Why do nasolabial folds deepen?
Several mechanisms drive the deepening of nasolabial folds — often at the same time.
- Sagging cheeks — the buccal fat pad drops and pulls the skin downward, deepening the fold
- Loss of cheek volume — fat pads shrink, and the natural support beneath the tissue disappears
- Collagen loss in the skin — thinner skin no longer holds tissue in place as before, so the fold deepens
- Hypertonic orbicularis oris muscle — a strong muscle pulls the tissue downward
- Gravitational descent of the cheek as a whole — over the years, tissue gradually "slides" downward
Why filling the fold alone might not be enough
Filling the fold with an HA preparation gives an immediate result. But if we don't address the cause — sagging cheeks, loss of volume — the fold can return sooner, and over time it may "spread" sideways.
Treatments available at J'ADORE
Depending on the diagnosis, the doctor may suggest one of the following solutions, or a combination.
HA filler — direct filling
Injecting hyaluronic acid directly into the fold softens it immediately. Full results appear after about 2 weeks, once post-injection swelling subsides.
- Result: immediate, full after around 2 weeks
- Results last: typically 9–15 months
- Amount of product: individual, determined by the doctor during consultation
Cheek volumetry — addressing the cause
When the fold is mainly caused by sagging cheeks, cheek volumetry may be a more effective solution — filling deep, beneath the cheekbone or in the SOOF area. The cheeks "return" to their position, and the fold automatically becomes less visible — without filling it directly.
Sculptra — gradual volume restoration
Sculptra (poly-L-lactic acid, PLLA) is a biostimulator that gradually rebuilds tissue structure and volume over several months. It's a solution for those with noticeable volume loss in the cheeks and the area around the folds — the result is natural and builds up over 3–6 months.
Profhilo — skin quality and density
When the fold deepens mainly due to collagen and elastin loss, Profhilo can remodel the skin's extracellular matrix. It doesn't fill the fold directly, but it thickens and "tightens" the skin from within — which often visibly softens the fold.
How to avoid overdoing it
With nasolabial folds, overcorrection is possible — and clearly visible. It's worth knowing the typical mistakes so you can avoid them.
- Too much HA placed directly in the fold → "sausage" ridges beside the nose, an unnatural look
- A product that's too soft → HA can migrate under the skin
- No support from above (the cheeks) → HA in the fold holds for a shorter time
Where to start
The first step is a medical consultation, during which the doctor assesses the depth of the fold, skin firmness, cheek volume and overall facial proportions. Based on this, the doctor selects the method — or combination of methods — that will give the best, most natural result.