What procedures would help balance my profile? (Photos)

Question

I’m 20 years old and have always been insecure of my side profile / lower half of the face. I dont like how visible my nasolabial creases are. It’s not wrinkles, there is just less volume and it shows even when I am not smiling. It just looks like there’s something off about my face and i can’t tell what it is or what procedures are reccomended.

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

From the photos provided, it would appear that appropriately chosen HA fillers in certain areas could provide the kind of very "fine tuning" needed to achieve the balance you desire. A less-is-more approach is likely to achieve your goals.
The use of a minimal amount of a robust HA volumizing filler for the mid-cheek region would not only enhance the Ogee Curve of the cheeks, but secondarily provide sufficient lift to diminish the incipient smile folds below. Additionally, a robust HA volumizing filler can be used to increase chin projection in profile, which would not only establish greater harmony between the projections of the chin, lips and nose, but would secondarily help to better define and straighten the jawline. 
In the hands of an experienced, board certified cosmetic dermatologist filler injector expert, both treatments can be performed in about a twenty minute session, with immediate results and typically with little to no significant post-treatment downtime. Hope this helps and best of luck. 
i

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

First, I want to reassure you that nothing in your photos suggests that there is something “wrong” with your face. What you’re noticing is very likely a matter of facial proportions and volume distribution, which is something many people become aware of when they look at their profile closely.

At 20 years old, the fact that the nasolabial creases are visible even when you are not smiling is often not a sign of aging or wrinkles. In younger patients, these folds are usually related to facial structure rather than skin laxity.

What I think is contributing most

From your description, I would focus on three possible factors:

Mild midface (cheek) volume deficiency
Limited forward projection of the upper cheek area
Lower-face balance, particularly the relationship between the lips, chin, and jawline

When the midface has less forward support, the transition between the cheek and the area beside the nose can create a visible nasolabial shadow, even with youthful skin.

The most helpful approach is usually subtle, not aggressive

Because you are only 20, I would not think in terms of anti-aging procedures or surgery aimed at lifting sagging skin. The goal would be facial harmony and support.

1. Midface / cheek support (most likely to help)

A small amount of hyaluronic acid filler placed in the medial cheek or midface can sometimes soften the appearance of the nasolabial crease without injecting directly into the fold itself.

This works by supporting the tissue above the crease, which is often more natural-looking in younger patients.

2. Chin projection assessment

If the chin is even slightly under-projected, it can make the lower half of the face appear less balanced and draw more attention to the area around the mouth and nasolabial folds.

A subtle chin augmentation (filler or implant) can improve the overall profile and often has a surprisingly large effect on facial harmony.

3. Jawline refinement (only if needed)

If there is mild softness along the jawline, conservative jawline contouring can help create a cleaner transition between the lower face and neck, but I would consider this secondary to midface and chin assessment.

What I would not recommend based on your age and description

I would be cautious about:

Directly filling the nasolabial folds heavily
Thread lifts
Facelifts
Aggressive skin-tightening procedures

These treatments are usually intended for true age-related volume loss or skin laxity, which does not sound like the main issue in your case.

A useful way to think about it

You mentioned that it feels like “something is off” but you can’t identify what it is. In aesthetic consultations, that feeling often comes from one area lacking projection relative to the surrounding structures, rather than from a single obvious flaw.

For your concerns, I would rank the potential impact of treatments as:

Subtle midface/cheek support
Chin projection assessment
Conservative jawline balancing
Minimal direct treatment of the nasolabial crease, if any
My honest impression

Based on your age and the way you describe the folds, I suspect the issue is more about midface support and lower-face proportion than about wrinkles or premature aging. A very conservative approach focused on restoring facial balance rather than “filling lines” would likely produce the most natural result.

The encouraging part is that you are starting from a youthful baseline, which means that small structural adjustments, if you choose to pursue any treatment at all, can often make a noticeable improvement in profile harmony without making you look overdone or artificial.

What procedures would help balance my profile? (Photos)

Answers (2)

More Chin Filler Questions

Would chin or jaw filler help with the start of jowls? What would you recommend to fight the signs of aging? (Photos)

Would filler give my chin a more feminine shape? (Photos)

How can I improve chin fullness and projection? (Photos)

Should I target my chin, lips, jaw, or a combination of all? (Photos)

Deep mental crease - how can this be improved? (Photos)

Shallow indents and lines on chin from volume loss - what can help with volume loss?

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS