Smile Lines: What They Are and How to Soften Them

Smile lines are the creases that run from the sides of your nose down to the corners of your mouth. The medical name is nasolabial folds. When you smile, the cheek lifts and the skin folds along this line, which is completely normal.

Over time, these can settle into static folds, meaning they show even when your face is at rest. That is the point at which many people start to notice them in photos or the mirror. It is worth saying clearly, smile lines are not a flaw, they are a sign of a face that has lived and laughed.

Two big factors are at play. The first is midface volume loss. As we age, the natural fat pads and support in the cheeks can flatten and shift, which lets the tissue above the fold drop and deepens the crease below it.

The second is collagen decline. Collagen and elastin are what keep skin firm and springy, and we make less of both over the years. Skin gets thinner and less resilient, so folds that used to bounce back start to stay. Sun exposure, genetics, and lifestyle can all speed this along. None of it is your fault, it is just how skin ages.

Here's the honest part. Smile lines are static folds, so they are softened mainly with dermal filler and midface support, not primarily with a neuromodulator. Because the fold is largely about lost volume and structure, the most effective approach is usually to restore support rather than relax a muscle.

Often that means cheek support. By gently rebuilding volume in the midface, your provider can lift the tissue that has dropped, which can soften the fold from above rather than just filling the line itself. In some cases a small amount of filler is placed in the fold too. Skin treatments that support collagen, like SylfirmX RF microneedling or skin boosters that improve hydration and quality, can complement the result over time. Results vary, and the goal is a softer, refreshed look, not erasing every line.

It helps to go in with realistic expectations. A thoughtful plan can soften smile lines and refresh the midface for many people, but it does not freeze the face or remove every crease. Some movement and some line is normal and natural.

Results vary from person to person, and they depend on your anatomy, how deep the folds are, and how your skin responds. Your provider assesses your midface and skin first, then recommends what fits, rather than reaching for one product by default. At Real Beauty Rx in Innisfil, that assessment is where every plan starts.

It is easy to mix these up, so here is a quick distinction. Smile lines run from the nose to the corners of the mouth. Marionette lines are different, they run from the corners of the mouth down toward the chin, in the lower face. They have different causes and call for a different plan.

If your concern is more about the area below the mouth, our companion guide on marionette lines walks through that anatomy and the options that suit it. You will find a link to it in the section below.