Can Fillers Reduce Smile Lines?

Facial filler injections like Juvederm®, explains Little Rock’s Dermatology Group of Arkansas, are considered to be the gold standard for improving wrinkles and hollows that are associated with collagen loss in the face. Pronounced nasolabial folds, also known as smile lines or laughter lines, are often one of the areas patients are interested in treating. Injectable fillers are ideal for diminishing the appearance of these particular wrinkles says this professional Invisalign dentist in West Point VA.

These deep indentation lines that stretch from either side of the nose on the inner cheeks down to the sides of the mouth are a normal part of the face, but they vary in severity. They are often most easily visible when we’re laughing or smiling. We all have them, even as children, and the wrinkles themselves are not some kind of defect, a sign of aging, or a medical condition. They are merely a cosmetic issue that don’t require treatment.

That said, these lines typically start to deepen with age, and some people wish that theirs were less pronounced. As aging causes our skin to produce less of its important components like collagen, lots of people also develop wrinkles beside the nasolabial folds. That’s when fillers become useful for addressing the cosmetic problem on the center and lower areas of the face.

The folds themselves are made up of dense bundles of fibrous tissue and muscle. Reduced elasticity in the skin, dehydration, genetics, smoking, and sun damage are some of the stressors that may make nasolabial folds deepen. Depletion of collagen causes the skin to become weaker, while too much sun exposure damages the skin and loss of fat causes cheeks to become saggy.

These wrinkles tend to look more noticeable when the facial skin becomes thinner and less elastic. Luckily, there are many options available for reducing nasolabial folds, including facial fillers. The most suitable option for you depends on what is causing the creases to worsen, but fillers are essentially the fastest way of treating the lines.

A majority of patients will benefit more from fillers instead of a more invasive cosmetic surgery procedure for correcting these types of wrinkles. In most cases, the fillers that are used to treat nasolabial folds are temporary gels that contain hyaluronic acid as their active ingredient. This is a sugar molecule found naturally in the human body that is capable of retaining 1,000 times its weight in water, which makes it an excellent ingredient for skin hydration.

The soft hyaluronic filler gels work by acting as a replacement for collagen or fat that has been lost from the skin. These fillers are injected directly below the surface of the skin. By adding volume to the skin and plumping certain areas, the targeted wrinkles become less visible, and the skin looks smoother.

Once the appropriate filler has been selected, it is typically injected directly along the lines of the nasolabial folds at certain points. Results from fillers are temporary, so patients will need to have maintenance treatments to preserve their more youthful look.

Fillers can also provide an overall “lift” to the skin, and the results appear right away with only minor side effects. Some injectors prefer to add the fillers to the upper cheeks, so that they have more of a lifting effect on the mid-face, which can also improve nasolabial folds. Additionally, fillers can be added to the skin in surrounding areas to give it a more supple, youthful appearance.

Skin resurfacing procedures, such as laser skin resurfacing and chemical peels ,can also enhance the appearance of the skin around the folds to make the face look younger. Adopting certain lifestyle habits, such as wearing sunscreen daily, moisturizing, applying retinols, sleeping on your back, maintaining a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep will also help you to repair your skin.

Ready to get started? For more information on Juvederm® and more, contact Little Rock’s Dermatology Group of Arkansas. Call 501-227-8422 or 1-800-225-8422 to request a consultation if you are interested in finding out more about facial fillers.