Smile lines and facial folds are among the areas a personalized dermal filler plan at Sensational Skin in Scottsdale may address. Filler is used to help restore volume the face loses with age, and the practice evaluates the whole face before deciding whether the folds around the mouth are the right place to start. That decision is made at a consultation with S. Kent Brown, M.D., who performs filler treatments at the practice.
What are smile lines and nasolabial folds?
Smile lines, often called nasolabial folds, are the creases that run from the sides of the nose toward the corners of the mouth. Everyone has them to some degree, because they form where the cheek meets the area around the mouth. They tend to show more when you smile, which is where the everyday name comes from.
Other folds can appear near the mouth and lower face as well. People often describe these together as facial folds, and they are a common reason someone asks about wrinkle filler.
Why facial folds can deepen over time
Over time, the face loses elastin, fat and collagen. As that support changes, contours shift, and folds around the mouth may look deeper than they once did. This happens gradually and looks different from one person to the next.
The skin itself changes too. Texture and tone can shift with age, and in a sunny place like Scottsdale, years of sun exposure can affect the surface of the skin. A fold that looks deeper is sometimes about volume, sometimes about the skin, and often about both. That is one reason the practice looks at more than the crease.
Is nasolabial fold filler only about the fold?
No. At Sensational Skin, nasolabial fold filler is considered as part of the whole face rather than as a single line to fill. Dr. Brown's approach is to evaluate the entire face rather than treat one isolated line or area, with a focus on facial balance.
The folds around the mouth sit just below the cheeks and midface, so changes in one area can be connected to the other. Our article on cheek and midface filler explains how volume loss in that region is evaluated. Looking at the face as a whole helps the plan fit the person, not just the crease.
Questions that may come up during the evaluation include:
- How the smile lines relate to the cheeks and midface above them
- Whether volume loss is showing in other areas, such as the lips or chin
- The condition of the skin around the mouth
- Whether a skin quality treatment should come before any filler
- Your own goals, including what you would like to keep as it is
Skin quality first, then filler
The practice's stated philosophy for filler is to improve skin quality first, then place filler. Filler is intended to address volume. The texture and condition of the skin are planned separately.
Depending on the person, improving skin quality may involve medical-grade skin care such as ZO Skin Health, a chemical peel or a laser treatment. For some patients, that conversation includes CO2 laser resurfacing, the practice's most frequently performed treatment. Not every patient needs every step, and the order is worked out at the consultation.
Which fillers does Sensational Skin offer?
Sensational Skin offers two hyaluronic acid fillers from Obagi Medical: Obagi Saypha MagIQ and Obagi Saypha ChIQ. The practice also offers other dermal fillers and collagen stimulators, including Juvederm Volux, Voluma XC, Volift, Vollure, Volbella, Volite, Restylane, Restylane Lift, Radiesse and Sculptra.
Each product has its own characteristics, and which one, if any, is used for smile lines is decided at the consultation rather than in advance. A plan may use more than one product in different areas of the face. The full list is on the facial fillers and injectables page.
Who performs filler at Sensational Skin?
Dr. Brown has been Medical Director of Sensational Skin since 1998 and has more than 25 years of cosmetic injection experience. He is an anesthesiologist with more than 40 years of surgical experience, and over his career he has worked alongside surgeons in many specialties. That background informs his understanding of facial anatomy.
Susan Brown, his clinical assistant, conducts consultations and builds treatment plans together with Dr. Brown. Nerve-block options are available for comfort during injections, and they can be discussed at the consultation.
Health questions and results
Filler is a medical treatment, so your health history belongs in the conversation. If you have a skin condition, an active concern near the mouth, or any question about your health and injections, talk with a qualified medical provider before going ahead. This article is general education and is not medical advice for your situation.
The practice keeps a before and after gallery for injectables. Results vary from person to person, and photos of other patients are not a prediction of your own outcome. The consultation is the place to talk through your goals and what a realistic plan looks like for your face.
Book a filler consultation in Scottsdale
Sensational Skin is in Scottsdale, convenient to patients from Paradise Valley, Phoenix and the Biltmore area. The practice offers a complimentary consultation, where Dr. Brown evaluates the whole face and talks through whether filler for smile lines, a skin quality treatment or a combination fits your goals.
The practice is at 11111 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite 115, Scottsdale, AZ 85254. Call or text (480) 596-9111 to schedule, or request a consultation online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Sensational Skin offer filler for smile lines?
Yes. Smile lines and facial folds are among the areas a personalized filler plan at the practice may address, and the plan is decided at a consultation.
Who performs filler at Sensational Skin?
S. Kent Brown, M.D., Medical Director since 1998, performs filler treatments at the practice. He has more than 25 years of cosmetic injection experience.
Which fillers are offered for facial folds?
The practice offers Obagi Saypha MagIQ and Obagi Saypha ChIQ, along with other dermal fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane products. Which product fits a given area is discussed at the consultation.
Book a consultation. Every plan starts with a consultation at our Scottsdale office, 11111 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite 115. Call or text (480) 596-9111, or request a consultation online.
Individual results vary. This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have symptoms or a medical condition, please see a qualified medical provider.