Contrary to the expectation of maintaining youth for a lifetime, many people, regardless of age or gender, worry about deepening wrinkles caused by a loss of skin elasticity as they enter middle age. Skin that was taut in youth typically begins to lose elasticity and develop wrinkles as aging starts after the age of 25. The presence of wrinkles can make one look older than their actual age and contribute to a somewhat negative impression. Furthermore, once skin sagging and wrinkles appear, they do not easily disappear, and the aging process accelerates with age.

Recently, with the strong trend of looking younger than one's age, the younger generation is making special efforts to maintain their youth for a long time, while the middle-aged and older generations are striving to regain their lost youth. As this trend persists, various functional cosmetics and foods designed to prevent aging have emerged, making it possible to slow down the process; however, wrinkles that have already formed are difficult to erase no matter how much care is taken. Despite these efforts, there is a growing trend of people considering medical alternatives such as fillers, lifting procedures, and aristocratic surgery to improve skin wrinkles that show no progress.

In particular, one of the biggest concerns is the "nasolabial folds" that extend from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth. Nasolabial folds are not a concern exclusive to middle-aged women. They are also a source of worry for people with frequent facial expressions, such as those who laugh often or talk a lot, as well as for young people whose natural bone structure makes these folds more prominent.

"Noble Surgery" is named as such because the face appears elegant and refined, like that of a noble, after the procedure. In medical terminology, it is referred to as "sinus augmentation." This surgery involves using implants to add volume to the central part of the face in sunken areas around the nose and mouth. Through this procedure, deep nasolabial folds can resolve issues such as a light, rustic, and aged appearance caused by deep wrinkles next to the nose. It improves the contour transitioning from the nose to the cheeks and lips, and alleviates nasolabial folds. Additionally, for those with protruding mouths, it creates the effect of making the lips appear less prominent and improves facial volume.

◇ What are the bad habits that cause nasolabial folds?

The skin around the mouth, along with the skin around the eyes, is the thinnest and most delicate tissue, making it prone to wrinkles. One of the bad habits that contributes to the formation of nasolabial folds is the frequent use of straws. Since straws require you to constantly purse your lips to fit into the narrow opening while drinking, repeating this action accelerates skin aging around the mouth and can easily cause nasolabial folds to form. Additionally, sleeping on your side or the habit of resting your chin on your hand can deepen nasolabial folds, so you should be careful about these habits.

While fillers and fat grafting have the advantages of being simple, requiring no recovery period, and allowing for precise procedures tailored to the shape of wrinkles, they also have the disadvantages of requiring repeated treatments because the effects do not last long and there are limitations in improving deep wrinkles. In contrast, aristocratic surgery is a permanent method that improves the facial bone structure by inserting silicone implants into the sunken areas around the nose.

No surgery is free from a 0% risk of side effects. In particular, since the "aristocratic" surgery involves inserting foreign materials, side effects such as surgical risks, infection, and pain may occur in addition to implant displacement. Furthermore, because the required implant size and placement vary depending on the individual's nasolabial fold depth and bone structure, accurately identifying the underlying cause must be done beforehand, and it is essential to undergo the surgery by a specialist with extensive surgical experience.