Nasolabial grooves are those folds on your face which run from the corner of your mouth to the sides of your nose. They are often amongst the first and most visible signs of aging. You may notice these folds or creases deepening in your early thirties. Some people will develop them much sooner. Fortunately, deep nasolabial grooves are pretty easy to remedy. If you are looking for a simple way to turn back the clock, at least in appearance, plumping up the nasolabial grooves is a very good way to do it.
Unfortunately, while deep nasolabial grooves are pretty easy to remedy they are impossible to prevent. They develop with age and do not discriminate. Years of smiling, laughing, talking and chewing all cause these folds to develop on your face. Though there is nothing you can do to prevent deepening nasolabial grooves, it is possible to plump up and smooth out the grooves so that they look more like they did when you were younger.
Nasolabial groove correction can be accomplished a number of different ways. Injectable fillers are amongst the most common. Other options include nasolabial fold excision, cheek implants, or a facelift. The latter three are much more invasive and riskier than the former (injectable fillers). Many doctors will first recommend a filler of some type. They might later suggest surgery if the nasolabial grooves are very deep, hasn’t responded well to fillers, or there are other facial areas you want to have rejuvenated.
Nasolabial grooves can be plumped up or filled out with the following fillers: Juvederm, Prevelle Silk, Restylane, Sculptra, or Radiesse. Fillers work by pushing the grooves outward or plumping up the creases or deep lines that appear as we age. This is a very simple solution, however, it is a temporary one. This can be both good and bad. A person pleased with their results may wish that they were permanent. On the other hand, a person who is experimenting with fillers may appreciate the fact that they are able to give them a try without having to permanently commit to them. If you are looking for a low-risk, temporary treatment option for your nasolabial grooves, you may want to discuss injectable fillers with your doctor.
Cheek implants, also referred to as a cheek augmention, is another option. A plastic surgeon would insert a small implant underneath the cheekbone. This helps to soften the upper portion of the nasolabial grooves. When considering this option, individuals must keep in mind that this is permanent for better or for worse.
A facelift can also help soften nasolabial grooves. However, it’s a pretty drastic procedure considering the minor problem you are looking to solve. Even still, it’s an option, though there are less invasive and less risky choices available. It is not recommended that you have a facelift to smooth out your nasolabial grooves. A facelift should only be performed if you have other areas of concern. If you want your doctor to focus on your nasolabial grooves during a facelift, that’s perfectly acceptable. It is important to note that a facelift is one of the least effective ways to improve the appearance of nasolabial grooves.
Nasolabial fold excision is still another option available to you. This is most appropriate for individuals with very deep nasolabial folds. It has proven to be very effective in these cases. The procedure involves removing the nasolabial folds. There is one major drawback. A nasolbial excision will leave a visible scar. If you are considering this option, be sure to discuss it with your surgeon. He or she will be able to explain the pros, cons and risks.
In Summary
If you decide that you would like to plump up your nasolabial grooves, speak with a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon. Be prepared to discuss your concerns and your aesthetic goals. He or she will let then present you with a list of treatment options and recommend the one they believe will provide you with the best results.
When it comes to “fixing” deep nasolabial grooves, you will have a number of options available to you. Some are much more risky than others. Perhaps the simplest and least-invasive of all your options, is an injection of some sort of hydraulic acid filler, such as Radiesse, Jevederm or Restylane, into the nasolabial grooves. Another option is to inject a patient’s own fat, taken from another part of their body, into the grooves. Each of the aforementioned helps to plump up the grooves so that they aren’t so severe but instead, more even in appearance and texture. Again, other options available to you include nasolabial fold excision, cheek implants and facelift.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
1. Are you board certified?
2. What would be your top recommendations for improving the appearance of my nasolabial grooves? What would be your number one recommendation? Why?
3. What are the pros and cons of using cheek implants to fill out my nasolabial grooves? What are the disadvantages to doing so? What happens if I don’t like them?
4. I’ve heard that injectable fillers are a good way to plump up nasolabial grooves. What do you think? Which fillers are best and which ones do you have experience using? Am I a good candidate for fillers?
5. Do you have any before and after pictures of people you’ve treated with this problem? Can I seem them?
PRP Treatment for Nasolabial Grooves
PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) therapy is now making inroads in the field of dermatology. This new generation procedure has been recognized for its restorative, anti-aging abilities. Dermatologists are now beginning to utilize it for treatments that would normally require the use of injectables, laser resurfacing and even surgery. Platelet Rich Therapy is a non-invasive procedure which harnesses the body’s natural healing abilities.
