Are the folds from your nose to the corners of your mouth becoming more noticeable, making your face look a bit sterner or more tired? A filler in the nasolabial fold can soften those lines, so your face looks a bit more open and relaxed again. Subtle and respectful, while maintaining your own expression. On this page, you'll read honestly what you can expect before and after such a treatment: how it makes a visible difference, how long it lasts, who it suits, and when a filler is not the best choice. No promises, but clear expectations.
The nasolabial fold is the line that runs from the side of your nose to the corner of your mouth. Everyone has this fold; it's part of a natural face. Over the years, it often deepens because your face loses volume in the cheeks and the skin becomes less firm. The fold then literally hangs and becomes more noticeable.
For a nasolabial fold filler, we usually use a hyaluronic acid filler. That's a substance that also naturally occurs in your skin and provides some support beneath the tissue. The fold becomes softer and less deep without disappearing completely. A fold that's completely gone actually looks unnatural.
Often the cause isn't in the fold itself, but higher up in the cheek. That's why Dr T. examines your entire mid-face during the consultation. Sometimes, some support in the cheek is a more logical choice than directly filling the fold, leading to a more natural result.
Before the treatment, you see a deep fold that makes your face look heavier or more tired. After the treatment, the fold is softer and less pronounced, and your lower face looks calmer. The difference is usually immediately visible, although there may be some swelling in the first few days that distorts the picture.
You typically see the final result after one to two weeks, once the filler has settled and any swelling is gone. The goal is for people to find your face looking fresher without being able to pinpoint the treatment. No tight or overfilled effect, but yourself, just more rested.
It's important to be honest: a filler doesn't always completely remove the fold, especially not deep folds. Sometimes a partial softening is the wisest result. Overfilling pushes the fold up and creates exactly that heavy, unnatural effect we want to avoid.
A nasolabial fold filler is a good fit when the fold bothers you, makes your face look sterner or older, and you want a subtle softening without surgery. Also if you notice the fold has deepened over the years, it can make a nice and natural difference.
Sometimes a filler is not the best solution. With very deep folds mainly due to excess skin or significant volume loss, filling can make the picture look heavier instead of lighter. Then we honestly discuss which approach does make sense, or whether no treatment is the right advice.
A filler is never given during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and is not recommended with an active infection or inflammation in the treatment area, or with certain conditions or allergies. During the consultation, we go over your health and expectations so that together we make a safe and honest choice.
Everything starts with a consultation. Dr T. looks at your face at rest and in motion, listens to what bothers you, and explains what a filler can and cannot do in your case. You get an honest picture before anything happens, with no pressure to treat immediately.
The treatment itself usually takes a short time. The filler typically contains a local anesthetic, and if needed, we use extra anesthesia to keep it comfortable. With a fine needle or a blunt cannula, Dr T. places the filler precisely in the right location, aiming for a natural result.
Afterwards, you can typically continue with your day right away. You receive clear aftercare instructions and, if useful, a check-up moment to evaluate the result. Want to know first if this suits you? A consultation is the best way to get clarity.
Most side effects are mild and temporary: some redness, swelling, tenderness, or a small bruise at the injection site. That usually subsides within a few days to a week. It's best to avoid makeup over a fresh injection site for the first few hours.
More rare are small lumps, an irregular result, or longer-lasting swelling. A filler in the nasolabial fold requires precision because blood vessels run nearby. That's why the experience and anatomical knowledge of who treats you are really important for your safety.
A big advantage of hyaluronic acid fillers is that in most cases they can be dissolved with an antidote. If you are not satisfied or there is a problem, corrections can be made. If you have doubts or notice something unusual, always contact us.
How long a nasolabial fold filler lasts varies from person to person. Usually, the result remains visible for several months up to over a year, depending on the product, the amount, and your own metabolism. The result fades gradually, not abruptly.
The price depends on how much filler is needed and your specific situation. That's why we don't put a fixed amount on it: a deep fold requires something different than a light softening. During the consultation, you get an honest estimate, so you know beforehand what to expect.
Prefer to first look at what is realistic in your case, in terms of result and price? Feel free to schedule a consultation. Then we'll look together whether a filler is the right choice for you, or if something else fits better.
Schedule a personal consultation with Dr T.
Book an appointmentFor the nasolabial fold, hyaluronic acid filler is often used, which adds immediate volume and softens the fold. That can give a very nice result, but it mainly fills. Biostimulators such as Sculptra work fundamentally differently: they stimulate your own collagen production so that volume is rebuilt from within.
If your skin has mainly lost firmness and you don't necessarily want a filling, but a structural improvement, biostimulation is an elegant choice. The result comes slowly, is subtle, and almost invisible to the outside world. At Dr T., we sometimes combine a light filler with a biostimulator: the filler for immediate correction, the biostimulator for long-term skin strengthening. That way you get the best of both worlds, without an overfilled look.
Our approach is always that the fold does not have to disappear completely; a slight shadow belongs to a lively face. Biostimulation respects that principle more than classic fillers, because collagen buildup happens slowly and organically.
Sculptra, a biostimulator based on poly-L-lactic acid, is not injected directly into the fold itself, but into a deeper layer of the face. It stimulates fibroblasts to produce new collagen, which over several months leads to a fuller, firmer skin. Your nasolabial fold is not filled, but literally lifted and softened from underneath.
In contrast to a hyaluronic acid filler, where you see results immediately, with Sculptra you need patience. We usually plan two to three sessions, four to six weeks apart. Afterwards, collagen continues to build, up to 6 to 12 months after the last treatment. The result lasts on average 2 years, often longer. After the initial sessions, a maintenance treatment follows once a year.
Sculptra has a good safety profile when administered by an experienced physician. Swelling, redness, and small bruises are temporary. More rare is the formation of small lumps under the skin; a correct injection technique, as used by Dr T., minimizes this risk. Because Sculptra does not provide immediate volume, it is less suitable if you want a quick visible result for a special occasion.
Sometimes a previous filler treatment elsewhere is not to your liking: too much volume, asymmetry, or an unnaturally tight fold. Hyaluronidase is an enzyme that safely dissolves hyaluronic acid, often within 24 to 48 hours. At Dr T., we use it very specifically, not to erase everything, but to correct an existing filler and rebuild.
If your nasolabial folds have been overfilled after a previous treatment, or if a Tyndall effect (bluish tone) is visible, a tiny amount of hyaluronidase can bring relief. It's a safe, proven method that rarely gives unwanted side effects in experienced hands.
We have a conservative policy: rather correct with minimal doses than break down the entire filler. This way, the natural contours of your face are respected.
Dr. Thierry De Smedt welcomes you in a quiet, discreet setting just outside the center of Ghent, with parking right in front of the door. We treat clients from, among others:
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