How to Get Rid of Smile Lines (Nasolabial folds)?
We all love to smile, but what we don’t always love are the lines that start appearing around our mouths as we laugh and age.
These creases, known as laugh lines, smile lines, or medically as nasolabial folds, can sometimes make you look older or more tired than you feel. Luckily, there are many ways to address them, from professional smile lines treatment to simple lifestyle adjustments and skincare routines you can start at home.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through the most effective methods and expert tips on how to get rid of smile lines, so you can maintain a fresh, youthful appearance while keeping your natural expressions intact.
What causes smile lines?
Smile lines, also called laugh lines or nasolabial folds, are the creases that run from the sides of your nose to the corners of your mouth. While they are a normal part of aging, several factors can make them more noticeable:
- Aging: Over time, skin loses collagen and elastin, leading to wrinkles and fine lines, including smile lines.
- Sun exposure: A lot of sun exposure makes your skin age faster, so smile lines can show up sooner or become deeper.
- Facial expressions: Frequent smiling, laughing, chewing, or other facial expressions create dynamic lines that, over time, become more permanent.
- Genetics: Your family history affects how your skin ages. Some people get deeper smile lines because of the facial features or skin type they inherit.
- Stress: Chronic stress increases cortisol levels, which can break down collagen and elastin, accelerating skin ageing and making smile lines more visible.
- Lifestyle choices: A poor diet, dehydration, and smoking may promote the appearance of smile lines.
How to get rid of smile lines?
While smile lines are a natural part of ageing, several treatments for smile lines can help minimise their appearance:
Facelift
A surgical facelift lifts and tightens sagging facial skin, including the cheeks and around the mouth, where smile lines are most prominent. By repositioning tissues and removing excess skin, a facelift surgery can significantly reduce the prominence of deep nasolabial folds. This option is especially effective for advanced aging and is often combined with other facial rejuvenation procedures for more comprehensive results.
Botox
Botox is a non-surgical nasolabial fold treatment that works by relaxing muscles around the mouth, which are responsible for dynamic smile lines.By reducing these muscles, Botox helps prevent the lines from deepening over time. It is especially effective for mild laugh lines caused by repeated facial expressions. Results typically appear within a few days and last for about 3–6 months, making it a convenient option for those who are seeking subtle, natural-looking improvements.
Dermal fillers
Hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers restore volume in the cheeks and around the mouth, helping to smooth nasolabial folds and soften the appearance of smile lines. By replenishing lost facial volume, fillers lift the skin and create a rejuvenated, youthful appearance.The results are often immediate and last between 6 months and 2 years, depending on the filler type and skin condition.
How to prevent smile lines from forming?
While it’s not possible to completely prevent smile lines, you can take these steps to minimise their development:
- Sun protection: Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily to prevent UV damage that breaks down collagen and accelerates skin aging.
- Follow a good skincare routine: Keep skin hydrated with moisturizers and use products containing hyaluronic acid, retinol, or peptides.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Eat a balanced diet, stay hydrated, exercise, and avoid smoking or excessive alcohol.
- Practice gentle facial movements: Be mindful of repetitive facial expressions that can deepen lines over time, and avoid pressing or pulling the skin harshly.
- Manage stress levels: Chronic stress can speed up skin aging, so relaxation techniques and self-care can help support skin health.
- Consider early aesthetic treatments: Preventive treatments like Botox, or fillers can help slow the formation of deeper lines when started early.
Brighten up your smile with Vivari Aesthetics
Addressing smile lines (nasolabial folds) can help you smile with confidence and maintain a more youthful, refreshed appearance.
At Vivari Aesthetics, our expert professionals offer personalized treatments, from dermal fillers and Botox to advanced laser therapies, designed to enhance your natural beauty. With a strong focus on safe, effective, and natural results, we provide a supportive, luxurious environment for your aesthetic journey.
FAQs
You can reduce their appearance with facial exercises, gentle face massages, moisturizers with hyaluronic acid, and a healthy lifestyle. Sun protection and hydration also help maintain skin elasticity.
They form due to a combination of aging, repeated facial movements, sun exposure, genetics, and lifestyle habits like smoking or weight changes.
Yes, facial massage improves circulation and relaxes muscles, which can soften mild laugh lines. For deeper nasolabial folds, professional treatments are usually more effective.
Not necessarily. While some lines deepen with age, early intervention through skincare, facial exercises, and minimally invasive treatments can reduce their visibility and slow progression.
Preventive measures and early interventions can begin in your late 20s or 30s. Professional treatments are typically more effective once lines start to appear and deepen with age.