How Much Does Nasolabial Fold Surgery Cost?

Author

Dr. Stephen Cosentino

Nasolabial folds are facial lines that extend from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth. Usually appearing on both sides of the face, they’re also known as laugh lines or smile lines.

Nasolabial folds are among the telltale signs of aging — that’s the bad news. The good news is there are several ways to treat them.

For truly long lasting results, plastic surgery may be indicated. But the upfront cost of nasolabial fold surgery is a real concern for many patients, not least because insurance rarely covers it. So before you schedule your procedure, find out how much nasolabial fold surgery costs compared with other options.

How Much Does Nasolabial Fold Surgery Cost?

Expect to pay between $2,000 and $10,000 to correct nasolabial folds. The cost of the procedure depends on several factors:

The depth and length of the nasolabial folds. Shallower or shorter nasolabial folds may be corrected or softened with a mini-facelift. This less-invasive procedure doesn’t directly attack the folds but instead tightens the skin around them, reducing their appearance. Deep nasolabial folds require nasolabial fold excision, a more invasive and costly surgical procedure that eliminates the fold and leaves a small but visible scar.

Other cosmetic complaints. If the nasolabial folds are corrected as part of a broader package of cosmetic procedures, the total cost of treatment will be higher.

Whether fillers are used. Some providers use dermal fillers to stimulate collagen production and further soften the appearance of nasolabial folds, sometimes in conjunction with a mini-facelift. This typically increases the total treatment cost by $500 to $1,000 per syringe.

Options to Pay for Nasolabial Fold Surgery

Because nasolabial fold surgery is cosmetic, health insurance plans usually don’t cover it. That leaves patients to pick up the bills themselves.

If you can’t afford to pay the full cost of your procedure out of pocket, consider your financing options. These can include:

A payment plan with your provider — depending on the terms, this could break the cost into six, 12, 18, or more monthly installments
A medical credit card that offers low- or no-interest payments for a similar length of time
Third-party financing options, such as a personal loan or line of credit

Are There Less Expensive Alternatives to Nasolabial Fold Surgery?

Even when performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon, nasolabial fold excision presents significant side effects and risks.

By contrast, minimally invasive cosmetic procedures like Botox® and dermal filler injections — both of which can temporarily address nasolabial folds — have fewer, milder side effects.

These alternatives are also less expensive than surgery. Hyaluronic acid fillers cost a few hundred dollars per syringe, depending on the formulation. Botox® may cost even less, as may laser-aided skin therapies like skin resurfacing.

However, none of these alternatives is permanent. Hyaluronic acid filler results typically last about a year; Botox lasts a few months. The ongoing cost of using these interventions to treat nasolabial folds can therefore approach and even exceed costs for plastic surgery.

Finally, injectable treatments aren’t entirely risk-free. So even if you opt for fillers — for example — it’s important to work with an injector who has completed an accredited dermal filler training course.