Maintaining a youthful look for years to come often comes with a lot of help from the right injectables, fillers, skincare products, and more. One of the dead giveaways of your actual age is smile lines, a common concern. These mild to more moderate folds (technically known as nasolabial folds) begin at the sides of the nose and extend downward to the mouth. They form a combination of sun exposure, fat and collagen loss, and overall age-related changes. Nevertheless, treating the area with dermal fillers for smile lines helps soften these bothersome folds more effectively than other treatments.
What are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers are FDA-approved injectable products that add volume to an otherwise volume-deficient area. In the case of dermal fillers for smile lines, hyaluronic acid dermal fillers are often used to help soften the look of these lines and folds by attracting water to the area for a plumping effect. Overall, all dermal fillers work towards reestablishing volume in the mid-face and lower face to create a more holistically balanced appearance and camouflage the common signs of aging.
The Types of Dermal Fillers Used for Smile Lines
Several different dermal fillers can improve the look of smile lines and folds, and the best filler choice for you depends on the degree of volume loss and the natural thickness of your skin. At MD Aesthetics, we offer Juvéderm, a hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler, for treating smile lines. This popular dermal filler is a synthetic version of the hyaluronic acid naturally found in the body, helping to add volume to the midface and improving the look of wrinkles, lines, and folds in the area.
Benefits of Using Dermal Fillers for Smile Lines
Using dermal fillers for smile lines offers several benefits that our patients appreciate. Some of the more appreciated benefits of the treatment include:
- Restored volume
- A skin-smoothing effect
- A rejuvenated appearance overall
- Collagen stimulation
- A quick and easy nonsurgical treatment with immediately visible results
- Can be reversed if necessary
Procedure Details and What to Expect
The first step in your dermal filler for smile line treatment is a consultation where you will discuss your aesthetic goals. A consultation is also the ideal time to ask questions about the treatment and discuss what to expect regarding results and maintenance sessions in the future.
From there, the injection sites are first cleaned and then numbed so that the entire treatment is comfortable. The filler is then injected under the skin, and there’s an immediate volumizing effect, helping smooth away smile lines.
The treatment is quick and easy, lasting about 20 minutes with minimal pain. You’ll see a significant smoothness to the smile lines, lasting as long as two years, depending on how fast your body breaks down the dermal filler.
Results and Recovery
The nice thing about dermal fillers for smile lines is that the results are instant, and there’s no downtime or recovery. While the injection site may be minimally swollen and bruised for a few days post-treatment, those effects are easily concealed with makeup and will subside after a few days, leaving you with a smooth and youthful appearance. Still, it’s a good idea to schedule your appointment before any significant events so that if any bruising or swelling occurs, there is time for it to resolve.
The results will last from six to 18 months or longer, depending on how much filler is injected, the specific filler used, and how quickly your body breaks down the filler. Annual maintenance sessions are recommended to keep your smile lines at bay.
Common Frequently Asked Questions
Several factors can affect the cost of Botox in South Carolina, including the number of units you need, the areas that are injected, your injector's expertise and training level, geographic location, and other aesthetic treatments that you may need to couple with Botox to garner the best results.
The average cost of Botox varies by region, but in South Carolina, it is more affordable than in major cities like New York and Los Angeles. We recommend a consultation to determine best how much Botox will cost you.
Combining Botox with other treatments or at-home skincare products will incur additional fees for those ancillary treatments and products.
A consultation is a time to discuss the ins and outs of Botox with us. Based on your consultation, we will create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs. During your consultation, we will explain the Botox injection process, discuss the number of units you will benefit from, and address any concerns you may have regarding the procedure or potential side effects.