Dermal filler injections in nasolabial folds is a procedure that is very common and has been around for years. Injecting dermal filler into the lines /wrinkles folds running from the corners of the nose down to outside the corners of the mouth can reduce an aged appearance.
Dermal Filler in Nasolabial Folds FAQs
1. What is the best product to fill the nasolabial fold?
The best product to use to fill the nasolabial fold would be one with a good safety record, a high lifting capability, and good longevity. A temporary product would also be best.
2. What are the risks?
The most common problems which occur with treatment are bruising and swelling. The bruising can be noticeable. The swelling, because it is in a fold, is usually less obvious.
Another problem, which can occur, is the Tyndall effect, which is a blue coloured appearance over the filler. This can happen with patients with finer skin and may also occur when the product is injected in large amounts or superficially
There is an artery called the facial artery near the nasolabial fold, and the injector must be very careful to avoid this artery as there have been cases of necrosis, where the skin supplied by a vessel gets no blood flow and is at risk of dying, leaving a scab and then potentially a scar.
The most serious risk of all is blindness.
3. Why are some doctors against the treatment?
Som injectors actually refuse to inject the nasolabial folds, as they believe that the folds are a symptom of volume loss in the cheeks, and that that is where they should be injecting, to treat the cause.
I agree, that volume loss in the cheeks should always be addressed, but adding an improvement in the fold area as well will enhance results and use a small amount of product. e.g. in the photo above, a very small amount was injected into the nasolabial folds, and the cheeks were also injected, giving a very natural result.
4. What are the other options for treatment of the nasolabial folds
As discussed previously, the facial volume loss needs to be treated, as this is an important cause of nasolabial folds.
Threadlifting and surgery are also options. However, I believe that volumising is the key before these treatments are even considered. The reason for this is that most of the appearance of ageing comes from volume loss, so to lift something without volumising it (when volume loss is the cause) just gives an inferior-looking result.
If volumising is complete and the patient needs further treatment, then more invasive treatments should be considered.
5. When should a patient start treatment of nasolabial folds?
Basically when they appear. This will vary with patient’s face shape etc. Volume loss associated with ageing starts in a female at about age 26, so this is when patients start to notice the nasolabial folds. Most patients would usually start to notice these folds in their 30s
It is very easy to start when a patient is younger, as only a tiny amount of filler is required, and maintenance is so simple.
6. When is too late to start treatment of nasolabial folds
It is never too late. I have had plenty of patients in their 70s and 80s who are able to get a good result, although more work is required if there has been no regular maintenance.
Sometimes there are cases where it is really difficult to lift the fold in an older patient.
7. Is the procedure painful?
There is pain, but the patient can use numbing cream, ice, happy gas (nitrous oxide) and the fillers contain local anaesthetic, so it’s not too bad.
8. How long do the dermal filler results last?
Typically, the patient will have treatment at today, 6 months, 6 months and then once yearly.
9. What is the cost?
Typically starting around $750 for 1 ml, which is the typical amount used, but for example in the case in the photo, only a small amount was used.
Some patients will require more than 1ml.
10. What is the satisfaction rate
The satisfaction rate is very high, especially when volume loss is also treated. The other benefit, is that the filler stimulates the patient’s own collagen in the area of injection over time (due to stretching of the fibroblasts), this means that the result may even be improved after the filler has dissolved. This is very commonly seen in the nasolabial fold area.
Case studies for dermal filler in nasolabial folds