Do you see two small lines running from the corners of your mouth down toward your jawline, giving your face a somewhat sad or stern expression, even when you feel fine? These are marionette lines, and a carefully placed filler can soften them. The result is subtle and respectful: a calmer, more open expression that is still entirely you. On this page, you'll honestly read what to expect before and after a filler for marionette lines: how the treatment proceeds at Dr T., when you'll see the result, how long it lasts, and when a filler is not the best choice.
Marionette lines are the folds that run downwards from the corners of your mouth toward your jawline. They are named after the lines on a ventriloquist's dummy. Over the years, you lose volume and firmness around the mouth and chin, and the tissue slightly droops downwards. As a result, these lines deepen and your mouth corners appear to point down, even if you don't feel sad at all.
For a filler for marionette lines, we generally use a hyaluronic acid filler. This is a gel-like substance that resembles a molecule naturally present in the body. We apply it very precisely to replenish lost volume, support the fold from within, and subtly lift the corner of the mouth. This softens the line without making your face feel puffy or altered.
Important to know: a filler fills a fold, but does not always completely resolve actual sagging of the lower face. Sometimes the cause lies higher up in the face, or skin quality plays a role. During your consultation, we look at the whole picture and honestly assess whether a filler is the right solution here.
A filler for marionette lines is a good fit for you if you have a light to moderately deep fold, your mouth corners appear somewhat down-turned, and you want a natural softening without surgery. Many people choose this because their face at rest looks sterner or more tired than they feel.
Sometimes a filler is not the best choice. For very deep folds or pronounced sagging, a filler alone may not suffice, and we will explore together whether a combination with biostimulators or skinboosters makes more sense. We also postpone the treatment in case of an active skin infection or inflammation around the mouth.
During pregnancy or breastfeeding, we never treat. Do you have certain autoimmune or coagulation disorders? Then we will thoroughly discuss this first. Safety and honest advice come first: better a planned, considered result than forcing something that doesn't suit you.
Everything starts with a calm consultation. We examine your face in motion and at rest, listen to what bothers you, and explain what is realistic. Only when you feel comfortable with the plan do we schedule the treatment. Often it can even follow immediately, at the same time, if you wish.
During the treatment, we cleanse the skin and usually use a filler with a numbing ingredient. Using a fine needle or a flexible cannula, we place the filler very precisely at the correct depth. Most people find this quite tolerable; a brief prick or pressure is part of it.
The treatment itself generally does not take long, and you can go out straight away afterwards. We do take the time for the finishing touches, because with marionette lines, everything revolves around balance between left and right and a mouth corner that looks just slightly more open.
Immediately after the treatment, you often already see a softening of the line. At the same time, there may be some swelling, redness, or a slightly uneven feeling; that is normal. You can best assess the final result after about two weeks, once the filler has settled and the initial swelling is gone.
The "before" is usually a deeper fold and a mouth corner that points down; the "after" is a softer transition from mouth to chin and a calmer, more open expression. It remains subtle: you look fresh and rested, not "treated". Your facial expression stays completely natural.
How long the result lasts varies from person to person and depends on the product, the amount, and your own metabolism. Hyaluronic acid fillers in this area generally last from several months to over a year. We schedule a follow-up so that we can make minor adjustments if necessary.
The most common reactions are temporary: redness, swelling, tenderness, and sometimes a small bruise at the injection site. This usually resolves within a few days to a week. You can use make-up to cover a bruise after a short while.
Rarer risks also exist, such as lumps, an uneven result, or, very rarely, a vascular issue where filler blocks a blood vessel. That is why we work deliberately, with knowledge of the anatomy around the mouth, and we often choose a cannula where it is safer. With hyaluronic acid, we can dissolve the product if necessary, which provides an important safety margin.
We will tell you honestly what is normal and when to contact us, for example with severe or increasing pain, skin discolouration, or persistent swelling. You are not alone after the treatment; we remain available for your questions.
The price of a filler for marionette lines depends on a number of things: how much product you need, which filler suits you best, and whether we treat the marionette lines separately or in combination with, for instance, the chin or mouth corners for a more balanced whole.
That is why we do not just quote an amount beforehand. During your consultation, we assess what you truly need, and you will receive an honest, personal estimate of the cost, with no surprises afterwards. We would rather do something more targeted and smaller that is right than more than necessary.
Would you like to know what a filler for your marionette lines could concretely mean? Feel free to schedule a consultation with Dr T. in Ghent. Together, calmly and without pressure, we will determine what a natural and respectful result means for you.
Schedule a personal consultation with Dr T.
Book an appointmentTogether we work towards a result that suits you, with techniques that look beyond simply filling.
Your marionette lines fade in a way that no one would associate with a treatment; it is still your face, just fresher.
Dr T. analyses your facial structure and chooses a filler that complements your own volume in a natural way.
If you ever have doubts, we can dissolve the filler with hyaluronidase, so the treatment can be reversed.
Where needed, we combine filler with Sculptra or skinboosters for a long-lasting skin-improving effect that works from within.
Plan a consultation in Ghent and discuss what suits you, without obligation, with a focus on honest advice.
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