Smile Lines

Smile Line Consultation

The area between the nose and mouth plays an important role in facial expression and movement.
A Smile Line Consultation at Shellharbour Skin provides an opportunity to discuss concerns related to nasolabial folds, the natural creases that extend from the sides of the nose toward the corners of the mouth.

This consultation focuses on education, anatomical understanding, and safety planning. It is not designed to promote a particular aesthetic service but to help you understand the factors contributing to visible changes and discuss potential management options in a safe, evidence-based way.

Understanding Why Smile Lines Develop

Smile lines form as part of the natural ageing process.
Changes in facial structure, skin composition, and repetitive muscle movement all contribute to their gradual appearance over time.

Common contributing factors include:

Collagen and elastin reduction: The skin’s natural structural proteins decline with age, influencing firmness and elasticity.

Soft-tissue movement: Fat pads beneath the skin may shift or thin, altering facial contours.

Bone resorption: Subtle changes in bone structure around the mid-face can affect overlying support.

Repetitive movement: Smiling, laughing, and other expressions naturally deepen existing folds.

Environmental exposure: Sunlight, smoking, and dehydration can accelerate visible change.

Understanding these processes allows your clinician to provide education and guidance about safe, appropriate pathways for management and ongoing care.

Your Consultation at Shellharbour Skin

Your consultation is a detailed, discussion-based appointment designed to provide understanding and support informed decision-making.

During your appointment, your clinician will:

●     Review your medical history, including medications, allergies, and prior procedures

●     Conduct an assessment of your facial anatomy and movement patterns

●     Discuss your specific areas of concern and what you’ve noticed over time

●     Explain the biological and structural factors contributing to visible folds

●     Provide information about potential management pathways, including safety and suitability considerations

●     Outline the possible risks and side effects relevant to any options discussed

●     Offer the opportunity to ask questions or raise concerns at any stage

All consultations are conducted under medical supervision by qualified clinicians experienced in facial anatomy and aesthetic assessment.

No intervention is undertaken without a complete medical assessment, confirmed suitability, and informed-consent process.

Clinical Discussion and Management Planning

Following your assessment, your clinician may outline management pathways or educational options suited to your individual needs.
 These discussions are educational and designed to help you understand how factors such as facial movement, skin quality, and underlying structure contribute to the appearance of smile lines over time.

Topics may include:

• Observation or monitoring: When no immediate intervention is required, periodic review may be recommended to observe natural changes in facial dynamics.
• Lifestyle and skin-care optimisation: Guidance on hydration, nutrition, and daily care practices that help maintain skin health and barrier function, supporting the delicate perioral area.
• Professional skin treatments: Discussion of non-invasive options, such as Alma Hybrid or Microneedling, that may assist in supporting skin structure and overall quality where clinically suitable.
• Medically directed or prescribed approaches: Where appropriate, your clinician may discuss non-surgical options performed under medical supervision that act beneath the skin’s surface to support volume and structure. These are only undertaken following an in-person medical assessment and cannot be named or advertised publicly under AHPRA and TGA regulations.
• Collaborative or referred care: If multidisciplinary input—such as dental, medical, or allied health expertise—may assist in achieving facial balance or addressing functional concerns.

Your clinician will explain the reasoning behind any recommendations, outline relevant safety considerations, and provide clear guidance on aftercare and follow-up.

Aftercare and Follow-Up

If a management pathway is undertaken, temporary effects such as mild redness, swelling, or tenderness may occur. These are generally short-lived and resolve within several days.

Your clinician will provide tailored aftercare guidance, which may include:

• Avoiding makeup and active skincare products for 24–48 hours
• Limiting strenuous exercise and heat exposure
• Avoiding pressure or facial massage
• Remaining upright for several hours after any intervention
• Attending follow-up appointments as advised

Written aftercare instructions will be provided for your reference, along with contact details should you require further guidance.

Risks and Considerations

All aesthetic and medical interventions carry potential risks and side effects.
Your clinician will explain these during your consultation and describe how they are safely managed.

Common temporary effects may include:

• Redness, swelling, or mild bruising
• Localised tenderness or sensitivity
• Temporary firmness or uneven texture

Less common or delayed effects may include:

• Prolonged swelling or inflammation
• Temporary numbness or tingling
• Localised nodules or firmness beneath the skin
• Cold-sore reactivation (in predisposed individuals)
• Rare allergic or inflammatory responses
• Vascular compromise (reduced blood flow), which requires urgent medical assessment

If you experience unexpected pain, discolouration, or persistent symptoms following any clinical service, contact the clinic immediately for review and management.

Cost and Planning

Consultation fees for smile-line assessment depend on the duration and complexity of your appointment. Your clinician will confirm all costs prior to beginning.

If a management pathway is discussed or planned, it will be outlined separately after your assessment.
No procedures are performed without prior consent.

Important Information

• Shellharbour Skin provides consultations for aesthetic assessment and management planning.
• We do not advertise or promote prescription-only medicines in accordance with AHPRA and TGA requirements.
• All services are provided only after a thorough medical assessment and informed-consent process.
• Suitability, recovery, and experience vary between individuals.
• Consultations are available to adults aged 18 years and over.
• This information is provided for educational and transparency purposes and should not replace medical advice.

Practitioner Transparency

Consultations and skin treatments at Shellharbour Skin are provided by a multidisciplinary clinical team:

Dermal Clinicians – qualified skin professionals who are not registered under AHPRA but hold tertiary qualifications in dermal science or dermal therapies. They provide skin treatments and consultations within their professional scope and under clinical supervision.

Registered Nurses – AHPRA-registered health practitioners who perform skin and aesthetic treatments within their clinical training and scope of practice.

Medical Practitioners – AHPRA-registered doctors experienced in skin health and aesthetic medicine who oversee and support all clinical services.

All treatments are undertaken within a medically supervised environment, ensuring that each patient pathway is reviewed for clinical suitability, safety, and evidence-based care.

You can verify registration for medical practitioners and nurses at ahpra.gov.au