Smile Lines
Ease the lines that run from the nose to the corners of the mouth.
- Treatment time
- Roughly 20–30 minutes
- Results
- Seen straight away; fully settled after 2 weeks
- Longevity
- Usually 9–12 months
- Downtime
- Very little — swelling for a day or two
About Smile Lines
Nasolabial folds, or smile lines, run from either side of the nose down to the corners of the mouth. We all have them, but they get deeper as the cheeks lose volume and the skin above slips downwards. A soft hyaluronic acid filler placed in the fold cushions it and softens the crease, and treating the cheek first often means less is needed.
John sets out to soften the lines, not wipe them out — a face without any smile lines doesn't look natural.
Before & after
Key Benefits
- 01Eases deep creases running from nose to mouth
- 02Makes the lower face look smoother and more rested
- 03Looks natural — the line is softened, not flattened
- 04Can be paired with cheek support so the lift lasts longer
- 05A quick appointment with very little downtime
- 06Can be reversed if you ever want
Is this treatment right for me?
Smile-line treatment is for people whose folds are deep enough to show when the face is relaxed. During your consultation John works out whether to begin with the fold or the cheek above it — or whether both need attention.
You may be suitable if…
- You can see your smile lines when your face is relaxed, not only when smiling
- The folds make you look more tired or older than you feel
- You want a softer look rather than a big change
- You aren't pregnant or breastfeeding
Your consultation will consider…
- How the area sits within the proportions of your whole face
- The quality of your skin, any loss of volume and how your face moves
- Your health history, allergies, medicines and any filler you've had before
- The likely amount of product, and a realistic plan in stages if one session isn't enough
What to expect
Before treatment
Your first step is an in-person consultation with John. He looks at the area alongside the rest of your face, asks what you'd like to change and what would suit you naturally, and goes through your medical history. Bruising is more likely if you take alcohol, aspirin, ibuprofen or supplements like fish oil or vitamin E, so stop these for the week before where it's safe to. Leave at least two weeks between any dental work and your appointment.
During treatment
After the skin is cleaned, numbing cream goes on for about 10–15 minutes, and many of today's fillers have a local anaesthetic mixed in too. John then injects the hyaluronic acid gel with either a fine needle or a blunt-ended cannula, whichever suits the area, sculpting and checking both sides match as he works. Expect a sense of pressure and the odd sting, not pain. The appointment usually lasts 30–45 minutes.
After treatment
The difference shows immediately, but the area will be slightly swollen, and the final shape takes one to two weeks to settle. John explains your aftercare, and if anything needs fine-tuning you can come back for a review at the two-week mark.
Watch
See this treatment in the clinic, in short videos on John’s aesthetics site, Trusted Touch Aesthetics.
Watch 5 videos →Results & longevity
You'll see the lines soften right away, with everything settling over around two weeks. Filler in this area usually lasts nine to twelve months — the area moves a lot, so it breaks down slightly faster than in the cheeks. Adding cheek support often makes the result last longer.
Recovery, side effects & aftercare
The main effects are slight swelling and sometimes a small bruise, which clear within a few days. At first the area can feel a little firm while the filler beds in.
Side effects
The usual, expected effects are swelling, tenderness, redness and bruising, all of which fade within days. While the gel settles over the first couple of weeks you may feel small lumps or a little unevenness; these generally go on their own, and anything that lingers can be looked at. Less common risks are infection, an allergy-like reaction, or filler ending up somewhere it wasn't intended. On rare occasions filler can affect a blood vessel. John's technique is designed to keep this risk low, he checks for warning signs before you go home, and the clinic keeps the enzyme that dissolves hyaluronic acid on hand so it can be dealt with straight away.
Aftercare
For 24–48 hours, leave the area alone — no touching, pressing or massaging unless John has told you to. For 48 hours, avoid hard exercise, saunas, steam rooms, sunbeds and alcohol, and on the first night sleep with your head a little raised to keep swelling down. If the area is tender, a cool compress (not a frozen one) can help. Hold off facials, dental treatment and any other procedures on the area for two weeks, and don't put make-up over the injection points for the rest of the day.
Get in touch with the clinic immediately if you have pain that is unusual or getting worse, skin that turns patchy, pale or greyish-blue, blisters, redness that is spreading, or any change in your eyesight. You don't need to call about normal swelling and bruising, though you're always welcome to check in.
- Downtime
- Very little — normally a day or two
- Redness
- Slight, gone within hours
- Swelling
- Usual for 24–72 hours
- Bruising
- Can happen; clears within a week
- Normal activities
- The same day; hold off hard exercise for 24–48 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
Should the lines or my cheeks be treated?
Often it's the cheeks first: putting support back above the fold lifts it naturally, and a little filler in the fold itself completes the result. John will show you the difference when you meet.
How much filler goes in?
Generally 0.5–1 ml shared between both sides. More isn't better here — too much in the fold can look heavy.
Will my smile look different?
No. The filler softens the crease when your face is at rest; your smile and the way your mouth moves stay the same.
Is it painful?
Numbing cream goes on beforehand and most fillers include a local anaesthetic, so what you feel is pressure and the odd sting, not pain. Expect the area to be a little sore for a day or two.
Can filler be undone?
It can. If needed, hyaluronic acid filler can be broken down with an enzyme — one reason it's the filler we choose — and the clinic always keeps that dissolving treatment in stock.
Can I go straight back to work?
In most cases, yes. You may have a little swelling and sometimes a bruise, so if there's a big occasion coming up, give it a week or two to settle first.
Your Practitioner
John Dixon
Founder & Aesthetician
John founded Banana Beauty Lab and runs his aesthetics practice, Trusted Touch Aesthetics, here. He specialises in facial balancing and harmonisation, alongside wrinkle reduction and skin rejuvenation. His training is CPD-certified, he is fully insured, and is known for taking the time to assess your face properly, explaining every option honestly and never over-treating — the aim is always a natural result that still looks like you. Clients regularly mention his calm manner, attention to detail and the aftercare follow-up that checks in on how you're healing.