The filler approach to nasolabial folds is not a single formula that applies equally to every fold. Nasolabial folds have five types of causes: overactive muscles around the corners of the mouth, reduced skin firmness, sagging cheek and cheekbone fat, changes in the bony structure, and combinations of these. Filler is known to suit cases in which the bony structure has become hollow. Getting filler without confirming the cause can make the folds stand out more or lead to an unnatural result.
Why Should You Identify the Cause of Nasolabial Folds First?
Filler is a treatment that fills areas where volume has been lost. But if nasolabial folds look deep because of muscle movement or skin sagging rather than a lack of volume, adding filler may improve the folds less or make the facial lines look unnatural. That is why the cause needs to be confirmed before deciding on a filler approach for nasolabial folds.
Repic Clinic in Gangnam follows a basic principle of matching treatment to the cause rather than to the symptom. The premise is that even for the same nasolabial fold, the recommended approach differs when the cause differs.
What Are the Five Causes of Nasolabial Folds?
The causes of nasolabial folds are classified as follows.
- Overactive muscles at the corners of the mouth — muscles move too much when making expressions and create folds
- Reduced skin firmness — collagen loss makes the skin around the nasolabial area thinner and saggier
- Sagging cheekbone and cheek fat — cheek fat shifts downward and makes the nasolabial line more prominent
- Changes in the bony structure — the volume of the cheekbone or jaw itself becomes hollow
- Combined type — two or more of the above causes overlap
Which of these five applies determines whether filler, Botox or lifting becomes the priority.
When Is a Filler Approach Appropriate?
When nasolabial folds look deep because the bone or fat volume has become hollow, filler is considered a suitable option. The 3D Design Filler at Repic Clinic in Gangnam is designed with the whole facial contour in mind, including the cheekbone, cheeks, jaw, nasolabial area, forehead and temples. Rather than filling the nasolabial area alone, it checks the balance with the surrounding volume.
Nose filler and under-eye filler also treat the central face, but they have different purposes from nasolabial treatment, so each is assessed separately according to the condition of the area, such as improving the nose line or hollows under the eyes.
What Treatment Is Needed If the Cause Is Muscle or Sagging?
If overactive muscles at the corners of the mouth are the main cause, a Botox approach to relax muscle tension is considered. Conversely, if reduced skin firmness or sagging cheek and cheekbone fat is the main cause, lifting is considered first. For example, Jambursil lifting at Repic Clinic in Gangnam inserts spring-type threads and addresses volume, firmness, lifting and wrinkle improvement together, and it is one option to consider when sagging is the cause.
In the end, rather than deciding on a filler approach for nasolabial folds on its own, the priority is to check which of Botox, filler or lifting should be applied first, depending on the cause.
How Is Diagnosis at Repic Clinic Different?
Before treatment, Repic Clinic in Gangnam performs Meta View (skin surface analysis) and Mark-Vu (deep analysis) together to quantify skin thickness, sagging locations and facial proportions, and then decides the direction of treatment. A basic protocol is that treatment does not proceed without diagnostic data.
After the diagnosis, treatment is handled by the physician who fits the results within a five-physician team, and the physicians themselves carry out the process from consultation through treatment. Designing the same treatment name differently for each person, as with Design Ulthera, Design Thermage and Design Filler, follows the same idea.
What Should You Check at the Consultation Before Treatment?
At the consultation, it is a good idea to first confirm what the cause of your nasolabial folds was diagnosed to be and which treatment is proposed for that cause. Filler, Botox and lifting each differ in recovery time, duration and aftercare, so you need to check the pre-treatment guidance in detail.
Swelling, bruising and a temporary sense of a foreign object may appear after treatment, and these differ depending on the treated area and personal condition. Results and recovery may differ from person to person, so it is recommended to decide whether to proceed only after an accurate diagnosis and consultation.
Disclaimer
This content is written for information purposes only, and the effects and recovery process of treatments may differ from person to person. Please check your condition and the cause through a consultation before any procedure.
Related Official Information
You can find more details on the official website.
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.
