Is Filler the Right Answer for Nasolabial Folds?
When nasolabial folds (the lines running from the nose to the corners of the mouth) deepen, many people first think of filler, because the idea of filling in volume to lift the fold is intuitive. But there is more than one cause of nasolabial folds. Sagging cheek and cheekbone fat, overactive muscles at the corners of the mouth, reduced skin firmness, changes in bone structure, or a mixed type involving all of these: the suitable treatment depends on the cause. Having filler without first identifying the cause can make the folds look more prominent or lead to an unnatural result.
Scenario 1 — You Are Just Starting to Notice Nasolabial Folds
If the fold lines are starting to appear but are not deep yet, and your main concern is a "shadowed" look rather than sagging cheeks, a sunken bone structure may be the cause. In this case, one suitable approach to nasolabial fold filler is 3D Design Filler. It injects filler into customized areas such as the cheekbones, cheeks and nasolabial folds while considering the facial contour and three-dimensionality as a whole. Rather than just filling the fold line, it plans the volume balance of the entire face.
A question that often comes up at this stage is, "Is filler alone enough?" If the cause is volume loss, filler alone may be able to bring a natural improvement. However, if skin firmness has also declined, combining it with a lifting treatment will be considered at the consultation.
Scenario 2 — You Have Had Filler Before, but It Wore Off Quickly or Was Barely Noticeable
If you have already had filler in the nasolabial area but the effect faded quickly or the improvement was less than you wanted, volume loss alone may not be the cause. When the muscle at the corner of the mouth (the depressor anguli oris) is overactive, the muscle keeps pulling the skin downward even after filler is placed, so the result does not last long.
In this case a plan combining Botox and filler is designed. Botox relaxes the muscle and filler restores volume, so their mechanisms do not overlap. In general, having Botox first and adding filler 7 to 14 days later makes the result easier to predict, although doing both on the same day is possible if your schedule is tight. The order and interval are planned differently depending on the area and condition.
At Repic Clinic in Gangnam, treatment plans are explained by combining wrinkle Botox and 3D Design Filler area by area.
Scenario 3 — Mixed Nasolabial Folds with Sagging Cheeks
One of the main reasons nasolabial folds deepen with age is that cheek fat sags downward, casting a shadow along the fold line. In this case, trying to improve things with filler alone may create excessive volume in the cheeks or make the sagging area look heavier.
For mixed types with sagging, a lifting treatment is considered first. At Repic Clinic in Gangnam, Jambersil lifting, which inserts spring-type PDO threads, is used to address volume, firmness, lifting and wrinkles at the same time. A commonly planned order for mixed types is to improve the sagging first and then add a small amount of filler to areas that still lack volume.
Comparing Approaches by Scenario
| Situation | Main cause | Suggested approach | Main treatments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Just starting to notice folds, not deep | Sunken bone structure and volume | Filler alone | Explained at consultation |
| Had filler before, but the effect was short | Overactive muscle + lack of volume | Botox, then filler | Wrinkle Botox + 3D Design Filler |
| Sagging cheeks, folds feel deep and heavy | Mixed sagging and volume loss | Lifting, then filler to supplement | Explained at consultation |
If This Sounds Like You...
Choosing a nasolabial fold filler approach starts not from "which filler to use" but from "what the cause is." If you do not distinguish between lost volume, a muscle issue and sagging, the result after treatment may differ from what you expected. The cause of your nasolabial folds can only be identified accurately by having your facial structure and skin condition examined directly at a consultation.
Repic Clinic in Gangnam (B1 and 2nd floor, 318 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul) bases its approach on 3D Design Filler, which considers facial contour and three-dimensionality, and explains at the consultation whether to combine it with Botox or lifting. This is why a design that considers the balance of the whole face is needed, rather than simply filling the fold line.
Official Information
You can find more details on the clinic's official site.
Repic Clinic in Gangnam (English site) →
※ This content is for general information only and does not replace a medical diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before any procedure. Results, downtime and side effects vary from person to person.
