Short answer: Nasolabial folds, the lines that run from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth, are a normal feature of the face that deepen with age. They come from up to three things, often in combination: lost volume beside the nose, cheek tissue that sags over a line of firmly attached skin, and the pull of the smiling muscles. Skincare can improve the skin along the fold, and at-home radiofrequency (RF) is designed for mild laxity in the cheek above it. The fold itself is usually treated in a clinic, most often with filler.
Why nasolabial folds form
A 2024 anatomical review in Diagnostics describes three overlapping types of nasolabial fold:
- Volume loss beside the nose. A recess in the upper jaw next to the nostril leaves little fat under the fold, so the area looks hollow and the line deeper.
- Sagging over a fixed line. The skin just below the fold is firmly attached to the muscle around the mouth, while the skin and fat above it are loosely connected. With age the retaining ligaments lose resilience, the deep cheek fat settles downward and the superficial fat above the line enlarges, so the cheek drapes over the fixed line like a curtain over a rod.
- Muscle pull. The muscles that lift the upper lip when you smile attach along the fold and tug the skin with every expression.
The review notes that the most common pattern is a combination of types two and three, and that the folds may increase in both length and depth over the course of natural aging. The role of the muscles is not new: a 1992 cadaver study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery found the smiling muscles directly responsible for the shape and depth of the fold, and observed that in facial palsy, when those muscles stop working, the fold disappears.
This is why nasolabial folds are different from wrinkles. They are folds of tissue, not creases in the skin, which is also why creams aimed at wrinkles do so little for them.
What helps at home
Sunscreen and a retinoid
Sun damage and collagen loss can make the skin along the fold thinner and more crepey, which can make the fold look deeper. Daily broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher slows that, and a retinoid helps the skin make more collagen, per the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Expect smoother skin texture on and around the fold, not a filled-in line. The AAD is direct about the limit: a cream or lotion cannot penetrate the skin deeply enough to tighten sagging, and firming-cream results are subtle at best.
At-home radiofrequency
Radiofrequency heats the deeper layers of the skin in a controlled way so that the skin builds new collagen over the following months. Used on the cheeks and jawline, it is aimed at the second cause above, mild laxity of the tissue that drapes over the fold. None of the sources we reviewed tested RF on nasolabial folds specifically, so keep expectations specific:
- Clinic RF has the stronger evidence. A 2022 systematic review found RF improved skin laxity and elasticity across the studies it included, and a 2013 open-label multicenter study of an in-office needle RF device reported a mean 24 percent improvement in a laxity score among the 42 people assessed at six months. Both describe treatments done by professionals; the review excluded home-use devices.
- Home-use RF studies have mostly measured fine lines and wrinkles over 4 to 12 weeks of use, two to five or more times a week, not fold depth or laxity.
- RF does not add volume. If your fold is mostly the hollow, type-one kind, a device cannot replace what is missing.
So, in our view, at-home RF is worth considering when the fold is shallow and the main change you see is early softening of the cheek above it. Treat the cheek and jaw in upward strokes rather than rubbing the fold itself, and judge results by photos taken in the same light every few weeks.
What does not help
- Face exercises. We did not find research showing they reduce nasolabial folds. The smiling muscles shape the fold and repeated movement is linked to its becoming visible at rest, so there is no clear reason to expect exercises to soften it.
- Massaging the fold. We found no evidence that massage changes a fold of tissue, and repeated friction can irritate the skin.
- "Filler in a jar" creams. Hydrating products plump the surface temporarily. That is useful before an event and nothing more.
How to use an RF device around the folds
- Cleanse and dry the skin, removing makeup, sunscreen and oils.
- Apply a generous layer of conductive gel to one cheek. Reapply as soon as the device stops gliding.
- Start on the lowest energy level and only increase if the warmth stays comfortable.
- Glide slowly from the corner of the mouth up and out toward the temple, and from the jaw up toward the ear. Keep the device moving; do not park it on the fold.
- Avoid the lips and the skin right at the edge of the mouth.
- Follow your manual for total time, remove the gel, moisturize, and use sunscreen in the morning.
