Does Botox Work For Nasal Labial Folds?

Question

Does Botox Work on the Lines from the Sides of the Nose to the Edges of the Mouth? or is surgery the only option?

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

The same muscles that make the Nalsolabial Folds worse, called the zygomaticus muscles, also work the corner of the mouth. if you paralyze these muscles with Botox, you will not be able to smile and it will look like you had a stroke. Therefore Botox is not used for this purpose. Instead we use fillers to soften its appearance.

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

This area would be treated well with fillers, another injectable treatment. Fillers add volume to smooth away creases around the mouth.

Houtan Chaboki, MD · Answer

The lines that start from the base of the nose and extend to the lips are referred to as the smile lines or nasolabial folds. Treatment is based on filling the area with volume, typically with nonsurgical methods. Injectable fillers such as Restylane, Juvederm, or Radiesse are some options. Fat injections are a natural method to add volume for cosmetic enhancement. Botox Cosmetic or similar injections, however, are not used in this area for cosmetic treatment. Speak with a cosmetic specialist to help determine appropriate options for you.

Richard Baxter, MD · Answer

Botox and Dysport work by relaxing hyperactive muscles that cause wrinkles, such as the "11" lines between the eyebrows. The creases that go from the nose to the corner of the mouth, often called the "parenthesis" lines, are not caused by hyperactive muscles but rather by tissue sagging. Dermal fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm work best there.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

This line is made by the pull of the muscles than make the smile, primarily the zygomaticus major and minor muscles.  Individuals who accidentally get treatment into these muscle are generally very unhappy with this treatment result.  First, they look like they have had a stroke.  Secondly it seems that activity of these muscles is very important to our sense of well being.  People get quite depressed if these muscles get weaken by botulinum toxin A treatment.  There are treatments to weaken the levator labii alaquae nasi muscle on the side of the nose with the goal of reducing the so-called gummy smile.  Generally, I do not believe it is a good idea to do this treatment.

	The hyaluronic acid fillers are best for this line and the treatment can last well over a year.

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

The smile folds are best treated by using fillers. Botox has been used by a few skilled physicians to minimize the pulling up of the smile fold but that can affect the mouth and create unwanted appearance of the lip during speech and eating and smiling. It could risk in asymmetry.

Gustavo A. Diaz, MD · Answer

For the Nasolabial folds I personally prefer the use of dermal fillers. Botox does not work for this area because the Nasolabial fold need to be filled.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

I assume that you mean nasolabial folds?  If these are what bother you, Botox is not the right thing to use. These are lines or depressions that need to be filled.

Steven Hacker, MD · Answer

Botox is not used for th nasolabial lines (those lines that extend from nose to mouth). The first lines of treatment for those lines are fillers such as Juvederm or Restylane.

Michael L. Workman, MD (retired) · Answer

The short answer is yes but with a lot of qualifiers.  First, have you tried fillers?  Hyaluronic Acid fillers are one of the best substances to treat those unwanted lines around the mouth and the creases that run from the nose to the corners of the mouth (Nasolabial folds).  Also do you have an injector that specializes in these tricky areas.   This is a very difficult area to Botox and you need to be confident in the injector.  Just the other day I saw a lady that went to a medi spa and ended up with slurred speech and crooked smile.  Even the best injectors sometimes get unwanted outcomes around the mouth. 

	So with all that said, my best advice would be to stick with the fillers. They too have their draw backs but they are proven, relatively safe and have shown year after year to have great outcomes.

Does Botox Work For Nasal Labial Folds?

Answers (10)

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