Will filler help with nasolabial folds? Or is surgery necessary?
One of the most common questions patients ask during consultation for nasolabial folds is: “Would filler be enough for me, or do I need surgery?” To answer this properly, we first need to determine the cause of the nasolabial folds. There are generally two main causes: • Loss of volume in the cheek area • Sagging of the skin and underlying tissues If the folds are mainly caused by volume loss, filler can be an effective solution. Fillers restore volume to hollow areas and soften the folds naturally. The procedure is relatively quick, and recovery time is minimal. Juvederm typically lasts about 1.5–2 years, while Rejuviel lasts around 1–1.5 years. However, if sagging is also present, the approach becomes different. Even if filler restores lost volume, sagging skin may still remain, meaning the folds cannot be fully corrected with filler alone. In such cases, a mid-face lift may be recommended. This surgery lifts and firmly repositions the sagging cheek tissues, improving not onl...