The cheek.
The shape at rest and the shape in expression belong in the same conversation. I look beyond the fold to the cheek around it.
The treatments / Smile lines · Vestavia Hills
Smile lines.
and the fold.
The line from the side of your nose toward the corner of your mouth has a name: the nasolabial fold. My assessment begins with the face around it.
I will look at your face as a whole—at rest, smiling and talking.
I want to watch you talk. See your smile. Notice the little movements that make your face yours. Before we talk about adding anything, we need to understand what is already there.
The fold, the cheek above it and the mouth beside it belong in the same conversation.
Melanie Petro, MD · Facial Plastic Surgeon
A closer look
Before treating
the line.
A conversation about smile lines may include filler, Sculptra, fat grafting or a lift. These are different choices. The starting point is what I see in your face and what you want to change.
I will explain the options so that you can make an educated decision.
The mouth.
Lip movement, tooth show, the corners of the mouth, and the face around them.
Your expression.
A feature you love is something to protect, not automatically something to correct.
About
the filler.
You may have questions about Restylane Lyft. I will always tell you my filler choice and why.
A syringe count is not a starting point. First decide whether added volume is appropriate, where a change would help, and what previous treatment may already be contributing.
A few questions.
Before you decide.
Will treating the fold make my face look fuller?
Added volume can overwhelm the contours someone wanted to preserve. The amount needs to make sense for the existing anatomy, including previous treatment.
Will people be able to tell I had filler?
No one can promise what other people will notice. We can be specific about the change you want and what would feel like too much. Your expressions belong in that discussion.
Do I need to choose a treatment before I come?
You don’t have to know the answer before you come. Start with what you see. We can talk about the rest.
In their words.
“She is like an artist with fillers; very conservative, steps back and looks , injects a small amount at a time until she is pleased. It is perfect.”
PETRO patient
“I look good, more importantly I look like ME!”
PETRO patient
“Such a relaxed atmosphere and everyone makes you feel welcome.”
PETRO patient
“Dr. Petro was great at providing all my options, explained the treatments and gave me alternatives based on my budget.”
PETRO patient
“I have been going to Dr. Petro for years for my injectables. I would never go anywhere else”
PETRO patient
“Beautiful office. Lovely staff and of course Dr. Petro is awesome!”
PETRO patient
