Filler for Nasolabial Folds: How Smile Line Filler Works

Filler for nasolabial folds works by adding volume under the skin to soften the smile lines that run from the sides of your nose to the corners of your mouth.

It is done by injection, without surgery. At Catara Med Spa in Algonquin, IL, we offer more than one filler, including Radiesse, and your provider matches the filler to the area and to what you want to change.

Results vary from person to person, and every plan starts with a consultation.

What Are Nasolabial Folds?

Nasolabial folds are the folds that run from the sides of the nose toward the corners of the mouth. You may know them as smile lines or laugh lines.

The FDA describes nasolabial folds as the lines extending from the sides of the nose to the edges of the mouth.

It names them among the areas of the face where dermal fillers are approved for use in helping to create a smoother or fuller appearance. The FDA also notes that approved uses vary by product.

At Catara, the smile and laugh lines of the lower face are one of the areas we treat with filler.

How Filler Softens Nasolabial Folds

As the face loses volume, folds and lines can come with that loss. Dermal fillers are gels placed under the skin to add volume back where volume has been lost, and that is how filler softens a fold.

Not every line around the mouth comes from lost volume. Some come from muscle movement, which we cover below.

Filler is placed in specific areas rather than across the whole face, and your provider maps which areas to treat at your consultation.

Each brand and type of filler carries a different active ingredient, so your provider chooses the filler, the amount and the depth of placement with you.

The FDA explains that hyaluronic acid is a type of sugar present in body tissues such as skin. In gel form it combines with water and swells, which creates a smoothing, filling effect.

You can see every area we treat with filler on our page for dermal fillers in Algonquin, IL.

Radiesse for Smile Lines

Radiesse is a brand of injectable dermal filler. At our Algonquin location it is used on the face, the hands and the decolletage, and on the face that most often means the cheeks, the chin, the smile lines and the nasolabial folds.

Radiesse is a calcium hydroxylapatite filler. The FDA describes calcium hydroxylapatite as a type of mineral commonly found in human teeth and bones; for wrinkle filling, its particles are suspended in a gel-like solution and injected.

Because Radiesse adds volume at the point it is placed, there is a change you can see from the appointment itself. Your provider explains what to expect in the weeks after at your consultation, and results may vary.

Radiesse is not used in the lips. If the lips are your concern, your provider will discuss a different product.

The formulation you receive may also contain lidocaine. The FDA notes that some dermal fillers contain lidocaine, which is intended to decrease pain or discomfort related to the injection.

If a different filler, or a different kind of treatment altogether, is the better match for your goal, your provider will say so and explain why. Learn more about Radiesse dermal fillers in Algonquin, IL.

Is Smile Line Filler Right for You?

Filler is offered to adults, and candidacy, including any age requirements, is confirmed at your consultation. Your provider reviews your health history, your goals and your expectations, and will tell you honestly if filler is not the right fit.

Tell your provider before you book if any of these apply to you:

• You are pregnant or breastfeeding. Catara does not treat clients who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• You have an active infection, inflamed skin, significant acne or a cold sore outbreak at or near the planned injection site. Treatment is postponed until the area has fully settled.
• You have a history of cold sores or perioral herpes.
• You have a known allergy to a filler ingredient or to lidocaine, or a history of severe allergy or anaphylaxis.
• You have a bleeding disorder, or take a blood thinning medicine or supplement, which raises the chance of bruising and bleeding. Any decision to change a prescribed medicine belongs to your prescribing clinician.
• You have an autoimmune condition, or take treatment that suppresses your immune system.
• You have a permanent filler or an implant already placed in the area you want treated.
• You have recent or planned dental work, a vaccination or another facial treatment. Your provider will advise on how to space these.

What Your Appointment Involves

Every filler plan at Catara starts with a consultation. Your provider listens to your concerns, assesses the current condition of your skin and works with you on an injection plan that fits your lifestyle and budget.

You have our full attention, and there is no upselling and no pressure.

Leave off retinol, glycolic acid, alpha hydroxy acid and other anti-aging products for at least 2 days before and after your appointment, and avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours beforehand.

On the day of treatment, the visit typically runs like this:

• We answer any questions you still have.
• We use light marks to map where the injections will go.
• Your injector places the filler in the mapped areas, walking you through each step.
• We look over the treated area to check the placement and go over how to look after it at home.

A Radiesse visit runs about 30 minutes to an hour; for other fillers, procedure time varies with the plan. You are welcome to book any follow up appointment you need before you leave.

