Nasolabial Fold Filler in Lake Norman, NC

Soften, not erase

The fold from nose to mouth is part of how a face moves. When you smile, it deepens, and it should. Filler aims to make the fold look less deep at rest so you look less tired, while your smile still looks like yours.

If someone promises to make the fold disappear, that usually means a lot of product, and a lot of product in this area can look puffy. I'd rather leave a little crease than leave you looking filled.

Is it the fold, or something else?

What it costs

Nasolabial folds and marionette lines are priced per syringe and quoted at your free consult. A softer goal usually means less product. You get an exact estimate before anything is booked. See the pricing page. Financing through Cherry and CareCredit is available for treatment plans.

Does it hurt?

Mostly pressure, with a few pinches. Some fillers already contain lidocaine, a numbing medicine. Ask for a break whenever you want one.

How long it lasts

The FDA says how long a filler lasts depends on the filler material and where it's injected, and that absorbable fillers break down over time, so the treatment may need repeating. The FDA's dermal filler page names nasolabial folds among the uses for absorbable (temporary) fillers in adults 22 and older.

Downtime

Some swelling for a few days is normal, and a bruise can happen. Most people head back to their day. Give it two weeks before photos or an event.

Your first visit

We go through the table above with your face in front of a mirror. I look at the folds while you're still, talking, and smiling, and at the cheeks above them. Then you get a plan, a price, and a straight answer about how much softening is realistic. I use Juvéderm, and I pick the right HA filler for the area at your consult. The two-week follow-up is included.

Safety

Before you book anywhere, read the FDA's page on dermal fillers. These are the reasons I'd ask you to wait or talk it through first:

• Under 22: the FDA approves dermal fillers for adults 22 and older.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding: the FDA says filler safety is unknown during both.
• Acne, a rash, hives, or infection where we'd inject.
• A bleeding disorder, severe allergies, past anaphylaxis, or a lidocaine allergy.
• A history of keloids or raised scars.

Common side effects on the FDA's list are bruising, redness, swelling, pain, tenderness, and itching, and many clear up within days to weeks. The serious one is filler entering a blood vessel. The FDA calls that chance low, but it can cause tissue damage, vision problems including blindness, or stroke. If you notice unusual pain, any change in your vision, or skin near the injection site turning white, gray, or blue, get care right away.

The honest uncertainty

I can't tell from a photo whether your fold is mostly the fold or mostly lost support above it. That decides the plan and the price. If the cheeks are the bigger factor, read cheek filler in Lake Norman. Everything else is on the services page.