Nose Area - Wrinkle Correction

In this section, we will discuss how physicians are using advanced liquid face lift
products, including dermal fillers, like Juvederm® Ultra, Radiesse®
and Restylane®, as well as BOTOX®, for
correction of wrinkle conditions on and around the nose. Along the upper third
of the nose and nasal bridge, some individuals develop wrinkles that are commonly
known as bunny lines. Bunny lines are a concern to many individuals.
Another concern affecting just about everyone at one time or another is deepening
of nasolabial folds. Nasolabial folds are lines or folds that run from the nose
to the corners of the mouth.

Note: Before undergoing any procedure discussed on this web site, make sure
that your physician has extensive experience with the specific procedure.
Medical schools have only recently begun to teach some of these procedures.
As with any medical procedure there are varying degrees of risk involved.
Please consult your physician.

Bunny Lines

Bunny lines are wrinkles on the upper bridge of the nose or on either side of the
nose that are caused by hyperactivity of nasalis muscles when smiling or laughing.
They get the name bunny lines because they are formed from twitching the muscles
of the nose. You can
scrunch your nose to see bunny lines. These wrinkles may be horizontal, vertical
or diagonal. Bunny lines are often superficial or shallow.

Physicians almost always treat bunny lines with a small amount of BOTOX®
placed on either side of the nose, as well as in the transverse line that sometimes
runs across the bridge of the nose. Experienced physicians will take care
not to place the BOTOX® too lateral or away from the nose so as not
to diminish or affect an individual's smile. While only very small amounts
of BOTOX® are used to treat bunny lines, individuals wishing to treat
bunny lines will normally require regular small treatments as soon as they begin
to reappear.

Advanced dermal fillers, such as Juvederm® or Restylane®,
may also be used to treat bunny lines. Dermal fillers, when used, are placed
under the skin beneath the lines to fill in a portion of the lines.

Nasolabial Folds

Nasolabial folds are deep creases or folds that run from the corners of the nose
down to the corners of the mouth. Nasolabial folds vary in severity from lines
to folds to crevasses, the latter being a very deep fold. In some instances, nasolabial
folds arc around the corners of the mouth to form parentheses looking curves around
the sides of the mouth. (See also:
Mouth Area Wrinkles
section)
Nasolabial folds are usually a single crease, but can also
be comprised of more than one line.

Nasolabial folds are an early sign of aging in many individuals. A variety
of factors can contribute to the formation and severity of the folds. Over
time, loss of facial collagen and elastin, as well as skeletal degradation and downward
migration of the cheek pads can contribute to deepening folds. Exposure to
environmental factors may also contribute to nasolabial folds. Individuals
with more prominent, fatty cheek pads are predisposed to nasolabial folds, which
may be noticeable even in youth.

Nasolabial folds may be treated with a variety of methods, depending upon the severity
and type of fold. For the fine lines that look more like a stiletto cut, physicians
will often place a filler superficially in the fold. If this technique is used,
a less-bulking filler like Juvederm® Ultra will be used in very small
amounts. Care must be taken by the physician to use small amounts of filler to avoid
a Tindal effect, (a blue coloration visible through the skin). This is a very rare
occurence with an experienced physician.
Deeper nasolabial folds are typically treated by placing liquid face lift products,
such as Juvederm® Ultra Plus, Perlane® or Radiesse®
, more deeply underneath the fold. This technique will essentially push the
fold up and alleviate the appearance of a fold, in some instances removing the fold
entirely.

Most physicians will take care not to over treat the fold directly. Depending
upon an individual's unique facial characteristics,
some subtle nasolabial depression may be a naturally desirable contour.

In addition to direct treatment of the nasolabial fold area, a liquid face lift
procedure can have some additional positive effect on nasolabial folds. Lifting
the upper face or adding volume to cheeks and other areas of the face will essentially
pull back on the fold for an improved appearance. Therefore, a growing number
of physicians also treat nasolabial folds by placement of liquid face lift products
in other areas of the face such as the cheeks. For instance, some physicians
will fill a hollowing mid-cheek and sub-malar area, which lifts the mound next to
the nasolabial fold, partially effacing the nasolabial fold. Theses techniques are
used more and more to help correct deeper nasolabial folds.

As with many of the procedures utilizing liquid face lift products, it is advisable
to seek out a physician who has extensive experience with treatments involving liquid
face lift products, including BOTOX® and advanced dermal fillers.
The more experience a physician has, the more likely a physician will understand
the critical subtleties of injection technique and placement to achieve natural
contours given an individual's unique facial characteristics.

*This web site is designed to educate individuals about dermal filler and
botulinum toxin procedure options being used by various physicians in the U.S. and abroad. The information is
not intended to be medical advice or endorsement of any particular product or
procedure. Consult your physician for medical advice. Companies who manufacture
FDA-approved dermal fillers and botulinum toxins typically do not seek FDA approval for use of products in all
facial areas or procedures. Other uses are known as off label. Both on-label and off-label uses are presented on this web site, and are widely used by plastic surgeons, dermatologists and other
physicians in the U.S. and abroad. The LFLA is an association
of experienced dermal filler medical practitioners and is not affiliated with
any medical device manufacturer.