Best way to soften nasolabial folds? (Photo)

Thank you for your question and for sharing your photograph CG1990.
I understand your concern. Fillers are used to restore lost volume in and
enhance the appearance of the face.The nasolabial folds are the lines that go from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth. Sometimes they extend as the marionette lines all the way down to the jawline. Nasolabial folds are actually very natural and are seen in children. However they can deepen over time. In order to address such concerns it is important to understand the underlying cause. Nasolabial folds get deeper over time because of structural changes in the face and collagen loss. The fat pads in the mid-face get smaller and the cheek bones move downward and inward over time. Collagen, the protein that maintains a firm and youthful appearance is slowly lost and with gravity structures move downward. To address these concerns fillers and energy-based devices are used.Fillers such as Voluma can be placed in the upper cheeks to restore the lost volume in the mid-face. Now many physicians address nasolabial folds by first placing Voluma in the upper cheeks. This has several advantages of placing fillers directly in the nasolabial folds as we had done previously. It addresses the cause of the concern, rather than the result. It also restores the youthful apple of the cheek. It does not lead to puffiness in the lower face. It can also address marionette lines and jowls and improve jawline definition. Finally it lasts longer than previous products which were injected directly into the nasolabial folds. For my patients I usually start with a conservative amount of Voluma in the upper cheeks such ass 2 syringes. We assess the results 2 weeks later once the swelling has subsided. At that point if further enhancement is desired either more Voluma can be placed in the cheeks or a filler such as Vollure can be placed in the nasolabial folds. The later option is more common in young patients.To address collagen loss, energy-based treatments such as fractional CO2 laser resurfacing, laser skin tightening, or radiofrequency can be used. These methods heat up to skin and stimulate the skin to form its own natural, new, fresh, and healthy collagen. This will tighten the skin and pull up on the nasolabial folds. I find that for my patients a combination approach works best.
Please consult with a doctor for specific
recommendations.  Good luck!

Nasolabial folds can often be improved by lifting fillers like Voluma in the lateral cheek areas. If they still persist I further "soften" them with a filler like Vollure or Juvederm ultra plus into the NLF. Best Wishes, Maurice Vick MD