Marionette Lines
Ease the lines that run down from the corners of the mouth towards the jaw.
- Treatment time
- Roughly 20–30 minutes
- Results
- Seen straight away; fully settled after 2 weeks
- Longevity
- Usually 9–12 months
- Downtime
- Very little — swelling for a day or two
About Marionette Lines
Marionette lines travel down from the corners of the mouth towards the chin, and they can make you look sad or downturned even when you're perfectly relaxed. They develop as the area around the mouth loses volume and the muscle at each corner drags downwards.
Placing a soft hyaluronic acid filler along and under the line cushions the crease and props up the corner of the mouth. It's frequently combined with a small anti-wrinkle treatment to the muscle that pulls the corners down, so each approach supports the other.
Before & after
Key Benefits
- 01Eases the lines running from mouth corners to chin
- 02Lifts a resting expression that looks sad or downturned
- 03Gives the corners of the mouth back their support
- 04A subtle, natural change that's hard to put your finger on
- 05Works well alongside DAO anti-wrinkle treatment
- 06Very little downtime
Is this treatment right for me?
This is for people who feel the corners of their mouth droop, or who've seen shadows and creases forming between the mouth and chin. Both muscle pull and lost volume play a part, so John works out which is the bigger factor and plans to match.
You may be suitable if…
- Lines run visibly from your mouth corners down towards your chin
- At rest you look sadder than you actually feel
- You want your lower face to look better supported
- You aren't pregnant or breastfeeding
Your consultation will consider…
- How the area sits within the proportions of your whole face
- The quality of your skin, any loss of volume and how your face moves
- Your health history, allergies, medicines and any filler you've had before
- The likely amount of product, and a realistic plan in stages if one session isn't enough
What to expect
Before treatment
Your first step is an in-person consultation with John. He looks at the area alongside the rest of your face, asks what you'd like to change and what would suit you naturally, and goes through your medical history. Bruising is more likely if you take alcohol, aspirin, ibuprofen or supplements like fish oil or vitamin E, so stop these for the week before where it's safe to. Leave at least two weeks between any dental work and your appointment.
During treatment
After the skin is cleaned, numbing cream goes on for about 10–15 minutes, and many of today's fillers have a local anaesthetic mixed in too. John then injects the hyaluronic acid gel with either a fine needle or a blunt-ended cannula, whichever suits the area, sculpting and checking both sides match as he works. Expect a sense of pressure and the odd sting, not pain. The appointment usually lasts 30–45 minutes.
After treatment
The difference shows immediately, but the area will be slightly swollen, and the final shape takes one to two weeks to settle. John explains your aftercare, and if anything needs fine-tuning you can come back for a review at the two-week mark.
Watch
See this treatment in the clinic, in short videos on John’s aesthetics site, Trusted Touch Aesthetics.
Watch 4 videos →Results & longevity
The corners of the mouth look supported straight away, and the final result is clear at about two weeks. Filler in this area usually lasts nine to twelve months, depending on the product, the amount and how much the area moves. Pairing it with DAO treatment can help it last longer.
Recovery, side effects & aftercare
For a few days there may be slight swelling and soreness, and occasionally a small bruise. At first the lower face can feel a touch firm, which eases as the filler beds in.
Side effects
The usual, expected effects are swelling, tenderness, redness and bruising, all of which fade within days. While the gel settles over the first couple of weeks you may feel small lumps or a little unevenness; these generally go on their own, and anything that lingers can be looked at. Less common risks are infection, an allergy-like reaction, or filler ending up somewhere it wasn't intended. On rare occasions filler can affect a blood vessel. John's technique is designed to keep this risk low, he checks for warning signs before you go home, and the clinic keeps the enzyme that dissolves hyaluronic acid on hand so it can be dealt with straight away.
Aftercare
For 24–48 hours, leave the area alone — no touching, pressing or massaging unless John has told you to. For 48 hours, avoid hard exercise, saunas, steam rooms, sunbeds and alcohol, and on the first night sleep with your head a little raised to keep swelling down. If the area is tender, a cool compress (not a frozen one) can help. Hold off facials, dental treatment and any other procedures on the area for two weeks, and don't put make-up over the injection points for the rest of the day.
Get in touch with the clinic immediately if you have pain that is unusual or getting worse, skin that turns patchy, pale or greyish-blue, blisters, redness that is spreading, or any change in your eyesight. You don't need to call about normal swelling and bruising, though you're always welcome to check in.
- Downtime
- Very little — normally a day or two
- Redness
- Slight, gone within hours
- Swelling
- Usual for 24–72 hours
- Bruising
- Can happen; clears within a week
- Normal activities
- The same day; hold off hard exercise for 24–48 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
Is filler or anti-wrinkle better for drooping corners?
Frequently both. Filler cushions and supports the crease, while a small anti-wrinkle treatment relaxes the muscle dragging the corners down. John will advise which comes first and how far apart to space them.
Can I eat and talk as normal?
Yes. You might feel slightly sore for a day or two, but everything works as usual.
How much filler will I need?
Typically about 1 ml shared between both sides the first time; deeper lines may do better with treatment in stages.
Is it painful?
Numbing cream goes on beforehand and most fillers include a local anaesthetic, so what you feel is pressure and the odd sting, not pain. Expect the area to be a little sore for a day or two.
Can filler be undone?
It can. If needed, hyaluronic acid filler can be broken down with an enzyme — one reason it's the filler we choose — and the clinic always keeps that dissolving treatment in stock.
What does the consultation involve?
Before anything is booked, John looks at the area as part of your whole face, hears what you'd like to change, reviews your medical history and is clear about what can realistically be achieved, roughly how much product you'd need and what it would cost.
Your Practitioner
John Dixon
Founder & Aesthetician
John founded Banana Beauty Lab and runs his aesthetics practice, Trusted Touch Aesthetics, here. He specialises in facial balancing and harmonisation, alongside wrinkle reduction and skin rejuvenation. His training is CPD-certified, he is fully insured, and is known for taking the time to assess your face properly, explaining every option honestly and never over-treating — the aim is always a natural result that still looks like you. Clients regularly mention his calm manner, attention to detail and the aftercare follow-up that checks in on how you're healing.