouth. When you’re younger, the folds may appear only when you smile or laugh, then disappear as your face relaxes. But over time, the lines may become deep, permanent wrinkles that appear whether you’re smiling or not. They can be symmetrical or asymmetrical.
How to reduce my risk of Smile lines/nasolabial folds:
Certain strategies can reduce your risk of developing laugh lines, delay their appearance and make them less prominent:
- Eat a healthy diet and get plenty of exercise and sleep. The healthier you are, the healthier your skin will be.
- Don’t use anything on your skin that stings or burns, unless it’s prescribed by a healthcare provider. Irritation can enhance the signs of aging.
- Don’t work on your tan with the sun or tanning beds. The ultraviolet rays can accelerate aging and wrinkles. It can also cause age spots and skin cancer.
- Quit smoking, or don’t even start.
- Sleep on your back. This can help gravity work against laugh lines. If you’re a side sleeper, try to switch sides regularly.
- Use a gentle cleanser and moisturizer at least twice a day. Understand the ingredients in your skincare products. Ask your dermatologist for recommendations for your skin type and personal goals.
- Wear sunscreen every day that’s at least SPF 30. Reapply every two hours — more frequently if you’re sweating or swimming.
The treatments for Smile lines correction are:
- Botulinum toxin injections: Often called by the brand name Botox®, botulinum toxin injections are best known for decreasing the appearance of frown lines between your eyes. But Botox also may be used to weaken and relax a specific muscle that contributes to nasolabial folds. Botox injections can reduce the appearance of nasolabial folds for a few months.
- Dermal fillers: Dermal filler is an injection of a substance to fill creases in your skin. The substance plumps the area, restoring volume and fullness. The effects can last six months to a year. Popular fillers include hyaluronic acid, polylactic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite and polymethyl-methacrylate microspheres (PMMA).
- Retinoids: Applying this chemical form of vitamin C to your skin can promote collagen production and reduce smile lines over time.
- Skin-tightening procedures: Treatments with lasers, ultrasound or radio waves can help stimulate collagen production and make loose skin tauter.
- Surgery: Cosmetic surgery can reposition and reshape your skin and underlying tissues. Options to reduce nasolabial folds include a cheek lift or a facelift.
Smile line correction can provide several benefits, including:
Smoother appearance: Correcting smile lines can result in a smoother and more youthful appearance, as the lines are softened or diminished.
Facial rejuvenation: Smile line correction can contribute to overall facial rejuvenation by addressing one of the common signs of aging.
Boost in self-confidence: Many individuals feel self-conscious about deep smile lines, and correcting them can boost self-confidence and improve satisfaction with their appearance.
Natural-looking results: When performed by a skilled plastic surgeon, smile line correction can achieve natural-looking results that enhance the facial features without appearing overdone.
Smile Line – Frequently Asked Question
Smile lines can be corrected through various methods, including non-surgical treatments and surgical procedures. Non-surgical options include the use of dermal fillers, such as hyaluronic acid-based fillers, to add volume and fill in the lines. Surgical procedures, like a facelift, can address smile lines by tightening and repositioning the underlying tissues.
Non-surgical smile line correction often involves the use of dermal fillers. These fillers are injected into the area to add volume, smooth out the lines, and restore a more youthful appearance. The procedure is typically quick, with minimal downtime and immediate results. However, the effects of fillers are temporary and may require periodic touch-ups to maintain the desired outcome.
The duration of results depends on the method used for smile line correction. Non-surgical treatments with dermal fillers generally provide results that last between six months to a year, depending on the specific filler used and individual factors. Surgical procedures, such as a facelift, offer longer-lasting results, typically lasting several years.
Smile line correction procedures, both non-surgical and surgical, carry potential risks and side effects. With dermal fillers, common side effects may include temporary redness, swelling, bruising, or tenderness at the injection site. Surgical procedures have associated risks, such as infection, bleeding, scarring, or adverse reactions to anesthesia. It’s important to discuss these risks with your plastic surgeon before undergoing any procedure.
Yes, smile line correction can be combined with other cosmetic procedures to achieve more comprehensive facial rejuvenation. For example, it is common to combine smile line correction with procedures like a facelift, neck lift, or other facial treatments to address multiple signs of aging and achieve desired results.