Nasolabial folds — the lines running from the nose to the mouth — deepen with age due to a combination of volume loss, sagging, repeated expression, and thinning skin.

In Korean clinics, the most common treatments fall into three categories:
• Filler (restore volume)
• Lifting (correct sagging)
• Laser (improve texture + fine wrinkles)

Each treatment works differently, and choosing the right one depends on what causes your lines.

1. Filler — Best for Volume Loss & Mid-Face Support

Nasolabial folds often look deeper because the mid-face loses volume and the cheek tissue deflates. Rather than injecting directly into the line, expert injectors lift the surrounding structures.

How Filler Works

• Adds structural support to cheeks and mid-face
• Softens the fold by lifting downward-fallen tissue
• Smooths the crease by restoring lost fat and collagen

Best For

• Deep folds from deflated cheeks
• Volume loss in mid-face
• Early to moderate aging
• People wanting instant results

Pros

• Immediate improvement
• Natural when placed deeply on bone
• Minimally invasive

Cons

• Does NOT fix sagging alone
• Overfilling makes the face look puffy
• Results last 6–18 months

Filler = Best when hollowness and volume loss are the main cause.

2. Lifting Treatments — Best for Sagging & Tissue Descent

If your nasolabial folds come from sagging skin or fallen cheek fat, volume alone won’t fix the problem. Lifting is often more effective.

HIFU (Shurink, Ultherapy, Liftera)

How HIFU Helps

• Targets the SMAS layer
• Lifts mid-face tissue upward
• Reduces heaviness that deepens the fold

Best For

• Mild to moderate sagging
• People in their 30s–40s
• Preventing deeper folds before they form

Thread Lift

How Threads Help

• Mechanically reposition sagging tissue
• Immediate lifting effect
• Creates contour and reduces fold depth

Best For

• Moderate to severe nasolabial folds
• Heavier mid-face volume
• People wanting dramatic improvement

RF Lifting (Thermage, Oligio)

How RF Helps

• Tightens dermis
• Improves elasticity around the fold
• Softens crepey texture

Lifting Treatments = Best when sagging is the primary cause.

3. Laser — Best for Fine Wrinkles & Skin Texture

Lasers can’t lift or add volume, but they improve the wrinkle lines on the surface of the fold.

How Laser Works

• Stimulates collagen
• Smooths fine wrinkles around the fold
• Tightens superficial skin

Best For

• Fine lines on top of the fold
• Texture irregularities
• Combining with filler or lifting

Pros

• Improves tone and smoothness
• Enhances filler/lifting results

Cons

• Minimal effect on deep folds
• Needs multiple sessions

Laser = Best for surface wrinkles, not structural folds.

Which Treatment Do YOU Need? (By Cause)

**If the fold is deep because of VOLUME LOSS → Choose:

➡️ FILLER**

Signs: flat cheeks, sunken mid-face, tired look.

**If the fold is deep because of SAGGING → Choose:

➡️ HIFU or THREAD LIFT**

Signs: heavy cheeks, jowls, downward pull.

**If the fold has FINE LINES on the surface → Choose:

➡️ LASER**

Signs: crepey texture or photoaging.

**If you have BOTH volume loss + sagging → Combine:

➡️ FILLER + HIFU
or
➡️ FILLER + THREAD LIFT**

This combination is the most common and effective approach in Korean anti-aging clinics.

Best Treatment Strategy by Age

Late 20s–30s

• Mild folds: HIFU or laser
• Early mid-face flattening: light filler

30s–40s

• Filler + HIFU
• Filler + RF tightening
• Optional threads for visible sagging

40s–50s+

• Stronger lifting: Thread lift
• Combine with filler for support
• Laser for fine-line refinement

Final Verdict: What Works Best for Nasolabial Folds?

⭐ Filler → Best for mid-face volume loss

⭐ HIFU / Thread Lift → Best for sagging that deepens the folds

⭐ Laser → Best for superficial lines and skin texture

For most people, the best results come from a combination approach that treats both the cause (sagging/volume loss) and the surface (fine lines).