Your makeup looks smooth when you apply it. A few hours later, it has settled into the folds beside your mouth. Or you’re noticing those lines in photographs even when you’re not smiling.
They may have gradually become more prominent, leaving you wondering whether a different skincare product would help or if it’s time to consider treatment.
Smile lines can often be softened without surgery. A useful starting point is understanding why yours look more noticeable, since treating the crease alone may miss part of the picture.
At Be Medispa in Lexington, our experienced injectors assess your facial anatomy before recommending an approach. You don’t need to arrive knowing which product or procedure to request.
Smile lines, also called nasolabial folds, extend from the sides of the nose toward the corners of the mouth.
They are a normal part of facial anatomy. You may see them mainly when you smile, or they may remain noticeable while your face is relaxed.
Smile lines don’t mean anything is wrong. If their appearance bothers you, though, an assessment can help explain which options may make a worthwhile difference.
A deeper-looking fold isn’t always caused by the skin directly in that crease.
Changes in facial volume and the tissues around the fold can affect how it looks. Skin elasticity also changes over time, influencing how the area looks at rest and during expression.
Weight changes may alter facial fullness, while sun exposure can contribute to visible skin aging. Your natural facial structure helps determine how these changes show up.
That’s why two people pointing to the same area may receive different recommendations.
You might come in asking us to fill a crease beside your mouth. Before discussing injections, we look at the surrounding face.
Your provider assesses whether the concern mainly involves a distinct fold or changes in nearby volume. Fine surface wrinkles need a different discussion from substantial skin laxity.
Cheek volume can matter in that assessment, but cheek filler shouldn’t be presented as a guaranteed way to lift or erase smile lines. The effect depends on the individual concern and treatment plan.
Some patients may benefit from treatment near the fold. Others may need a broader approach or a different type of care.
It’s the diagnosis, not the device. The recommendation should follow an understanding of what is contributing to your concern.
Dermal fillers can improve selected moderate-to-severe facial folds, including nasolabial folds. A suitable product can add volume to the treated area.
At Be Medispa, our hyaluronic acid filler options include Restylane and Belotero products. Your injector will explain which specific formulation may suit the proposed treatment.
The amount matters, along with placement. Adding more product isn’t always the answer when a fold remains visible, especially if excess skin is a major contributor.
Explain how much change you want and what you would like to preserve. Your provider can discuss realistic softening without promising a completely smooth or crease-free face.
Learn more about our dermal filler treatments in Lexington.
Sculptra is another option to discuss for eligible patients. It contains poly-L-lactic acid and works through a collagen-stimulating response, with gradual improvement.
Its treatment course differs from a hyaluronic acid filler appointment. Your provider will explain the recommended sessions and when it makes sense to assess progress.
Sculptra is not a direct substitute for every filler treatment. The best choice depends on your anatomy and the improvement you’re seeking.
Botox and similar wrinkle relaxers temporarily reduce activity in selected muscles. Fillers address different concerns by adding volume.
Nasolabial folds often involve facial structure, so Botox is generally not the first choice for treating them.
Injections around the mouth also require careful consideration of muscle function. Your injector should assess the area and explain why a particular treatment is appropriate rather than assume every facial line needs a wrinkle relaxer.
If dryness is making fine lines more noticeable, moisturizer can help your skin look temporarily smoother and feel more comfortable.
Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher helps protect exposed skin against UV damage. A suitable retinoid may also be worth discussing for fine lines, but consider irritation and individual suitability.
These steps support skin quality. They do not replace lost facial volume or reliably erase a deep structural fold.
You don’t need to keep buying stronger products to chase a concern that skincare is unlikely to fully address.
Sometimes what patients call “smile lines” includes fine wrinkles or rough texture around the mouth.
In those cases, your provider may discuss skin-focused treatments, such as resurfacing, instead of or alongside an injectable plan.
Surface improvement and fold correction are different treatment aims. Ask what a recommendation is expected to change and what will remain.
Significant skin laxity may warrant a surgical consultation if the change you want is beyond what nonsurgical care can reasonably provide.
The experience behind your treatment matters. Your provider needs to understand facial anatomy and how the selected product behaves within the tissue.
Be Medispa was founded in Lexington in 2004 by Dr. Paul Hester, MD, MBA, and Chasity Hester, PA-C. Our physician-led practice brings more than two decades of aesthetic medicine experience to patient care.
Our medical team includes:
Injectable treatments are part of our team’s daily clinical work. We combine that experience with ongoing education and individualized planning.
You should understand why your provider recommends an approach, including when less treatment or waiting may be appropriate.
Swelling or bruising can follow filler treatment, and early appearance may not reflect the settled result. Your provider will explain aftercare and when to evaluate your response.
Rare but serious filler complications include accidental injection into a blood vessel, which can cause tissue damage, blindness or stroke.
Share your medical history and previous injectable treatments before proceeding. Your provider should review risks specific to the recommended product and give you clear contact instructions.
Seek immediate medical attention for unusual pain or concerning skin-color changes after injection. Vision changes or stroke symptoms require emergency care.
If you’re searching for the best medispa in Lexington, look for a team that explains the concern before proposing treatment. You should feel comfortable asking how the recommendation relates to your face.
For patients considering Be Medispa, the best medspa experience includes being heard and understanding what improvement is realistic.
Award-winning Be Medispa offers smile line treatment within a comprehensive approach to aesthetic medicine. We consider the surrounding face and your preferences before developing a plan.
You don’t have to choose between filler and another procedure on your own. Show us the area that bothers you and explain what has changed.
We’ll help you understand what may soften the appearance of your smile lines while preserving the features you want.
Call 859-266-5483 or book online to schedule your smile line consultation at Be Medispa in Lexington.
Often, you can soften their appearance. The best approach depends on what is contributing to the fold and how much change you want. Complete elimination is not a realistic promise.
Not necessarily. Changes in cheek volume may matter, but treating the cheeks does not guarantee correction of the folds beside the mouth.
Duration depends on the product, treatment area, and your individual response. Your injector will discuss expectations for the recommended filler rather than apply one timeline to every patient.
Your cost depends on the treatment plan. We’ll explain the proposed areas and products, then review pricing before you decide.