Smile Lines: Why I Don’t Start With Filler Directly in the Lines
Updated: 6 hours ago
Nasolabial Fold Filler at Noble Aesthetics in Edgewater, CO
Filler directly into smile lines isn’t always the best place to start. Changes in cheekbones and fat loss can make smile lines look deeper, so I assess midface support first. When that support has been lost, strategically placed filler may help soften the lines. A TINY amount of filler directly into the smile lines may still make sense, but only if needed. Address the root cause, don’t chase the symptom.
Smile Lines Are Practically All You Can See
Here’s one of the top complaints from women sitting in my chair: their smile lines. All of a sudden, especially after a recent Zoom call, their smile lines feel prominent, and it’s practically all they can see.
Sometimes, patients assume the best way to treat this is to start with filler placed directly into the lines themselves. But surprisingly, my recommendation is usually the opposite, and I’ll tell you why.
Every Layer of the Face Is Aging
As we age, every layer of the face is aging simultaneously. That means the skin, muscle, bone, and fat. It’s a combination of those changes that influences how deep those smile lines look. So instead of going directly into them, I assess the root cause.
Why I Start With Midface Support
When a lack of structural support in the midface is contributing to those lines, that’s where I start. Think changes in cheekbones and fat loss. Those changes can make the smile lines look deeper and heavier over time. By supporting the midface with filler, we can help soften that heaviness around the mouth and the appearance of the smile lines. The goal isn’t to add volume just to add volume. It’s to address where support has been lost.
When Filler Directly Into Smile Lines Makes Sense
Only after addressing that support, when needed, will I entertain the idea of using a TINY amount of filler directly into the lines to soften them a bit more. In my practice, it’s rare that I need to do this.
Address the Root Cause, Don’t Chase the Symptom
So the bottom line is: address the root cause, don’t chase the symptom. This is how we work toward a natural result and avoid the heaviness and odd appearance that everyone is terrified of.
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