Something to Smile About: Nasolabial Folds Treatment By The Landings Surgical Centre on October 28, 2014

For many people who are disturbed by the signs of aging that are beginning to appear on their faces, there is nothing funny about the so-called “laugh lines,” more formally known as nasolabial folds. Fortunately for these people, modern cosmetic medicine offers a number of highly effective ways to reduce the appearance of nasolabial folds, from injectable treatments such as Restylane® and JUVÉDERM™ to various types of advanced facelift surgery.

Whatever your unique needs and goals, at The Landings Surgical Centre in Nova Scotia, nasolabial folds treatment can be personalized to your specific case to ensure the best possible results. Our experienced plastic surgeons, Dr. Richard Bendor-Samuel and Dr. Louis Boileau, will take your unique facial features into account, along with your skin type, the depth of your nasolabial folds, and the scope of your facial rejuvenation goals, to create a treatment plan that is perfectly tailored to you. You will emerge from treatment looking years younger and feeling more confident in your appearance.

Non-surgical Treatments for Nasolabial Folds

Many of our patients choose to treat their nasolabial folds non-surgically, through minimally invasive injectable filler treatments. Dermal fillers such as Restylane®, Perlane®, and JUVÉDERM™ have proven extraordinarily effective at plumping up hollow recesses in the facial skin such as nasolabial folds, raising the skin and making it look fuller, healthier, and suppler. Each of these injectable gels uses hyaluronic acid - a naturally occurring protein in the human body - as its base, which minimizes the risk of complications and side effects.

Although the results of dermal filler treatments are temporary, they can be safely repeated as necessary. In the hands of our expert plastic surgeons, dermal fillers may also strategically be layered in some cases for more comprehensive results, as well. For example, there are instances in which Restylane® and Perlane® work well together to erase nasolabial folds when layered precisely.

Many patients ask us whether BOTOX® Cosmetic is an appropriate treatment for nasolabial folds, to which we generally reply no. While BOTOX® injections may be included in a comprehensive facial rejuvenation plan, it is not, in itself, a dermal filler. Rather it works by temporarily paralyzing the muscles responsible for facial wrinkling, and is particularly effective at reducing the appearance of wrinkles in the upper part of the face. Nasolabial folds tend to be static wrinkles; that is, they are not the product of muscle contractions. Therefore, they do not respond that well, if at all, to BOTOX® Cosmetic.

Surgical Solutions to Nasolabial Folds

For patients who prefer a more permanent solution to their nasolabial folds, facelift surgery may provide a superior solution to injectable treatments. Even if patients are not ready for a full facelift, we can focus on the lower portion of the face, where the nasolabial folds are located, with a mini or mid facelift. These less invasive approaches to facelift surgery yield outstanding results through minimal incisions. We often find that combining minimally invasive facelift surgery with cheek implants helps to restore fullness to the cheek area while softening the lines around the mouth.