Dermal fillers for smile lines and nasolabial folds can soften deeper creases and restore support while keeping facial movement natural. While the nasolabial folds are a natural part of face, they can become more prominent as the face and cheeks lose volume, tone and elasticity with age. Appropriate treatment depends on the cause of the fold deepening. For some cases, nasolabial fold filler can be the sole treatment needed, however, others may require support to the cheek or midface first. A personalized approach helps create balanced, natural-looking filler results without overfilling the lower face.
What Are Nasolabial Folds?
Nasolabial folds are the natural folds that extend from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth. They are also called smile lines or laugh lines.
As facial volume, cheek support, skin elasticity and facial structure change with the passage of time, these folds can become more pronounced.
Common causes for their occurrence at a deeper level:
- Facial volume loss
- Reduced cheek support
- Thinner or less elastic skin
- Natural facial structure
- Increased visibility at rest
A fold that becomes deeper or creates shadowing or imbalances can be a laugh line filler for some.
Why Do Nasolabial Folds Become Deeper Over Time?
Deep nasolabial folds are not only due to a single change occurring in the face, but rather to multiple changes occurring simultaneously.
Facial volume loss is one of the important factors. When there are changes in the cheeks and midface, it may provide less support above the nasolabial fold, making the crease below look heavier.
Other factors may include:
- Changes in skin elasticity
- Shifts in facial fat
- Natural facial structure
- Genetics
- Sun exposure
- Repeated facial movement
- Changes in cheek and midface support
An ideal nasolabial fold correction strategy should consider the inter-relationship between the nasolabial fold, cheeks, midface, skin quality, and facial proportions.
How Do Dermal Fillers Help Smile Lines?
Smile line fillers can provide support under specific facial tissues, which can help to minimize the nasolabial fold’s shadow or depth.
Modern hyaluronic acid fillers have been created with the aim of restoring volume as well as maintaining the natural movement of the face.
Depending on your facial structure, treatment may involve:
- Placing filler directly into part of the fold
- Improving support in the cheeks
- Restoring selected areas of the midface
- Combining direct and structural treatment
- Leaving certain areas untreated to avoid unnecessary volume
A smile line filler should not be used to simply fill the visible crease.
Before deciding where to apply filler to create balance and enhance the fold, we examine what is contributing to the appearance of a deeper fold.
Should the Nasolabial Fold Be Filled Directly or Should the Midface Be Treated First?
If there is a visible fold, it does not necessarily mean there should be a large amount of nasolabial fold filler directly into the fold.
The appearance of the fold can be affected by cheek and midface support. Facial structure needs to be taken into account, or the crease may make the face look fuller than intended.
This may be effective if the fold is still visible, but there is adequate support in the facial structure around it.
If the face is losing volume more in the midface, then a midface filler or cheek-based treatment can be used to address this.
| Treatment approach | What it addresses | When it may be considered | Main goal |
| Direct fold treatment | A persistent crease or depression | When the fold itself remains a significant concern | Soften the visible fold |
| Cheek filler or midface filler | Reduced structural support above the fold | When midface volume changes contribute to the visible fold | Restore support and facial balance |
| Combined approach | Both structural volume loss and a remaining crease | When one treatment area alone may not adequately address the concern | Create balanced correction without excessive filling |
Some people may benefit from both approaches, while others may need only one.
We take special care to pick the most balanced treatment that will complement the face’s natural proportions.
Fine vs. Deep Nasolabial Folds: Does Severity Change the Treatment Plan?
Fine and deep nasolabial folds may need to be treated differently, as the same amount or type of filler may not be right for each person.
A lighter fold may need subtle correction. A deeper fold can affect several areas, such as cheek, midface, skin, and tissues.
We consider:
- How deep the fold appears at rest
- How it changes when you smile
- Cheek and midface support
- Skin and tissue thickness
- Facial symmetry
- Previous filler treatment
- Your desired level of correction
Our Injectables & Fillers services include treatment options for both fine and deep nasolabial folds.
When choosing derma fillers for nasolabial folds, it is important to plan the treatment according to the severity of the folds, so we can treat each of them differently.
Which Dermal Fillers Are Used for Nasolabial Folds?
Many dermal fillers for nasolabial folds also contain hyaluronic acid-based fillers that can provide volume and support without compromising facial movement.
At Patients Choice Clinic, we use Restylane products as part of our facial filler treatments. Two options that may be considered for nasolabial folds are:
- Restylane Refyne is recommended for the treatment of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, including nasolabial folds.
- Restylane Defyne is recommended for moderate to severe deep facial lines and folds such as deeper nasolabial folds.
The best dermal fillers for nasolabial folds and smile lines depend on your fold depth, facial movement, tissue structure and support required. The filler is selected according to your anatomy and treatment, not uniformly for all nasolabial fold treatments.
