What marionette lines are
Marionette lines run downwards from the corners of the mouth towards the chin, named after the hinged jaw of a puppet. They often come with slightly downturned mouth corners and a heaviness along the lower face, which can give a sad or disapproving look at rest. They usually appear later than nasolabial folds , often from the late thirties or forties, and they are closely linked to changes in the jawline and jowls .
Why they form and which layers are involved
Facial ageing works from the inside out, and marionette lines show this clearly. In our 8-layer Skin Architecture model several layers contribute at once:
- Bone. The jaw and chin gradually lose projection, so there is less framework to hold the lower face.
- Deep fat and support tissue. Deep fat compartments shrink and the ligaments around the mouth and jaw loosen.
- Subcutaneous fat. Fat from the cheek and jowl descends, creating heaviness beside the line and hollowing beneath it.
- Muscle. A muscle that pulls the corners of the mouth downwards can become relatively dominant, deepening the downturn.
- Dermis. Collagen declines by around 1% a year from about 20, faster after menopause, so skin is less able to resist folding.
Because so many layers are involved, marionette lines rarely respond well to one treatment alone. Filling the line on its own can add weight to an area that is already heavy.
How Obliv approaches marionette lines
- Diagnosis first. A director examines your lower face at rest and in movement, from front and side, to see how much is volume loss, sagging, muscle pull or skin quality.
- Structural support first. Following our dual-plane principle, support just above the bone comes first — for example along the chin with chin filler — then the fat layer, with muscle addressed last. Carefully placed HA or CaHA filler can soften the hollow below the mouth corner. CaHA also stimulates collagen.
- Relaxing downward pull. Small amounts of Botox can relax the muscle that drags the mouth corners down, helping them sit more neutrally. Your doctor will judge whether this suits you.
- Lifting heaviness. MINT Lift threads lift descended tissue immediately, and JAMBER adds lift and volume support.
- Tightening. HIFU such as Ultherapy PRIME or OLIGIO HIFU reaches the SMAS layer, and RF treatments firm the dermis. Collagen stimulators can add gradual firmness.
What to expect
Filler and threads give a visible change on the day; some swelling or bruising may follow and settles over several days. Botox starts working in 3–7 days and peaks at about 2 weeks. Energy lifting becomes noticeable over 1–3 months, with the final result at 3–6 months. On injection or thread days, avoid touching the area for 4–6 hours and skip sauna, alcohol and strenuous exercise. Results vary from person to person.
Keeping results
- Wear SPF50+ daily to protect collagen.
- Plan maintenance with your doctor: HA filler typically lasts around 6–18 months, Botox around 4–6 months, HIFU lifting around 12–18 months.
Visiting from abroad
A combined plan can often be carried out in one trip. Share your dates on WhatsApp so we can schedule injections early and allow swelling to settle before you fly.
A sample plan for a short stay in Seoul
Every plan is decided at consultation, but here is how a combined approach to marionette lines might be arranged if you are in Seoul for about a week:
- Day 1: consultation with a director, assessment of the lower face at rest and in motion, and treatment of structural support with filler if recommended.
- Day 2 or 3: energy lifting such as HIFU, or thread lifting, once early swelling has been checked.
- Before you leave: a quick review if your schedule allows, plus aftercare advice for the flight.
Botox for the mouth corners can be done on the first day, as it takes 3–7 days to start working. If time is limited, your doctor will prioritise the step that will make the most difference for you. For more on spacing treatments, see combining treatments and flying after Botox or filler .
At a glance
- Layers: Bone, fat, support tissue, muscle, dermis
- Main tools: Filler, Botox, MINT/JAMBER threads, HIFU
- Approach: Support first, then lift
- Downtime: Short; possible swelling or bruising
- Energy lifting: Final result at 3–6 months
- Related concern: Sagging jowls
Questions about marionette lines
Can filler alone fix marionette lines?
Filler can soften the hollow, but marionette lines usually involve sagging and muscle pull as well. Adding only filler can make the lower face heavier, so your doctor may combine it with lifting or Botox.
Why do my mouth corners turn down?
A muscle that pulls the mouth corners downward can become relatively dominant as support around the mouth weakens. A small amount of Botox may help them sit more neutrally, if your doctor feels it suits you.
How long does it take to see the final result?
Filler and threads show on the day, with swelling settling over several days. Energy lifting develops over 1–3 months and finishes at 3–6 months. Results vary from person to person.
How much does treatment cost?
It depends on which treatments your plan includes. Ask us on WhatsApp for a personalised quote.
Talk to us about marionette lines
Message us on WhatsApp in English. Obliv Clinic Seoul Origin, Pagoda Tower, 93 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu — about 5 minutes on foot from Jonggak and Euljiro 1-ga stations, close to Myeongdong.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Suitability, number of sessions and results vary from person to person and are decided with a doctor at consultation.
