What filler is best for filling the nasolabial fold?
I’m so glad you asked this! Think about how different nasolabial folds are on different people. Look at your friends and you’ll see that some are deep only right at the base of the nose like a pocket, and some are more folds right around the mouth. Some of us develop these very young, and some not much until over 70. YOUR anatomy should dictate a customized approach… not one size fits all. Safety is a big consideration in this area because it’s an area prone to artery blockage and necrosis. Please don’t assume inexperienced doctors/PAs/nurses, etc. know what they are doing. Ask questions!! Cannulas are generally safer than needles here.
The filler itself for the nasolabial folds (NLF):
Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers all have different properties – all of them. Some are stiffer, some more flexible, some longer lasting, some attract water more (hydrophilic), and lastly… they slowly break down (by action of your own enzymes) at different rates. Here are some tips:
- Restylane Lyft and Voluma, tend to be stiffer and less flexible and not as good for the NLF unless there’s a deep area. Experts only please.
- Juvederm, Juvederm UltraPlus, Restylane and Restylane Refyne are better in the NLF, in my opinion.
- Belotero, and other fillers intended more for lips are not great here.
- Sculptra is good in this area and FDA approved.
- Never Artefill or Belafil, silicone, or any permanent fillers. It looks good initially, and then as aging occurs looks worse. It can’t be adjusted, and other fillers can’t be injected around it for fear of activating an immune response to it.
Here’s what NOT to let someone do:
- Overfill this area so it looks flat or bulges. This just looks weird. Even children and 20 year olds have a contour in this area.
- Create an overlarge mid cheek. Overfilling this creates a bulge, or as I call it, a “chipmunk” cheek which makes the NLF look more hollow. We’ve all seen it and on a lot of celebs which is weird because you’d think they’d be getting great work done.
- Overfill with a stiff filler because you want movement around your mouth, right? To not have movement looks odd.
These are such great tools and it’s mind boggling as to why we are all seeing such weird things being done! Stick with great providers and respect your anatomy!
Hope this helps, Dr. I