How Does a Provider Choose the Right Filler for Your Smile Lines?
Selecting the appropriate smile line filler will depend on the tissue quality, support needed, and facial anatomy, as well as the depth of the fold.
During assessment, we consider:
- Fold depth and location
- Skin and tissue thickness
- Facial movement
- Cheek and midface support
- Previous filler treatment
- Facial proportions
- Your treatment goals
There are various levels of flexibility and providing support to the different hyaluronic acid fillers. In some instances the fold can be addressed directly and in other instances a more balanced result can be achieved by the improvement of cheek or midface support.
What Happens During Nasolabial Fold Filler Treatment?
A nasolabial fold treatment typically consists of an initial consultation, precise filler application and a follow-up session to discuss the use of the treatment.
- Assessment: We will discuss your concerns, medical history and treatments, facial movement, and the support of your cheeks or midface.
- Placement: The treatment area is cleansed, the appropriate filler is selected, and filler is placed conservatively in the planned areas.
- Aftercare: Review immediate results, discuss temporary results, and provide recovery and follow-up suggestions.
Depending on what is causing the crease, treatment could go focused on the fold, the midface or both.
When Will Smile Line Filler Results Look Settled?
Dermal fillers for smile lines can produce immediate changes, but the first look is not necessarily the last.
During the initial recovery phase, an area may appear swollen, tender, red or bruised, which can affect its appearance.
A typical treatment schedule might be as follows:
- Right after treatment: Some support or softening can be seen right after the treatment.
- Early recovery: There may be a slight discoloration as a result of swelling or tenderness.
- After settling: Facial balance becomes easier to evaluate once early treatment effects improve.
- Later follow-up: Additional treatment should only be considered after reassessing the settled result.
We ask clients to refrain from making a quick decision on the end product. Call us if pain, swelling, discoloration, or another symptom is unusual or is getting worse.
How Long Do Dermal Fillers for Nasolabial Folds Last?
The lifespan of dermal filler for nasolabial folds depends on multiple factors including the type of filler used, treatment site, movement of the face, metabolism and volume of filler applied.
Factors that may affect how long your result lasts include:
- Filler formulation
- Area treated
- Amount placed
- Facial movement
- Individual metabolism
- Fold severity
- Previous treatments
Will Nasolabial Fold Filler Look Natural?
The softening of the fold combined with maintaining natural facial movement and proportion provides natural-looking filler results.
A balanced result is typically represented by:
- Using conservative filler volume
- Choosing the right product for the area
- Preserving facial expression
- Evaluating support for the cheek and midface.
- Avoiding unnecessary fullness
An effective nasolabial fold filler treatment should leave the lower face feeling full rather than “stuffed”. Some folding is normal and not something that should be totally removed, particularly when smiling.
Dermal Filler vs. Botox for Smile Lines: What’s the Difference?
The first step in understanding filler vs Botox for smile lines is to know that these two treatments are meant to treat different causes of these lines.
Dermal fillers restore volume or structural support. Neuromodulators like Botox inhibit the function of specific muscles.
| Treatment | Main action | May be considered for | Key consideration |
| Dermal filler | Adds volume or support | Volume-related folds and selected static creases | Placement depends on facial structure |
| Botox | Reduces selected muscle activity | Expression-related lines in appropriate areas | Does not replace lost volume |
Nasolabial folds may not be shaped solely by action of the facial muscles, but may be shaped by the structure, the cheek support and loss of volume of the face.
This is why a smile line filler and Botox should not be considered as if they are the same treatment.
This will depend on the issue and where it’s located.
What Are the Side Effects and Risks of Nasolabial Fold Fillers?
Fillers for nasolabial folds are injectable medical treatments, so understanding expected temporary effects and less common complications is an important part of treatment planning.
Common Temporary Effects
The temporary effects following a hyaluronic acid filler are typically associated with the procedure or the body’s reaction to the treatment.
They may include:
- Swelling
- Redness
- Tenderness
- Bruising
- Mild discomfort
- Temporary firmness
- Minor unevenness while swelling settles
Aftercare is based on the treatment that has been provided and patients are advised to get in touch with us if any concerns arise regarding the recovery process.
Rare but Serious Complications
While serious complications are rare, treatment for nasolabial fold filler should be sought immediately if they occur.
A risk is the possibility of normal blood flow being interrupted if the filler enters a blood vessel.
Contact your provider urgently if you develop:
- Severe or increasing pain
- Unusual whitening or dark discoloration of the skin
- Sudden visual symptoms
- Neurologic symptoms
- Rapidly worsening swelling or other unexpected changes
This is why injector training, knowledge of facial anatomy, careful product placement and access to medical evaluation is important.
Who May Need to Delay or Avoid Dermal Filler Treatment?
