Nasolabial folds are normal creases between the sides of the nose and the corners of the mouth. Their appearance can vary with facial expression, the shape and support of the cheek, skin quality, inherited anatomy, weight change and lighting. A photograph can show the fold, but it cannot identify which factor matters most for you.
A normal fold can still catch your attention
You may notice the crease more in side light, when makeup settles, in a photograph or when your face is at rest. You may also see it deepen naturally when you smile. Those observations are useful, and you do not need to decide that the fold is a problem before asking what has changed.
This page helps you name the feature and understand the connected anatomy. It does not assume that you need treatment, or that the fold itself would be the focus if you chose to have an assessment.
What can change the way a fold reads?
Your smile deepens it
The fold moves as the cheeks lift and the mouth changes shape. A stronger crease during expression is part of normal facial movement.
The shadow begins higher
A change in the contour above the fold can alter how the crease and the nearby cheek shadow meet.
Texture draws the eye
Dryness, sun-related change and skin texture can make a familiar fold look more defined at the surface.
Light changes the contrast
Side light, camera distance and expression can make the same fold look quite different from one moment to the next.
The fold changes with expression
At rest, you may see a soft boundary, a deeper shadow or very little crease. During a smile, the cheek lifts and the tissues around the mouth move, so the fold usually becomes more visible.
That difference matters. It helps separate a feature that mainly appears with expression from a change that is also noticeable when your face is relaxed. Corey looks at both rather than judging the area from one photograph.
If your question is mainly about a broader cheek shadow or contour change, the cheek and midface guide owns that wider anatomy intent.
Start with the change you actually notice
Movement is the clearest difference
Notice whether the fold softens again when your face relaxes and whether both sides move in a familiar way.
A crease or shadow remains
Notice where the shadow begins, how it changes in even light and whether the cheek above it also looks different.
The cheek and fold feel connected
Use the midface guide when the change is less about one crease and more about the surrounding contour.
A fold is a landmark, not a diagnosis
The visible line does not reveal its cause or tell you what to do next. It is one landmark within the cheek, upper lip, mouth and smile.
If you want the appointment pathway rather than the anatomy, read what a nasolabial fold consultation can clarify. That sibling owns service and booking intent, while this page remains an educational guide.
Why Corey looks beyond one line
Corey asks when you notice the fold, what has changed and what you would like to understand. He then looks at the area at rest and in expression, together with the cheeks, skin, mouth and the balance between the two sides.
Your health, previous cosmetic care and personal priorities also belong in the conversation. The useful outcome is clarity about what is normal for you and whether education, skin care, more time, another care pathway or a personal cosmetic discussion makes sense.
Assessment does not commit you to treatment. If an option is discussed, suitability, material risks, alternatives, expected costs and consent come before any decision.
Three views can make the conversation clearer
| View | What to notice | What it can clarify |
|---|---|---|
| Face relaxed | Where does the crease begin and where is the shadow strongest? | It shows what remains visible without a posed expression. |
| Natural smile | How does the cheek lift and how does each side move? | It shows the relationship between the fold and normal expression. |
| Even everyday light | Does the feature still catch your eye away from strong side light? | It reduces the chance that one photograph drives the whole conversation. |
What research can and cannot tell you
Research using facial photography has found that changes in the adjacent cheek and its support can accompany a deeper-looking nasolabial fold over time. A newer cross-sectional study also measured differences in fold length, width, area and image contrast across age groups. Read the photogrammetric study and the 2025 quantitative study.
These are group findings, not a diagnosis or forecast for one person. Age, sex, inherited anatomy, expression, skin, weight history, camera conditions and study design all limit what a population result can tell you about your face.
What to expect at your visit
You will meet directly with Corey for a calm, private conversation about the fold you have noticed and what you want to understand.
Corey reviews your health and previous care, examines the area in context and explains the reasonable next steps. You can use the appointment for information only, and there is room to pause, wait or decide against cosmetic care.
Bring the question, not a treatment plan
Meet Corey to understand what you are noticing and whether information, more time or a personal care discussion would be useful.
Is this for you?
Consider booking a consultation if
- You want the fold explained in whole-face context
- You value realistic goals and anatomy education
- You are open to skin care, review or no treatment if that fits best
This may not be for you if
- You want the fold treated in isolation without assessment
- You want treatment discussed without consultation
- You want certainty about a specific cosmetic outcome
- You are not an adult patient
Suitability is confirmed at consultation. This list is general guidance, not a substitute for clinical assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Are nasolabial folds normal?
Yes. Nasolabial folds are a normal crease between the nose and mouth. They become more or less visible depending on expression, support and skin quality, so the question is usually not whether they exist, but whether something about them has changed enough to matter.
Why can they look deeper over time?
They can look deeper when cheek support reduces, skin firmness changes, weight shifts or expression patterns make the crease read more strongly. That does not automatically mean the fold itself is the problem. Corey looks at the surrounding face so the reason can be framed properly.
Why does Corey Anderson RN assess the cheeks as well as the fold?
Because the fold often reflects what is happening above it. Cheek support, midface shape and skin quality can drive the appearance more than the crease alone, so treating only the line can miss the actual cause and produce a less balanced result.
Can smiling make the fold show more?
Yes. Smiling and talking naturally deepen the fold. Some movement is normal and even desirable, so Corey checks both rest and expression before deciding whether the fold is simply part of normal anatomy or something that needs a broader conversation.
Does skin care still matter here?
Yes. Skin firmness, texture and sun damage can all affect how clearly the fold shows. Good skin care can support the area, but it does not replace structure or movement assessment, so it is usually one part of the picture rather than the whole answer.
Is completely removing the fold a realistic goal?
Usually no. A perfectly flat fold can look unnatural because some crease is part of normal expression. The more useful goal is to work out whether the fold is balanced for the face in front of you and whether any change would still look natural.
Can the safest answer be no treatment?
Yes. If the fold is normal anatomy, if the face is already balanced or if treating it would make the midface look heavier, education, skin care, monitoring, waiting or no treatment may be the safest and most sensible answer.
Clinical references
- The nasolabial fold: a photogrammetric analysis
- Quantitative Assessment of Nasolabial Fold Characteristics Across Age Groups
- Ahpra guidelines for registered health practitioners who perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures
- Ahpra guidelines for advertising higher risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures
- Ahpra public register of practitioners
- TGA advertising health services and cosmetic injections FAQ
- TGA advertising health services that involve therapeutic goods