Beauty for All
Walks of Life

The Pros and Cons of Hyaluronic Acid Injection for Nasolabial Folds

Effect and Duration of Injection

The effects of hyaluronic acid injections are immediately visible.
The duration depends on the type of hyaluronic acid used:

Voluma and Volift last about 1.5 years.
RHA 3 and 4 last about 1 year.
Ultra Plus XC lasts around 6 months.

Disadvantages and Risks of the Procedure

The risks associated with hyaluronic acid itself include infection, allergies, and blood flow issues.
Hyaluronic acid is particularly effective at filling depressions.
There are two main causes of nasolabial folds: sagging and hollows.
If you only focus on filling the hollows without considering the sagging, the result may look unnatural.

Choosing a Beauty Clinic and Trustworthiness

It’s important to select a doctor with a certain level of experience.
Since opinions may differ from one doctor to another, it’s a good idea to visit for a consultation after narrowing down your options.

Tips for Avoiding an Unnatural Finish

Understanding the Risks of Pain and Swelling

Hyaluronic acid injections can be a little painful during the procedure.
You may also feel a sensation of "something being inside" for a few days after the treatment.
Generally, swelling is minimal, but it may occur depending on your body type.

Downtime and Aftercare

When hyaluronic acid is the only treatment, there is virtually no downtime, and no special aftercare is needed.
However, if additional treatments for sagging (such as thread lifts, machines, or incisions) are done, downtime may occur.

Tips for a Natural Finish

Nasolabial folds are caused mainly by sagging and hollows.
Try pulling your cheeks up; you’ll notice the nasolabial fold shortens.
By improving cheek sagging, you can also improve nasolabial folds. However, some hollows may still remain.
Filling these remaining hollows with hyaluronic acid will lead to a naturally beautiful result.
At our clinic, we treat sagging with HIFU, RF, thread lifts, and sometimes use Profhilo or hyaluronic acid.
After properly lifting sagging to a natural extent, the remaining hollows are filled with hyaluronic acid.

Failure Cases with Hyaluronic Acid Injection and Improvement Measures

Learning from Failure Cases for Proper Technique

If you only inject hyaluronic acid into the nasolabial fold because you’re concerned about it, the result can lead to a “horse-like” face with an overly protruding mouth.
To avoid this, keep the injection quantity for the nasolabial fold minimal and focus on improving sagging instead.

Hyaluronic Acid Injection to Avoid Unnatural Results

What Happens When You Smile? Checking the Results

One of the most important aspects of injection treatments is ensuring that the results don’t look unnatural when you change expressions.
The goal is for your smile to not make your cheeks overly plump, and for the nasolabial folds to naturally show a slight indentation.

Before and After Case Images

Hyaluronic Acid Injection to Avoid Unnatural Results

The Importance of Hyaluronic Acid Injections by a Specialist

Skill and Experience of the Doctor
Experience is crucial.
Personally, I’ve grown and improved during my first and second years.

The Necessity and Content of a Consultation

It’s important to align your desired result with your budget.
If your budget is limited, discuss how to achieve 50% or 80% of the desired result.

Things to Know About Aftercare

If hyaluronic acid is the only treatment, no aftercare is required.
If combined with other treatments, downtime may occur.

Causes and Solutions for Nasolabial Folds

The Mechanism of Sagging Due to Aging

As we age, tissues like bones and muscles shrink.
This causes the skin on the surface to loosen and sag due to gravity, resulting in sagging.

Other Treatment Options Besides Hyaluronic Acid

To improve sagging, options range from simple treatments like HIFU, thread lifts, to surgical lifts.
For those with significant volume loss, Profhilo may be recommended, while RF or shopping thread lifts are suitable for those with less volume loss.

A Comprehensive Approach to Achieving Beautiful Skin

Aging doesn’t only cause nasolabial folds.
By addressing sagging, volume loss, and skin texture, you can achieve beautiful anti-aging results.

Yoshiko Kuno