Smile lines can be a sign of the expressions that shape your personality, but they may also highlight the natural aging process. Sun exposure often impacts how quickly these lines become noticeable, especially if you have spent years outdoors. What once looked like a soft crease when you smiled may now remain even when your face is at rest.
When wrinkles and folds start to become more defined, you may be ready to look for ways to smooth and restore your features. Dermal fillers can help lift the skin, reduce the depth of lines, and bring back softer contours. At U | 180 Medical Spa & Wellness in Winnsboro, we offer options that give you the chance to refresh your appearance without surgery.
Learning More About Smile Lines and Wrinkles
What Are Smile Lines?
Smile lines are the folds that develop from the sides of the nose down to the corners of the mouth, often becoming more pronounced when you laugh or speak. The skin here moves frequently, which makes it one of the first areas to reveal changes in elasticity and volume. Collagen and elastin give skin its structure, and when production slows, the skin no longer springs back as easily. Those searching for how to fix marionette lines on the face discover that smile lines and marionette lines are often connected because they are both natural results of repeated movement combined with gradual changes in skin support.
Why Wrinkles Form
Wrinkles appear when the skin’s supportive framework weakens and becomes less capable of resisting repeated folding and compression. Sun exposure speeds up this process by breaking down collagen fibers and altering how skin cells repair themselves. Genetics also influence how quickly wrinkles develop, and lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet, hydration, and sleep quality can make a visible difference. As facial muscles repeatedly contract with expressions, the skin above them creases, and without enough underlying firmness, those creases remain even when the face is at rest.
How Dermal Fillers Work
Dermal fillers add volume beneath the skin to smooth lines, soften folds, and restore shape that has been lost with age. The most widely used fillers are made with hyaluronic acid, a substance that occurs naturally in the body and attracts water to create a volumizing effect. Once injected, the gel-like material integrates into the tissues and supports the skin from below. Results appear quickly, and the treatment can be adjusted to provide subtle or more noticeable improvements depending on the area being treated.
What Are the Different Types of Dermal Fillers?
Several options exist when choosing a filler, and each works in slightly different ways depending on the material used. Hyaluronic acid fillers are selected for their ability to hydrate and volumize the skin, while calcium hydroxylapatite fillers stimulate collagen for firmer support. Poly-L-lactic acid fillers gradually rebuild structure by encouraging natural collagen growth and are useful for more gradual improvements. The type of dermal filler that is right for you will depend on the kind of results that you want and the areas you want to treat.
Why JUVÉDERM® for Smile Lines?
JUVÉDERM is a hyaluronic acid filler that smooths facial lines and contours areas where the skin has begun to fold. Its smooth consistency allows it to look natural inside your tissues, smoothing areas like the nasolabial folds without creating stiffness. JUVÉDERM products contain lidocaine, which helps make the treatment more comfortable while it is being placed. JUVÉDERM has become a widely used option for treating smile lines because of its predictable performance and versatility across different areas of the face.
What Makes Treating Smile Lines Different From Other Areas?
A High Movement Area
The skin around the mouth moves constantly when speaking, smiling, and eating, which makes it more prone to visible creasing. Repeated motion in this region can cause fillers to break down more quickly than in less active areas. For that reason, choosing the right approach with cosmetic fillers is important to create results that look natural but hold up against frequent movement.
A Need for Balance
Smile lines often connect visually with the cheeks, lips, and chin, so balance across these areas matters. Adding volume to only one spot can sometimes exaggerate the contrast between treated and untreated regions. Careful placement allows the lower face to look more balanced so that improvements in one area do not look disconnected from the rest of the features.
Avoiding Puffiness
Too much filler in the folds beside the nose can create too much fullness rather than a smooth contour. Subtle adjustments with the right product prevent the heavy or swollen look that some worry about. Precision in placement helps maintain definition while softening wrinkles, giving the face a refreshed appearance without an overfilled result. Remember that you may have some swelling right after your treatment, which can make your results look a little fuller than you were expecting. This swelling will go down after a few days and leave your final results.
Special Techniques Used for Smile Lines
The area around the nose and mouth often requires careful layering to avoid creating an unnatural look. We may use a cannula instead of a sharp needle to place the product more smoothly and reduce the risk of bruising. Small amounts of filler can be deposited gradually along the fold, blending it with nearby tissue rather than simply adding bulk. Techniques that lift from the cheeks or support the corners of the mouth can also help soften smile lines without overloading the fold itself.
How Long Do Fillers Last in Smile Lines?
The longevity of your results depends on the JUVÉDERM product that we choose, your metabolism, and the level of facial movement in the area. Hyaluronic acid fillers in smile lines often last six months to a year, with some advanced formulations lasting longer. You can come in a couple of times per year to refresh your look if you want.
Other Strategies for Keeping the Wrinkles and Smile Lines Away
Protecting your skin from the sun is still one of the most effective ways to slow the development of new lines, since ultraviolet rays directly damage collagen and elastin. A consistent skincare routine that includes moisturizers, retinoids, and antioxidants can support healthier cell turnover and help maintain a smoother surface.
Nutritious food choices, hydration, and limiting alcohol or smoking provide the body with the resources it needs to repair skin. Stress management is also important since excess cortisol interferes with natural repair processes and leaves the skin looking tired. Regular exercise improves circulation and delivers more oxygen and nutrients to the skin, which helps keep it more resilient.
Are You Ready to Find Out More? Call Us Today!
Lines around the mouth can form earlier with sun exposure, repeated expressions, or lifestyle habits, and dermal fillers are a great way to restore volume and soften their appearance. At U | 180 Medical Spa & Wellness, we provide patients in Winnsboro, LA, and the surrounding cities in northeast Louisiana, with effective strategies for reducing wrinkles and improving facial balance. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call (318) 412-2261 or reach out through our website.
