Smile lines — known medically as nasolabial folds — are one of the first changes people notice in the mirror. The good news: they can be softened beautifully and naturally. But the how matters, so here's an honest, nurse-led guide — including the safety facts worth knowing first.
What are nasolabial folds?
Nasolabial folds are the lines that run from the sides of the nose down to the corners of the mouth. Everyone has them to some degree — they're a normal, expressive part of the face — but over time they deepen from gentle curves into more fixed creases.
Why they deepen (it's not just skin)
They're partly a movement crease and partly a volume story. As we age we lose collagen and skin elasticity, but the bigger driver is often higher up: the cheek loses volume and gently descends, the supporting ligaments weaken, and even the underlying bone changes. The fold deepens where that sinking mid-face tissue meets the firmer tissue around the mouth. In other words, the line itself is frequently a symptom of lost support above it — which is the key to treating it well.
How filler softens them
Carefully placed hyaluronic acid filler restores support and gently smooths the fold, so you look fresher and more rested. But here's where a skilled assessment earns its keep: often the most natural result comes from restoring a little volume in the cheeks above the fold — lifting and supporting the area so the line softens on its own — rather than simply filling the crease directly, which can look heavy. We recommend the approach that suits your face, not a one-size-fits-all fix. There's more on our smile line filler page.
What it can — and can't — do
Filler softens and reduces nasolabial folds; it doesn't usually erase them completely, and a little crease on smiling is normal (and natural-looking). Deeper, long-established folds may need a bit more product or a combined approach, and in advanced ageing with significant skin laxity, filler restores volume but isn't a substitute for surgery. Honest expectations are part of a good result.
Why anti-wrinkle injections aren't the answer here
A common misunderstanding: nasolabial folds are mostly a volume problem, not a muscle one — so anti-wrinkle injections aren't the right tool for them (they relax movement; they don't replace lost support). Filler is the appropriate treatment. Anti-wrinkle injections have their place elsewhere on the face, just not here.
The safety part worth reading
Two things to know. First, HA filler is reversible — if you're ever unhappy, or in the rare event of a problem, an enzyme called hyaluronidase can dissolve it. Second, and importantly: the area around the nose and mouth is one of the face's higher-risk zones, because significant blood vessels run through it. Very rarely, filler entering a vessel (a "vascular occlusion") can cause skin damage and, in extremely rare cases, more serious harm — which is exactly why deep knowledge of facial anatomy and an experienced medical injector matter so much. Reassuringly, serious complications are uncommon; the usual after-effects are mild and temporary — some bruising, swelling and tenderness that settle within a few days.
It's also why who injects you matters: dermal fillers aren't a prescription-only medicine in the UK, so — for now — anyone can legally inject them. A licensing scheme is coming, but it isn't here yet.
How long it lasts, and aftercare
Because this is a relatively low-movement area, results often last well — commonly around 12 to 18 months, though it varies with the product and you. Afterwards, avoid pressing or massaging the area, and skip strenuous exercise, heat and alcohol for around 24 to 48 hours. Contact us straight away if you ever notice severe or increasing pain, skin turning white or mottled, or any change in vision — these are rare but need prompt attention.
Nurse-led, and honest
At EMA Aesthetics your treatment is carried out by Emilee, an NMC-registered nurse, with the anatomy knowledge to treat this area safely and the honesty to tell you if filler isn't the right answer. Smile line and nasolabial filler starts from £115, and your exact plan is agreed at your free consultation. We're near Eccleshall, serving Stone, Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.