Nasolabial Fold Filler — A Real Patient Review

What is a nasolabial fold, and why does filler help?

The nasolabial fold is the line that runs from the side of the nose down toward the corner of the mouth. Many people call it a smile line or laugh line; Paula called it the furrow by her mouth. As the mid-face loses some volume, that fold looks deeper even at rest, and it can make the face look more tired than the person feels. Hyaluronic-acid filler placed along and under the fold fills the depth so the transition from cheek to mouth looks softer. The aim is a softer, more natural expression, not a flat face. When you smile, a little fold should still appear; a face with no fold at all when smiling looks overfilled.

What did the face scan and consultation show?

Paula's visit started with a facial scan, and her video shows the analysis screen with the nasolabial fold item flagged as needing attention. I find this helpful because it gives the patient and me the same picture to discuss. Then we sat down together. As Paula explains in her video, the fold on her right side was a little more marked, and the plan was to place "a little more cc of filler on that side which is more prominent." That is the key decision in almost every nasolabial case: the two sides are rarely equal, so the two sides should not receive identical amounts. During the consultation I also look at the cheek above the fold, because sometimes the fold is deep partly because of what is happening higher up. For Paula, we kept the plan focused on the folds themselves, which is what she came for.

How was the treatment done?

First, numbing cream was applied around the fold; her video shows our staff putting the cream on while she lies back. Topical ointment or local anesthesia keeps the procedure comfortable. When she sat in the treatment chair, the filler boxes were opened in front of her, and she pointed out on camera that everything was new. I mark the fold before injecting, and in her clip you can see the marking pen at the side of her mouth. Then hyaluronic-acid filler is placed at the right depth along each fold, with slightly more on the right as planned, and gently shaped. Paula held a stuffed toy because she expected it to hurt; afterwards she told her viewers that it really did not hurt. Everyone's comfort level is different, but with numbing most patients feel only mild pressure. The injection itself usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

What can you expect right after nasolabial filler?

The change in the fold is visible immediately, which Paula also noted in her video, and her before-and-after frame shows the difference beside the mouth. Downtime is minimal; most patients return to daily activities right away. Mild swelling, redness or bruising can appear and usually settles within two to three days. I ask patients not to press or massage the area hard in the first days and to let the filler settle. Because the filler is hyaluronic acid, it integrates smoothly, and if any adjustment is ever needed it can be dissolved. Results vary from person to person, so we look at the result together once any swelling has gone rather than judging it in the first hour.

What did we choose not to do?

We did not try to erase the fold completely. A nasolabial fold is part of normal facial movement; filling it until it disappears tends to make the mid-face look heavy and the smile look stiff. We also did not use the same amount on both sides just for convenience; the right side received a little more, because it was deeper. And we did not add other areas on the same day. Paula's concern was the fold, and keeping the plan narrow made it easy for her to see exactly what the filler did. If, in the future, the cheek or under-eye area becomes a concern, that is a separate conversation with fresh photos. You can read more about our general facial fillers, which include the nasolabial folds.

How long does it last, and who is it right for?

Domestic hyaluronic-acid fillers typically last 6 to 12 months and imported fillers 12 to 18 months, depending on the treated area and individual metabolism. Nasolabial fold filler suits people who see a deep line from nose to mouth at rest, who feel it makes them look tired, or who notice one side is deeper than the other. It is not the right first step if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have an active skin infection in the area, or have a known allergy to hyaluronic-acid filler; we always begin with an in-person consultation. Below are real HERA patients who had the same treatment, so you can see nasolabial results on different faces. International patients are treated directly by our doctors with English support on site, and pricing is the same as for Korean patients; we give a written quote after consultation.