Skin Guide · Oct 2026
Skin Guide
Support the cheek first
Nasolabial filler softens the folds from nose to mouth. A good plan looks at the cheek above the line, not only the line.
Fold
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cheek
Maylin Apgujeong
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Skin Guide · Fillers
Nasolabial Filler: Softening Smile Lines the Natural Way
Nasolabial filler softens the folds that run from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth. It uses a hyaluronic acid gel, the most common type of dermal filler, placed to support the fold. The change is visible the same day and settles over about two weeks. In many faces the fold deepens because volume above it, in the mid-cheek, has dropped, so a good plan looks at the cheek as well as the line.
Maylin Apgujeong · Skin Guide
Why nasolabial folds deepen
Everyone has a fold here; it is where the cheek meets the mouth. It becomes deeper with age as fat and bone support in the mid-face reduce and the cheek tissue sits lower. Weight loss, sun exposure and genetics play a part too. That is why simply filling the line is not always the best approach.
Filling the fold, or supporting the cheek
- Filling the fold directly softens the line itself. It suits folds that are mainly a crease.
- Supporting the mid-cheek can lift the tissue that is sitting on the fold, which softens it indirectly and looks more natural in some faces.
- Too much in the fold can make the area around the mouth look heavy. A doctor aims for softer, not flat.
What the treatment involves
- The doctor assesses your face at rest and when you smile.
- Numbing is applied, and most fillers also contain a local anaesthetic.
- The gel is placed with a fine needle or a blunt cannula in small amounts and moulded.
- You see the result straight away and review it in the mirror before you leave.
What to expect afterwards
- First days: some swelling and possible bruising.
- Around 2 weeks: swelling settles and the real result shows. A review can be arranged then.
- Duration: it varies with the product and the person, commonly several months to more than a year.
What to expect afterwards
Risks to know about
- Swelling, bruising and small lumps, which usually settle or can be smoothed.
- Rarely, filler can affect a blood vessel. This is serious, and it is one reason to have filler done by a doctor who is trained to recognise and treat it.
- Hyaluronic acid can be dissolved with an enzyme, hyaluronidase, if a result needs correcting.
Filler is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or where there is infection in the area.
Other areas planned with the smile lines
Many people plan the nasolabial area together with other areas: the lips, for balance around the mouth, or the chin, for profile. Our guide to lip filler before and after explains what the lips look like as swelling settles.
Doing it safely in Seoul
At Maylin Apgujeong, a doctor examines where the fold comes from before deciding where to place filler, keeps the amount natural, and explains the plan in writing before you book. Consultation is in English.
How Korean clinics approach the folds
Korean doctors often look at the cheek first. When the midface has lost support, the fold deepens; restoring a little support above it can soften the line more naturally than filling the crease alone. Some people need both, in small amounts.
Skin quality treatments and lifting devices are also part of the picture when the skin itself has thinned or loosened.
Is it worth it?
For moderate folds, filler can give a visible softening on the same day with a natural result, if it is not overdone. For very deep folds with sagging skin, filler alone tends to look heavy, and a combined plan works better.
FAQ
How long does nasolabial filler last?
Commonly several months to more than a year, depending on the product and the person.
Will it look natural?
When the cause is treated rather than the line simply filled, yes.
Is it reversible?
Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with hyaluronidase.
Is there downtime?
Minimal. Swelling or bruising may show for a few days.
Is nasolabial fold filler worth it?
For moderate folds, often yes. For deep folds with sagging, filler alone may look heavy; a combined plan is usually better.
How do Koreans treat nasolabial folds?
Often by supporting the cheek first, then softening the fold with a small amount of filler, sometimes with skin or lifting treatments.
Does cheek filler help with nasolabial folds?
It can, when lost cheek support is part of the cause. The doctor assesses this before deciding where to place filler.
Plan a visit: send a front photo of your face at rest and smiling on WhatsApp, LINE, or KakaoTalk, and we will explain what we would suggest, in English, before you land.
Maylin Apgujeong is a doctor-led skin clinic in Gangnam: the doctor who examines you plans and carries out the treatment. More in About Maylin Clinic Apgujeong.
General information, not medical advice for your individual case. What is appropriate depends on your history and on an examination. See also our Medical Disclaimer and Medical Review Process.
Published · Updated
Medically reviewed by Hyoung Moon Kim, MD, PhD on .
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