How can I treat deep smile lines?

I have deep smile lines on my face. Is a facelift or plastic surgery my only option? Are dermal fillers a possible solution?

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14 answers to “How can I treat deep smile lines?”

A: Improve Deep Smile Lines With a Midface Lift / Cheek Lift

Michael Law, MD

The primary aging change in the cheek area consists of a combination of deflation and descent of the cheek fat pads, creating a hollowed appearance below the lower lids and deepened nasolabial folds (oblique lines which extend from each side of the nose to the area beside the corners of the mouth). Descent of... more

A: Treatment of Nasolabial Folds with Facial Fillers: Juvederm, Radiesse, Restylane

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Patients are choosing less invasive options for correction of nasolabial (smile or laugh lines) folds.  The options are numerious and include Radiesse, Juvederm, Restylane, Perlane, and Fat Grafting.  Plastic surgeons and dermatologists each have their preferences so a full discussion should be made... more

A: There are several treatment options depending on where...

D.J. Verret, MD

There are several treatment options depending on where the smile lines are: For smile lines around the eyes, Botox or even laser resurfacing can be a good option. For smile lines in other parts of the face, dermal fillers such as hyaluronic acid or even Sculptra can be used to soften the lines.... more

A: Options for Treating Smile Lines.

George J. Beraka, MD

You may have deep smile lines around the eyes or around the mouth, and the treatment for each is quite different. Smile lines around the eyes, which are also called crow's feet, are very effectively treated with Botox injections. The Botox relaxes the orbicularis muscle which causes the skin to crease into the... more

A: Deep Smile Lines: One Step at a Time

Athleo Louis Cambre, MD

For patients with deep smile lines, a variety of factors will determine the proper treatment approach.  Younger patients with isolated smile lines or "nasolabial folds" most often benefit from an injectable filler.  The most popular of these fillers are the hyaluronic acid (HA) products and... more

A: Fillers are usually the easiest way to treat smile lines...

Steven Wallach, MD

Fillers are usually the easiest way to treat smile lines.  Sometimes surgical excisions can be performed in very specific cases to remove these lines.  Of course, face lift surgery may improve some "smile lines" as well.

A: Correct deep smile lines with long-lasting fat injections

Kimberly A. Henry, MD

Injectables are a great temporary solution, lasting up to 9 months, but fat Injections are even a better solution and last longer, up to 7 years.

A: Treating deep smile lines

Laurie Polis, MD

Although fillers are the most common solution to deep smile lines, many times we can boost the volume of the UPPER face by restoring contour, cheekbone definition and upper cheeks, which in turn diminishes the look of deep smile lines without even directly injecting into them!! Patients are usually surprised... more

A: Keep on Smiling - How to Treat Smile Lines

Michael A. Persky, MD

It has been said that the best form of plastic surgery is smiling, so by all means keep on smiling. Smile lines are usually the result of the loss of volume in the face that occurs along with the aging process. I believe that replacement of your facial volume is the best treatment for smile lines (naso-labial... more

A: Treatment options for deep smile lines

Patrick S. Carney, MD

Smile lines, commonly called nasolabial folds and marionette lines, vary in depth and appearance. Dermal fillers (Collagen, Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse, Silikon, and Artefill) offer softening and filling of these lines and wrinkles. All dermal fillers are available at Skin Speaks Spa M.D because the... more

Comments

kmeaux
7 posts
28 May 2008

Smile lines, or nasolabial folds, are present even in children. As we age and loose volume in the cheeks and mid-face, they become more prominent. Restoring the apple of the cheek is one way to soften nasolabial folds. This can be done with a temporary filler such as Radiesse or a more permanent treatment with fat injections. Another option is to treat the line or fold itself. I prefer hyaluronic acid fillers for this area, such as Juvederm, Restylane and Perlane.

dverebelyi
81 posts
9 May 2008

Smile lines or peri-oral lines are some of the most challenging to treat on the face.  There are several options depending on the amount of result you want, the money you want to spend and downtime you are undergo.  Lasers Probably the most effective treatment is CO2 laser. The fractionated version (Active FX and Deep FX) are a nice combination of very good results while limiting downtime.  This procedure uses a laser to remove the damaged skin and heat to stimulate skin repair and new collagen growth.  Procedures run around $3000-$4500, count on downtime of about 1-2 weeks but the results will be very good for a single treatment and will likely last several years.  Dermal Fillers Another option is a filler like Juvederm.  Depending on the amount of Juvederm is needed, you may spend anywhere from $500-$1500.  If injections are done with proper anesthesia, they are almost completely painless.  Swelling will likely last  from a few days up to a week and results will last about 6-9 month.

Michael Sinclair MD
138 posts
13 May 2008

Smile lines, also called Nasolabial folds, can be treated with a number of different products. Hyaluronic acid fillers: Restylane, Juvederm, and Perlane The most popular products (in the USA) in the Hyaluronic Acid family include Restylane, Juvederm, and  Perlane. These fillers are injected underneath the smile lines. The goal is to correct the contour of the skin (the deep folds) and make them more shallow. Just by changing the shape of the grooves,  from a "V" shape to a "U" shape, you will have less of a shadow which will reduce the appearance of the smile lines. Fractional resurfacing lasers Many times, there is a crease or wrinkle at the bottom of the nasolabial fold. Although the fillers may make this wrinkle or crease look a little better, the fillers are not intended to make it go away. If the injector tries to make this wrinkle or crease disappear by injecting the filler directly underneath the crease, the material may leave a bluish discoloration (called the Tyndall effect). A much better way to treat this crease would be to use a fractional resurfacing laser. My favorite fractional resurfacing laser is the Lux 2940 made by Palomar Medical. Radiesse Another option for treating the smile lines is a product called Radiesse. Radiesse does not contain Hyaluronic Acid. Instead it contains a very fine powder called calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA). This powder stimulates the production of collagen. As the gel carrier that holds the CaHA dissolves, it is partially replaced by your own collagen. This new collagen may last for years. That is why some injectors call Radiesse a semi-permanent filler. The first treatment with Radiesse may last for about 3-6 months. The second treatment may last between 12 and 18 months. With each treatment, you are adding more of the CaHA which will stimulate more of your own collagen. One advantage of Radiesse is that it comes in a slightly larger syringe (1.3 cc vs 1.0 cc for Restylane and 0.8 cc for Juvederm). One disadvantage of Radiesse is that we do not have any chemicals to dissolve it. Going to an experienced injector should minimize the risk of any problems. You should also be aware that these same fillers can be used to enhance other areas such as the hands, hide bumps on the nose and enhance cheek bones. Michael Sinclair, MD

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