Stop if you notice blistering, lasting redness or a burning sensation. RF is not for everyone: skip it if you have a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, are pregnant, have metal implants, open wounds, active acne or cold sores in the area, have a bleeding disorder or take blood thinners, or have used isotretinoin in the past six months. Check with a dermatologist first if you have a deeper skin tone (Fitzpatrick V–VI) or recent fillers, injectables, peels or laser treatments. The full list is in our guide to RF and microcurrent skin tightening. If you have had filler in the folds recently, ask the practitioner who treated you before using RF nearby.
Where Nebulyft fits
If the cheek above your fold is where you see early softening, a home RF device is the Nebulyft product that applies. The Nebulyft R1 and Nebulyft R2 are multipolar RF devices with a set operating temperature of 107.6°F (42°C) and temperature monitoring, used for about 10 minutes per session with Nebulyft Botanical Gel; the R2 adds five energy levels. Neither is a substitute for filler when the fold is deep or hollow.
Treatments used for the fold itself
| Treatment | Which cause it targets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dermal filler | Volume loss (type 1) | The 2024 review notes volumetric correction with fillers is the predominant approach for this type. It also warns that filler injected into a blood vessel can cause irreversible skin necrosis or permanent vision loss, so choose an experienced medical injector. |
| In-office RF or ultrasound tightening | Sagging tissue above the fold (type 2) | The AAD's general skin-tightening figures: modest lifting at 2 to 6 months for ultrasound and about 6 months for RF, with RF results lasting 2 to 3 years with good skin care. The AAD does not discuss nasolabial folds specifically |
| Thread lifts | Sagging and muscle pull (types 2 and 3) | Discussed in the 2024 review as an option for types 2 and 3; ask a dermatologist or plastic surgeon about suitability and durability |
| Surgical lift | Significant sagging | The AAD notes surgery gives the most dramatic results and that minimally invasive options cannot give the results of surgery |
Because the fold is a normal part of facial anatomy, no cosmetic treatment is expected to remove it permanently. The goal is to soften it, and a consultation that identifies which of the three causes dominates in your face is the best first step.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get rid of nasolabial folds completely?
Not permanently. They are part of how the face is built and they deepen with age. Treatments soften them; filler does the most for the hollow type, while threads or tightening are used for the sagging type.
Does radiofrequency work on nasolabial folds?
RF is used to firm the skin and tissue above the fold; the evidence is for general facial laxity, not for fold depth. It does not add volume, so it suits shallow folds with early sagging. In-office RF has stronger evidence than home devices.
Does smiling cause nasolabial folds?
The smiling muscles shape the fold, and repeated movement makes it more visible at rest over time, but the fold is a normal feature and smiling less is not a treatment. Sun protection is the better-supported way to protect how the skin along the fold looks over time.
At what age do nasolabial folds appear?
Folds that show only when you smile are normal at any age. They become visible at rest as the cheek tissue descends and the skin thins, and the age at which that happens varies widely from person to person.
Can I use an RF device after filler?
Ask your injector. Timing recommendations vary, and our safety guide lists recent filler as a reason to check first.
Related guides
- Radiofrequency and microcurrent skin tightening: how it works and what to expect at home
- How to get rid of jowls: what works at home and what needs a clinic
- How to tighten neck skin at home: a realistic guide
Sources
- Hong GW, et al. Why do nasolabial folds appear? Exploring the anatomical perspectives and the role of thread-based interventions. Diagnostics. 2024;14(7):716.
- Zufferey J. Anatomic variations of the nasolabial fold. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1992;89(2):225-231.
- American Academy of Dermatology. Many ways to firm sagging skin.
- Evaluating the effectiveness and safety of radiofrequency for face and neck rejuvenation: a systematic review. Lasers Surg Med. 2022;54(1):27-45.
- Prospective multicenter clinical trial of a minimally invasive temperature-controlled bipolar fractional radiofrequency system for rhytid and laxity treatment. Dermatol Surg. 2013;39(2):263-273.
- Sadick NS, et al. Home-based wrinkle reduction using a novel handheld multisource phase-controlled radiofrequency device. J Drugs Dermatol. 2014;13(11):1342-1347.
- American Academy of Dermatology. Sunscreen FAQs.
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. The studies cited did not test Nebulyft devices, and results vary from person to person. See a board-certified dermatologist for advice about your skin.
