How to get rid of these smile line wrinkles? (Photo)

Question

I have tried retinol ans chemical peel. Would like to improve the appearance before my wedding in 4 months

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

First, congratulations on the upcoming wedding.
From the photo, the issue appears to be an early smile line crease. While the topical use of retinoids, like retinol and others, can be helpful for helping to maintain and improve the overall "fabric" of the skin when used regularly and properly for many months--much like the topical use of sunscreens and alpha hydroxy acid creams, they will not typically be of much use for the smile crease and certainly not within the four month window before the wedding. Likewise, peels, particularly a series of superficial peels are best reserved for improving the overall fabric of the skin. 
The use of a low viscosity, malleable, cohesive HA Filler, skillfully injected by an expert injector will likely result in the greatest improvement in the crease itself. You would be advised to consult with an experienced, board certified cosmetic dermatologist filler injection expert. Good luck, and, once again, best wishes for your wedding.

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

First of all—4 months is actually a good window to make a noticeable improvement, so you’re not late at all here.

Smile lines (nasolabial folds) are tricky because they’re not just “wrinkles in the skin.” They’re usually a mix of:

Natural facial movement (smiling, talking)
A bit of midface volume loss or descent
And skin texture changes over time

That’s why retinol and peels alone often don’t fully fix them—they improve the skin, but not the structure underneath.

What I’d actually consider for your timeline

If you want something that shows results before your wedding, the most effective options are usually:

1. Subtle filler (done correctly)
Not directly into the smile line in most cases. Instead:

A small amount in the midface/cheek support area
Sometimes a touch near the pyriform area (beside the nose)

This softens the fold without making it look “filled.” Done well, it just makes you look more rested.

2. Skin tightening / collagen stimulation
Depending on your skin type, things like:

RF microneedling
Light energy-based tightening treatments

These won’t erase folds quickly, but they can improve skin firmness over a few sessions and help everything sit a bit smoother.

3. Botox (in select cases)
Sometimes a very light touch in surrounding muscles can soften how deep the lines fold when you smile—but this has to be done carefully, because we don’t want to affect your natural expression before your wedding.

What I would not rely on alone
More chemical peels at this stage (they’re great, but too slow for structural change)
Heavy filler directly into the fold (this is where people often end up looking puffy instead of fresh)
My honest advice

If your goal is to look your best in photos and in person, I’d focus on a very natural, conservative approach—just enough to soften the shadowing and restore a bit of midface support.

You don’t want to look “treated”—you just want to look like you on a really well-rested day.

With the right approach, 4 months is enough time to make a meaningful difference.

Paul Flashner, MD · Answer

Hi Kitflo! There are a few options to address the smile lines you are seeing. The quickest option would be to add filler to the area, commonly referred to as the nasolabial fold, to restore volume and ease the appearance of aging. You could also do a treatment like Morpheus8, which is a microneedling with radiofrequency, to stimulate collagen and elastin. The results of Morpheus8 are not immediate, so given your timeframe filler may be a better option for you!

How to get rid of these smile line wrinkles? (Photo)

Answers (3)

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