Lines under the corners of the mouth,

filled directly with filler,

why they looked even more obvious

Last Wednesday,

a woman in her late 40s came in.

At another clinic, she had received

1 cc of filler in the marionette lines,

"Instead, the area beside her mouth looked puffier

and made her look more saggy," she said, upset.

As we looked in the mirror together, I told her,

"The problem is that the wrinkle itself was filled."

They may look similar, but

the key is different

The marionette line runs from the corners of the mouth

downward toward the chin

as a vertical wrinkle line.

As the name suggests, it’s named because it looks like

the jawline of a ventriloquist dummy.

Many people confuse it with nasolabial folds,

but nasolabial folds run from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth,

while marionette lines run

from below the corners of the mouth to the chin.

The causes are a bit different too.

Nasolabial folds are mainly due to midface volume loss and sagging,

while marionette lines are driven largely by volume loss around the mouth and in front of the chin.

That plays the decisive role.

Director Wi Young-jin’s

Key Insight

Marionette lines are

wrinkles that run from the corners of the mouth to the chin.

Rather than filling the line itself,

correcting the volume loss under the lips and in front of the chin

first will naturally soften the line.

— Director Wi Young-jin (Beautystone Clinic, Hongdae)

Key Point

The marionette line runs from the corners of the mouth

to the chin.

Rather than filling the line itself,

correcting the volume loss under the lips and in front of the chin

first will naturally

soften the line.

This is something many people misunderstand,

marionette lines are not a "line" but

a "boundary line of hollowness."

As the fat and bone around the mouth and in front of the chin diminish,

a shadow forms at that boundary,

and if you fill only the line based on that shadow,

the surrounding hollowness remains, so only the filled part

looks oddly raised.

I placed deep in the layer over the bone in front of the chin,

0.6 cc of high-viscosity filler,

to the hollow right below the lips

about 0.2 cc of low-viscosity filler.

Because I didn’t fill the line directly

but instead supported the hollow areas above and below it,

the shadow disappeared.

Director Wi Young-jin’s Key Summary

When the marionette lines bother you,

rather than saying, "Please erase this line,"

it helps to think of it as "a hollowed feeling around the mouth."

Putting filler directly into the line

is usually only a second-best option.

This is how I break it down in the clinic

But it’s not all good.

Filler typically lasts about 9 to 12 months,

and depending on your body, some people are

absorbed in as little as 6 months.

Also, if too much is placed in front of the chin,

it can make the chin look longer,

so I don’t exceed 1 cc at a time

and prefer to build it up gradually.

If the right amount goes into the right layer,

even people who were told it wouldn’t work elsewhere

are often satisfied right away.

Three questions I get most often in the clinic

Q1. Between Botox and filler,

which should I do first?

For people with overdeveloped muscles that pull the corners of the mouth downward,

I recommend trying Botox first.

Once the muscle movement has quieted down,

the standard approach is to correct only the remaining hollowing

with filler.

Q2. How much does it cost and how long does it last?

It usually ends up around 0.5 to 1 cc,

and lasts about 9 to 12 months.

The exact cost should be given after seeing

the condition in person.

Q3. If it’s injected incorrectly, can it be dissolved?

HA-based fillers can be dissolved with a dissolving agent

.

But dissolving it doesn’t mean

it will 100% return to how it was before,

so where and how much is injected the first time is

the most important.

WhatsApp consultations before your visit are also available.

Also read

▶[Not AI] Beard hair-removal pain: this is manageable - Types of anesthesia

▶The truth about dermatology clinics open on Sundays: "Make sure it’s the director performing the procedure, not just a simple opening"

▶5 things to know before Hongdae exosome procedures

▶Shrink once every few months? Recommended intervals, honestly

▶[Beautystone Clinic] Director Wi Young-jin explains Juvelook Glam body procedure

Frequently asked questions

Q. Should I get Botox or filler first?

A. For those with well-developed muscles that pull down the corners of the mouth, I recommend trying Botox first.

Q. What are the costs and how long does it last?

A. Usually, it often ends up in the 0.5 to 1 cc range, and the duration lasts about 9 to 12 months.

Q. If it's injected incorrectly, can it be dissolved?

A. HA-based fillers can be dissolved with a dissolving agent.

Q. How long do bruising and swelling typically last after getting marionette line fillers?

A. It usually subsides within 3 to 5 days. However, if bruising occurs, it can last for up to 1 to 2 weeks, so we recommend scheduled treatments at least 2 weeks before any important events.