Growth factors, found in blood platelets, are proteins utilized by the body to activate, repair and regenerate damaged tissues and cells. Growth factors also jumpstart the production of collagen and the creation of new capillaries, both which help rejuvenate the skin. When a concentration of platelets, as occurs with the use of PRP therapy, is injected into the nasolabial grooves, overtime, that area will begin to experience a rejuvenation of cells and start to produce more collagen. The result is often nasolabial grooves that are not as pronounced and which begin to fill out on their own.
PRP therapy has been used in other medical fields for some time. However, it is considered a new generation technique in the field of dermatology. The use of it as a cosmetic treatment of nasolabial grooves is new. Oftentimes the aforementioned is treated with some sort of hyaluronic acid injectable filler, such as Juvederm, Restylane/perlane, Radiesse or Evolence Collagen is another option as is the fat transfer from another part of the body.
In severe cases, an excision of the nasolabial grooves is performed. Some dermatologists will even perform a facelift if the patient has other problems they’d liked fix, including skin laxity, to decrease the severity of the grooves.
Injectables are often effective for the treatment of nasolabial grooves but many must be re-injected every few months (though some last longer, up to a year), which can become costly. There is also a risk of allergic reaction and unnatural looking results. Not everyone’s body reacts favorably to injectables, which is a risk that those who opt for injectables must assume. The exision of nasolabial grooves is another option. This procedure is extremely invasive and will leave behind a scar. For many people, the tradeoffs aren’t worth the benefits.
PRP injections typically costs between $500 and $1500. Most people will require between 1 and 3. The exact number will depend upon the severity of their nasolabial grooves and how their body responds to the treatment. Hyaluronic acid filler injections may costs anywhere between $500 and $1700 per syringe, depending on the particular filler used, with Radiesse being amongst the most expensive.
PRP therapy is surprisingly simple. The procedure is takes little time, between 20 and 40 minutes. It is also virtually pain and side effects free. A doctor will draw about 10ccs of a patient’s blood, which they will be put in a vial or test tube and then into a centrifuge machine. This machine spins the blood until all of its component’s are separated. Once the platelets are separated, they are injected into the body at the point of injury treatment. In this case, it would be the nasolabial grooves.
While the injection is being made, most patients don’t report feeling much of anything. The injection is not painful, at least not any more than a normal shot. A person may however, experience some mild swelling and soreness after the procedure. This will quickly dissipate and shouldn’t last more than 3 to 7 days. Typically a mild pain reliever is all that is needed. Any swelling and mild pain experienced should be minor. If for some reason it is not, a mild pain reliever may be prescribed. Most people will be fine with an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Tylenol.
Because PRP therapy is not invasive and doesn’t require a general anesthesia, it can be performed safely in a doctor’s office. It’s not surgery, just a simple injection. After undergoing PRP therapy, a person will have few limitations. They will, however, want to refrain from rubbing or manipulating their eyes.
The number of injections a person will need to improve the appearance of their nasolabial grooves will vary depending on their severity and how their body reacts to the injections. One shot will be sufficient for some people, while others may require 2 or 3. The number of injections required will ultimately be determined by the patient’s doctor.
One of best things about PRP therapy is that there are few complications. Because it uses the body’s own blood platelets, there is no risk of an allergic reaction. Also, because the body essentially heals itself and there is no human element, aside from the initial injection, few things can go wrong. This isn’t the case with injectables or surgery. Injectables can cause an allergic reaction and the results may or may not be pleasing to the patient. Surgery can be painful, difficult to recovery from and when not performed correctly, can result in disfigurement.
In summary, PRP therapy can help improve the texture and tone of skin. It helps to stimulate collagen, reduces wrinkles, even deep ones. The therapy has proven to be effective for improving cheek volume and filling out nasolabial grooves. It is safe, non-invasive and essentially pain free, making it ideal for individuals who want the benefits of dermatological procedures but not the risks and other negative side effects often associated with them.
Find out more about PRP for nasolabial grooves from a physician perspective.
PRP Related Questions To Ask Your Doctor
1. Is PRP therapy sufficient for my nasolabial grooves?
2. Why is PRP therapy considered alternative or cutting edge?
3. Is PRP therapy safe?
4. How many injections will I need?
5. How long will it be before I see results? What happens if I don’t?