For those who want to fill in their smile lines, it may be necessary for them to wait for treatment due to an existing infection, related allergies, previous complications with fillers, pregnancy or breastfeeding, certain medications, or other medical issues.
We examine your medical past, medications and allergies before treatment or delay it.
When Might Dermal Filler Not Be the Best Treatment for Smile Lines?
A nasolabial fold treatment may not be the best option when significant skin laxity, facial structure, previous filler, or changes in another area are causing the concern.
Several structural changes may occur in deep nasolabial folds and the additional placement of filler directly into the fold may not always be balanced or natural in appearance.
What Should You Look for in a Smile Line Filler Provider?
When deciding on who to choose for dermal fillers for smile lines, it’s not just about the price or the size of the correction that’s offered.
Look for a provider who:
- Reviews your medical history
- Understands facial anatomy
- Examines the whole face
- Explains why a particular filler is recommended
- Discusses expected results realistically
- Carries out risk reviews prior to treatment
- Provides clear aftercare guidance
- Has a plan for managing complications
- Offers follow-up when appropriate
Useful questions to ask include:
- Who will perform my treatment?
- What is the reason for recommending this filler?
- Should my fold be treated right away or should I be assessing my midface first?
- How much improvement can be expected?
- What are the side effects?
- If I have a concern following treatment what should I do?
- When do I need to review my result?
Our article Aesthetics vs. Esthetics also discusses why the clinical evaluation of medical aesthetic treatments is different from non-medical cosmetic treatments.
Dermal Fillers for Smile Lines in Burbank, CA
Patients Choice Clinic will examine the relationship of your nasolabial folds to both the cheeks and midface, your skin, facial movement and overall proportions.
Our Injectables & Fillers services include the treatment of fine & deep nasolabial folds which can be treated with a range of Restylane based fillers.
During consultation, we can assess:
- Fold depth
- Midface and cheek support
- Facial symmetry
- Previous filler treatment
- Skin and tissue quality
- Your desired level of correction
- Whether direct fold treatment is appropriate
We aim to suggest you the treatment that’s suitable for your face, not to fill an area just because a line is present.
Nasolabial Fold Filler Cost: What to Expect in Burbank
Nasolabial Fold Filler Cost at Patients Choice Clinic depends on the depth of the folds, the amount of filler needed, the product used, and whether additional cheek or midface support is recommended for a balanced result.
For people comparing dermal fillers for smile lines cost in Burbank, our current listed pricing includes:
| Treatment | Amount | Price |
| Fine nasolabial folds | 1 mL | $570 |
| Deep nasolabial folds | 2 mL | $1,000 |
| Cheek filler | 2 mL | $1,660 |
Some folds might require less product and some folds might demand more support during application. If the cheek or midface is treated, in some cases, it may be possible to cause an improvement in the fold from the above rather than putting the entire amount of filler into the fold.
Final pricing will be dependent on treatment area, product utilized, amount and specific needs for a treatment. During your consultation we confirm the recommended treatment plan and cost.
Frequently Asked Questions About Smile Line and Nasolabial Fold Fillers
Can dermal fillers completely remove nasolabial folds?
Generally, complete removal is not required as nasolabial folds are a normal part of the face. Fillers for smile lines are generally used to soften excessive depth while maintaining natural movement.
How much filler is usually needed for smile lines?
There is no standard amount. A smile line filler plan will rely on the depth of the folds, facial support, type of product, previous treatment and desired correction.
Can cheek filler improve nasolabial folds without filling the crease?
Yes, in some cases. If the midface is contributing to the prominence of the cheek area, cheek filler or midface filler might enhance the support of the area above the fold.
Can nasolabial fold filler be dissolved?
Many hyaluronic acid fillers can be treated with hyaluronidase when clinically appropriate. A medical professional should determine whether there is a need for correction or dissolution.
What age is best for smile line filler?
There is no ideal age for everyone. Suitability for nasolabial fold filler depends more on your facial anatomy, health, concerns, and treatment goals than on a specific age.
Is Restylane used for nasolabial folds?
Yes. Facial folds that are suitable for treatment with Restylane may be treated by individual products including Restylane Refyne and Restylane Defyne.
Nasolabial Fold Filler in Burbank, CA
Patients Choice Clinic offers nasolabial fold filler treatments at our Burbank clinic at 816 N Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505. Before recommending the most suitable treatment, we evaluate the fold, cheek support, mid face volume, facial movement and your treatment objectives.
Direct fold correction may be an option in some, but cheek or midface support might be needed in others to achieve a more even appearance. Restylane options are used with filler materials and the treatment plan is tailored to the facial structure and depth of the folds.
To schedule a smile line filler consultation, visit our Injectables & Fillers page or call (818) 514-0902.
