How to Prevent and Treat Nasolabial Folds: Expert Tips from a Renowned Korean Dermatologist
Nasolabial folds, commonly known as laugh lines, are one of the most noticeable signs of aging. As we age, these lines become more pronounced, but understanding their causes and knowing how to prevent them can help keep your skin youthful and fresh for longer. Here’s what a renowned Korean dermatologist has to say about the causes, prevention, and at-home remedies for nasolabial folds.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66J-YDoLPQE

Understanding the Cause of Nasolabial Folds
As we age, the fat layers in our faces increase, causing the skin to become heavier and sag. This sagging leads to the formation of nasolabial folds, which appear from the corners of the nose down to the mouth. These folds are a natural part of the aging process, but with proper care and preventative measures, they can be minimized.
Prevention Tips for Nasolabial Folds
The key to preventing nasolabial folds lies in maintaining good skin elasticity and managing the weight of facial fat. If the skin remains firm and the fat distribution is lighter, these folds are less likely to form. As we age, the skin loses its elasticity, and muscles weaken, leading to wrinkles. To maintain youthful skin and prevent these lines, it’s important to focus on:
- Maintaining Skin Elasticity: Keeping your skin hydrated and protected with a good skincare routine.
- Managing Weight: Maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent excess facial fat that leads to sagging skin.
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At-Home Solutions for Nasolabial Folds
While it’s not easy to completely avoid wrinkles, there are natural solutions that can help improve the appearance of nasolabial folds:
- Exercise and Facial Fat Loss
Excess facial fat can cause sagging, which worsens nasolabial folds. If you have gained weight, losing it through exercise can help reduce facial fat and lift the skin. Incorporating facial exercises can also help tone and tighten the skin. - Facial Muscle Exercises
The face has many muscles, and just like any other muscle in the body, these can be toned through exercise. By strengthening these muscles, the skin’s elasticity can be improved. One of the best facial exercises for nasolabial folds is LEE Exercise, which targets the mouth corners and helps improve muscle tone in that area.

The Role of Smiling and Positive Thinking
The face reflects a person’s life experiences, and as we age, the expression lines on our faces are shaped by our emotions and habits. By smiling more, thinking positively, and performing regular facial muscle exercises, you can improve your overall facial appearance and reduce the prominence of nasolabial folds.
Important Questions About Nasolabial Folds
- Does Rapid Weight Loss Cause Sagging? Rapid weight loss can indeed cause the skin to sag. From a medical standpoint, the ideal approach to dieting is to lose no more than 10% of your body weight over three months. Sudden weight loss can lead to a loss of skin moisture, which may make the face appear saggy.
- Are There Skincare Products for Wrinkle Reduction? Unfortunately, there are no magical creams that can completely fix nasolabial folds. The best skincare tip is to focus on hydration. Moisturizing is essential, but beyond that, there is no product that can truly reverse deep wrinkles.
- What Can Be Done for Already-Formed Wrinkles? If wrinkles have already formed, there are a few options for treatment:
- Surgical Lifting: A facelift is the most effective method for lifting the skin.
- Thread Lifting: A non-invasive procedure with temporary results that can last up to a year.
- Laser Treatments: Laser treatments like fat-dissolving lasers or injection treatments can help reduce nasolabial folds by breaking down fat and tightening the skin.
- Fillers: Fillers can be injected into the folds to restore volume and smooth out the lines.
Habits to Avoid for Better Skin
Certain habits can make nasolabial folds worse. For example:
- Sleeping with Your Face Creased: Avoid sleeping on your face or pressing your face into the pillow, as this can cause deepening wrinkles. Since the skin regenerates poorly in areas that are constantly creased, deep wrinkles may form.
Conclusion: Prevention and Treatment for Nasolabial Folds
If you’re concerned about nasolabial folds, there are both at-home solutions and professional treatments to consider:
At-Home Remedies:
- Exercise and Healthy Weight Loss – Implementing a balanced diet and exercise routine can help reduce excess fat and improve skin tone.
- Facial Massage – Enhancing blood circulation in your face through massage can help boost elasticity and reduce wrinkles.
- LEE Exercise – A facial exercise that targets the mouth area, improving muscle strength and skin tone.
Professional Treatments:
- Fat-Dissolving Injections / Laser Treatment – Procedures like fat-dissolving injections or ultrasound treatments (e.g., Ultherapy, Shurink) can help break down facial fat and tighten the skin.
- Facelift Surgery – For more dramatic results, a facelift surgery can provide a long-lasting solution.
By combining these at-home methods and professional treatments, you can significantly improve the appearance of nasolabial folds and maintain a youthful, radiant look.
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