Nasolabial fold and fold going from inner corner of the eye over the cheek - are fillers my only option?

Question

Hello, I struggled with these folds all my life and I think it’s genetic. I‘ve had them since I can remember but became more aware of them since I was 18 (23 now). In Good lightning one can’t see anything, but in dim light creating shadows on my face you can see deep folds around my mouth area and on my upper cheeks. I feel like they are making me look tired and old. What can I do? Are filler my only option? I’m scared of filler migration and am not sure where it should be injected.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Fillers soften the nasolabial folds themselves and also lift around the mouth and cheeks to build underlying anatomical support. In our practice we combine Sculptra with other fillers "layered" on top and lasers, skin tightening treatments such as Thermage, Fractora, and Renuvion (J Plasma), thread lifting,  and peels to get the most conservative, natural look. I suggest seeing a facial sculpting expert for a formal consultation. Best, Dr. Emer

Robert T. Buchanan, MD (retired) · Answer

What you have is a normal variant of the orbital ligament attachment. Instead of a single one attached all the way across along the edge of the orbital rim, you have a double one with the medial one traversing down the malar bone dividing the muscles that attach below the rim. Correction of the resultant depression requires volume with either a filler like JUvederm Voluma or fat. Make sure you see an injector who is an expert in this area and knows the anatomy intimately as most injectors do not understand this area.

Nasolabial fold and fold going from inner corner of the eye over the cheek - are fillers my only option?

Answers (2)