Curious whether filler fits your smile lines? Book a consultation and we will start with your questions.

What to Expect After Smile Line Filler

Most clients return to work or their usual routine after leaving our office. Redness, swelling and sensitivity in the treated area are normal for a short while, and mild swelling or bruising can last a few days.

Your provider reviews aftercare with you before you leave. Catara’s filler aftercare also asks you to:

• Avoid touching or massaging the injection sites unless your provider tells you otherwise.
• Use a cool compress if you have swelling.
• Avoid alcohol and excess salt, which can add to swelling.
• Sleep face up and slightly elevated for a day or two.

After Radiesse, wait a minimum of four weeks before having any other skincare or laser treatment.

No injectable procedure is free of risk, and the FDA calls unintentional injection into a blood vessel the most concerning risk of dermal fillers: it can block the vessel and reduce blood supply to the tissue. The FDA says the chances are low, but if it happens, the complications can be serious and may be permanent.

The FDA notes that reported complications include necrosis (death of tissue), vision abnormalities including blindness, and stroke. It advises seeking immediate medical attention if you have any of these during or shortly after the procedure:

• Unusual pain
• Vision changes
• A white, gray or blue appearance of the skin near the injection site
• Any signs of a stroke, such as sudden difficulty speaking, numbness or weakness in your face, arms or legs, difficulty walking, face drooping, severe headache, dizziness or confusion

Your provider reviews the risks and the alternatives with you before anything is injected, and tells you what is normal for the areas you had treated. For non-urgent questions about your recovery, call us at (847) 658-1300.

How Long Smile Line Filler Lasts

At Catara, dermal filler results typically last 6 to 18 months, depending on the product used and the area treated. Results vary from person to person.

The FDA says the time the effect lasts depends on the filler material and the area where it is injected.

Filler breaks down over time, so a filler plan is something you maintain rather than something you do once.

Your injector reviews maintenance with you at your consultation and tells you when a touch up is worth booking.

Filler vs Wrinkle Relaxers for Smile Lines

Filler and wrinkle relaxers work on different problems. Filler adds volume and softens the folds that volume loss creates.

Wrinkle relaxers such as Botox and Xeomin work on movement lines, the lines that form when you frown, squint or raise your brows. They relax the small facial muscles whose repeated contractions crease the skin.

At Catara, common wrinkle relaxer areas include forehead lines, frown lines, crow’s feet and lip lines, while smile lines (nasolabial folds) appear on our filler pages.

The two are often used together, in the same visit or in separate ones, and your provider confirms which combinations are appropriate for you. The FDA notes that the safe use of dermal fillers in combination with neuromodulators (“Botox”) or other treatments has not been evaluated in a controlled, clinical study.

For movement lines, see our page on Botox and Xeomin in Algonquin, IL.

Nasolabial Fold Filler FAQs

Which filler is used for nasolabial folds at Catara?

It depends on your face and your goal. Catara offers more than one filler, including Radiesse, and your provider matches the filler to the area at your consultation.

Is Botox or filler better for smile lines?

At Catara, smile lines (nasolabial folds) are treated with filler, which works on volume. Wrinkle relaxers such as Botox and Xeomin work on movement lines like frown lines and crow’s feet, and many clients use both.

Can Radiesse be used for smile lines?

Yes. At Catara, the smile lines and nasolabial folds are among the areas Radiesse is most often used on, along with the cheeks and chin. Your provider confirms at consultation whether it fits you.

How long does filler for nasolabial folds last?

Typically 6 to 18 months at Catara, depending on the product used and the area treated. Results vary from person to person, and your provider can give you a closer estimate at your consultation.

Is there downtime after smile line filler?

Most clients return to work or their usual routine after leaving our office. Redness, swelling and sensitivity are normal for a short while, and mild swelling or bruising can last a few days.

Who should not get smile line filler?

Catara does not treat clients who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and an active infection, inflamed skin or a cold sore at the planned site postpones treatment. Your provider reviews your full health history and decides whether filler is appropriate for you.

Talk Through Your Smile Lines With Us

If your smile lines have started to bother you, a consultation is the simplest way to get a straight answer about filler.

If a treatment isn’t right for you, we’ll tell you. If there’s a better option, we’ll explain why.

When you’re ready, we would love to meet you at 308 S Main Street in Algonquin. Book a consultation or call us at (847) 658-1300.