Learn the Types of Facial Wrinkles

Author

Dr. Stephen Cosentino

All facial wrinkles and folds are the same, right?

Not quite. There are three major types of facial wrinkles: dynamic, static, and folds. Each is caused by different processes.

While all three are part of the inevitable march of aging, they can be temporarily or near-permanently corrected with the proper cosmetic interventions. But the best course of treatment — whether PDO thread lifts, Botox®, dermal fillers, chemical peels, or facial surgery — depends on the type of wrinkle and numerous other factors.

Types of Wrinkles: Dynamic, Static, and Folds

We won’t cover everything you need to know about facial wrinkles here. But we will help you understand the differences between the major types and your options for correcting them.

Dynamic Wrinkles

Dynamic wrinkles form and deepen over time in response to facial movements. They tend to appear around frequently used facial muscle groups, especially in the forehead, around the eyes, and around the mouth.

Examples of dynamic wrinkles include:

Crow’s feet: These fine lines form around the corners of the eyes over time in response to stresses from repeated smiling and frowning. They’re more noticeable up close, but they can deepen over time and create a tired, worn-out appearance.
Frown lines: Also known as ‘11’ lines and glabellar lines, these are vertical, parallel creases that form between the eyes. They can become very deep over time. One of the first FDA-approved indications for Botox was frown line treatment.
Smile lines: Also known as laugh lines, these form on either side of the mouth. They can extend from either side of the nose down past the upper lip and can become very deep over time. Aesthetic medical providers may recommend dermal fillers to temporarily obscure them.

Static Wrinkles

Static wrinkles often occur in the same places as dynamic wrinkles and can make dynamic wrinkles worse. However, they’re not associated with repeated muscle movements but rather natural or behavioral factors like:

Long-term exposure to UV rays (sun damage)
Smoking (both directly in the case of “smoker’s lines” and indirectly due to smoking’s harmful effects on circulation and skin cell repair)
Collagen loss due to natural skin aging
Poor nutrition and hydration
Genetic factors out of our control

Various cosmetic treatments can address static wrinkles, including chemical peels, dermabrasion, laser resurfacing, and dermal fillers. Preventive measures like sun protection can delay and reduce their appearance as well.

Wrinkle Folds

Wrinkle folds also occur due to longer-term aging processes within the body, such as collagen loss and loss of muscle strength and tone. They’re most noticeable in the nasolabial region (between the nose and mouth, extending out to the cheeks), with nasolabial folds and marionette lines being the two most common examples.

Depending on their severity, dermal fillers or surgical intervention may be indicated. Minimally invasive procedures like hyaluronic acid filler injections and PDO thread lifts may help reduce the depth and prominence of mild to moderate marionette lines and nasolabial folds. But for deeper folds, more invasive procedures such as surgical cheek lifts may be the best course of action.