Threads for nasolabial folds

Did you know that having deeper smile lines over time are also another sign of aging? If you look at your photos when you were younger, your smile lines were probably more shallow and only appear whenever you smile or laugh. It isn’t visible when your face is relaxed. Through the years, as the skin, fat, and muscles underneath change, which also make your smile lines deeper and more visible. Is there anything we can do to fade these smile lines? The good news is, yes. 

Smile lines or laugh lines are also called nasolabial folds. These folds are expression lines that form from the corners of your nose to the corners of your mouth and are prominent whenever you laugh or smile, hence the names smile lines or laugh lines. Not all of us have deep nasolabial folds, however. Depending on one’s facial structure, genetics, and ethnicity, some have minimal and barely visible folds while others have deeper ones. How prominent these creases or folds become over time are usually caused by aging.

As we age, our face experiences volume loss, plus the skin gets thinner too, causing those folds to deepen and become more prominent even when the face is relaxed. Other factors include sun exposure, weight fluctuations, smoking, and a poor diet and lifestyle. 

To treat smile lines, fillers and threads are the more popular non-invasive treatments that can effectively improve its appearance and bring a more rejuvenated and youthful face overall. For fillers, hyaluronic acid fillers can add volume and lift the area, helping fade the creases caused by these indentations. On the other hand, threads are an option too that could even last a bit longer than fillers. An example of threads are PDO (polydioxanone) that can provide support for the skin from underneath and improve visible sagging, lasting for six to nine months.

Another example of threads used is a combination of PLA (poly-L-lactic) and PCL (polycaprolactone) threads such as the Aptos Nano Spring Method that can help hold and tighten the skin’s appearance while enhancing collagen production. These threads are said to last even longer than PDO threads. The results may last up to a year, sometimes more. Your surgeon or physician will recommend the best treatment option for you and your skin’s needs.

Aside from these treatments, there are other ways you can help slow down the progression of your smile lines and overall aging as well. Always have a healthy diet, be diligent with your skin care regimen, exercise regularly, take time to rest and relax, and avoid poor lifestyle habits such as smoking.

Smile lines may be treated non-invasively by the options above and depending on their severity, surgery may also be suggested. Sometimes, however, more than one treatment may be beneficial. The physician may look at your face as a whole and also check the symmetry of your smile lines, the cause of indention, other signs of facial aging and more to help achieve more balanced features. This is why threads, dermal fillers, and other treatments, such as lasers or botulinum toxin injections, may also be suggested for other parts of the face. Remember to look for a reputable clinic and for a practitioner that is trained and certified to perform these treatments for best results. Then get ready to—3-2-1—smile!