Skin Concerns · Apgujeong, Seoul

Marionette Lines

Lift the downturned lines at the corners of the mouth so your resting expression looks rested, not stern.

Quick answer

Every plan at Oaro Dermatology Clinic begins with a 1:1 skin diagnosis by a board-certified dermatologist, so the dose, device settings and session count are set for your skin rather than a template. Meet our doctors or ask about your own skin .

At a glance

Overview

What are marionette lines?

Marionette lines are the creases that start at the corners of the mouth and run downward toward the chin, named after the hinged jaw of a string puppet. Together with the jowl that often forms beside them, they pull the corners of the mouth down and can make a relaxed face look tired, disapproving or sad.

Several factors combine to form them. The depressor anguli oris muscle, which pulls the mouth corners down, becomes relatively stronger as the lifting muscles weaken. Fat in the lower cheek descends and gathers beside the chin, creating a fold. Bone around the chin and jaw gradually resorbs, so the skin has less to drape over. Sun damage and smoking thin the skin further. Because the lines are partly a muscle problem, partly a volume problem and partly a laxity problem, a single treatment rarely corrects them well.

How marionette lines are treated at Oaro

At Oaro Dermatology Clinic in Apgujeong, Seoul, Dr. Chang-hyun Kim first works out which of these components dominates. Where the corners pull down on animation, a few units of botulinum toxin to the depressor muscle let the corners rest level. Where the crease is hollow, marionette line filler supports the fold and the pre-jowl sulcus. Where a jowl has formed above, a Silhouette Soft thread lift or Thermage FLX repositions tissue so that filler is not asked to do the work of lifting. The combination is planned in writing at a single consultation and timed so the toxin settles before any filler is placed.

Why patients choose Oaro

• Diagnosis and treatment by a board-certified dermatologist, not a technician
• Genuine devices and products: Ultherapy, Thermage FLX, Helios Pico, Rejuran, Juvelook
• One treatment plan, written down, with aftercare and follow-up
• Private 1:1 rooms in Cheongdam Tower, 8 minutes from Apgujeong Rodeo Station
• English-friendly coordination and clear, itemised pricing

Treatment goals

Common goals for marionette line treatment

Level the mouth corners

Reduce the downturn so the resting mouth looks neutral or gently lifted rather than sad.

Fill the hollow beside the chin

Support the pre-jowl groove so the chin and jaw read as one continuous line.

Reduce the jowl

Reposition or tighten the lower cheek so less tissue gathers beside the mouth.

Avoid a heavy lower face

Use the smallest effective volume of filler so the lower face stays slim and mobile.

Your visit

What to expect

1. Consultation & diagnosis

Your dermatologist asks you to smile, speak and purse your lips, then examines the chin, jowl and jawline in profile. You see your photographs and receive a written plan that may combine two or three steps over several weeks.

2. Treatment

Botulinum toxin takes about ten minutes and is often done first. Filler follows after one to two weeks, placed by cannula under numbing cream in roughly 30 minutes. If threads or Thermage FLX are part of the plan, these are scheduled as a separate 45–60 minute visit, with local anaesthetic for threads.

3. Aftercare & follow-up

You leave with English aftercare notes and a review at two weeks. Results, product lot numbers and maintenance intervals are recorded in your care notebook.

Cost guide

Marionette line treatment cost in Seoul

Costs in Apgujeong depend on the number of components in your plan. A toxin-only correction is modest; threads and lifting devices sit at the higher end.

Exact pricing is confirmed at consultation after examination.

Aftercare

Aftercare

• Keep facial movement normal but avoid heavy massage of the lower face for 48 hours.
• After threads, avoid wide mouth opening, chewing gum and dental work for two weeks.
• Sleep face-up for the first few nights to protect filler or thread placement.
• Avoid alcohol, saunas and strenuous exercise for 48 hours.
• Use SPF 50 daily and report any persistent lump, dimpling or pain.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Chang-hyun Kim, M.D.

Board-certified dermatologist and Representative Director of Oaro Dermatology Clinic, Cheongdam. Ulthera Certified Treatment Provider, Thermage FLX Master Certified, and full member of the Korean Dermatological Association, the Korean Society for Dermatologic Laser and the Korean Filler Society.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What causes marionette lines?

A combination of muscle pull at the mouth corners, descending lower-cheek fat, bone loss at the chin and thinning skin.

Can Botox fix marionette lines?

Partly. Toxin relaxes the muscle that pulls the corners down, but it does not fill a hollow or lift a jowl.

How much filler is needed?

Most patients need 1–2 cc in total across both sides, sometimes with extra support at the chin.

Will I look overdone?

Not if volume is conservative and placed deep. The aim is a level mouth, not a padded lower face.

How soon can I see results?

Filler shows immediately; toxin takes 5–10 days; threads and Thermage improve further over two to three months.

Explore related care

Often considered together

• Marionette Line Fillers — filler for the corner-of-mouth fold
• Chin Fillers — chin support that smooths the pre-jowl groove
• Silhouette Soft Thread Lift — repositioning the jowl
• Nasolabial Folds — the companion crease above the mouth
• Skin Concerns — browse all concerns
• Contact & Booking — arrange a consultation in Seoul

Private 1:1 consultation

Plan your treatment with a board-certified dermatologist in Apgujeong

Tell us what you would like to change, and we will examine your skin, explain the options and give you a written plan with clear pricing. English-speaking coordinators are available for international patients.