Nasolabial Folds (Smile Lines): Treatment Options

Nasolabial folds, often called smile lines or laugh lines, are the lines that run from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth. They typically deepen with age as the face loses volume and collagen, and can be softened with dermal filler and supporting treatments, decided at a consultation.

What nasolabial folds are, and why they deepen

Everyone has nasolabial folds to some degree, even in youth, because they sit where the cheek meets the upper lip and move every time you smile or speak. They become more noticeable over time, and several things contribute at once. The main reason is ageing: the face gradually loses volume in the midface, while collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep skin firm and springy, decline. As the cheek loses support, the tissue above the fold descends slightly, and the line looks deeper.

Skin laxity, genetics, and years of sun exposure all play a part, as does the natural way your face is structured. This is worth saying plainly: deepening smile lines are a normal feature of a face that moves and ages, not a flaw. The aim of treatment is to soften them so they sit in better balance with the rest of your face, not to erase them completely.

How nasolabial folds can be treated

Dermal filler is the main treatment. The important point, and one that surprises people, is that the most natural result often comes from placing filler in the cheek and midface to restore support, rather than injecting only into the fold itself. Treating the cause, a loss of volume higher up, tends to lift and soften the line more naturally than filling the crease directly, which can look heavy if overdone. In some cases a small, careful amount in the fold is still appropriate, decided on how your face looks at rest and in movement.

Filler is not the only piece. Skin-quality and regenerative options such as Profhilo, skin boosters and polynucleotides, can improve the firmness and texture of the skin itself, and non-surgical lifting can address laxity for the fuller picture. A good plan is bespoke and considers the whole midface, rather than applying one fixed approach to every face.

Who it suits, and realistic results

Good candidates are people whose folds have deepened mainly through volume loss and who want a softer, more rested look while keeping natural movement. Realistic results matter here more than almost anywhere else on the face. Softening typically means the shadow is reduced and the area looks smoother and better supported, not that the line vanishes. Over-filling the fold is the classic mistake: it can create a heavy, unnatural ridge beside the mouth and often makes the area look worse rather than better. A measured, whole-face approach gives the most natural outcome.

What to expect

Treatment begins with an assessment of the whole midface, not just the line that caught your eye in the mirror. Your clinician looks at your cheeks, your skin quality, and how your face moves, then explains what is likely to help and what is not. The treatment itself involves injecting a hyaluronic acid filler, usually with a fine needle or a cannula, and most people find it very manageable, helped by numbing where needed. There is often some swelling or minor bruising for a few days.

Results are visible quickly and settle over about two weeks. How long they last varies with the product, the area and your own metabolism, but midface filler typically lasts from several months to longer, and top-ups maintain the result over time. Because hyaluronic acid filler is broken down gradually by the body, the effect is temporary and repeatable.

Safety, risks and aftercare

Dermal filler is a medical treatment with real, if mostly uncommon, risks. The usual short-term effects are bruising, swelling and tenderness, and occasionally small lumps that can be smoothed or that settle with time. The most serious risk, though rare, is vascular: filler affecting a blood vessel. The area around the nose and mouth has an important blood supply, which is exactly why who treats you matters so much. An experienced medical injector understands the anatomy, works to reduce this risk, and knows how to manage a complication should one occur.

Aftercare is straightforward: keep the area clean, avoid heavy exercise, alcohol, and very hot environments for a day or so, and avoid pressing or massaging the area unless you are told otherwise. A reassuring feature of hyaluronic acid filler is that it can be dissolved if you are unhappy with a result or in the rare event of a complication, which is part of responsible practice.

The Beauty Script’s approach

Our approach to smile lines is assessment-first and whole-face. We look at why the folds have deepened and treat the cause, often supporting the midface rather than simply filling the line, and we recommend only what will genuinely help. You can read more about our dermal filler treatments and how facial areas work together. Care is led by a registered nurse prescriber. The clinic is Save Face accredited and JCCP registered, treatments are carried out in CQC-regulated premises, and our team is trained in aesthetic complications. There is never any pressure to proceed.