Although nasolabial folds (NLFs) are evident in youth and upon smiling, they often deepen with age and can give the face a tired and sagging appearance.1,2 Prominent NLFs are one of the early visual signs of ageing and, in my experience, a very common concern for patients. NLFs are creases that extend from the ala (wing) of the nose to the corners of the mouth, and separate the cheeks from the upper lip.
Different varieties of NLFs include convex, concave and straight, with varied lengths from short, extended and continuous (Figure 1).1,3
Although ageing is variable in each patient we treat, some features occur in a predictable fashion. NLFs are a prime example, as they often become more prominent with age and distort the youthful contour of the mid-face. Facial ageing is a multifactorial and three- dimensional process where there is an interrelationship between all facial tissues.
Age-related changes include primary bony changes and skeletal remodeling, diminution of muscular and skeletal support and changes of the soft-tissue envelope, which result in changes in proportions…
