Marionette Lines Treatment in Cheongdam & Apgujeong, Seoul

Where marionette lines come from

Marionette lines — 마리오네트 주름 in Korean — take their name from the hinged jaw of a puppet. They sit at a meeting point of several structures, which is why they are one of the harder areas of the face to treat well.

• The jowl edge. Beside the chin, skin is tethered to bone by the mandibular retaining ligament. As the fat and skin of the lower cheek descend, they drape over this fixed point and a shadowed groove forms along its inner border.
• Loss of support beside the chin. The small fat compartments around the mouth and chin thin out, and the bone of the lower jaw slowly remodels, leaving less scaffolding under the corner of the mouth.
• Downward muscle pull. The depressor anguli oris draws the mouth corner down every time we frown or speak. When it dominates the lifting muscles, the line is reinforced and the expression turns downward.
• Skin quality. Thinner, less elastic skin creases along the same path and recovers more slowly.

In practice, people describe three different things with the same name: a fine crease in the skin, a groove created by volume loss, and a shadow cast by the jowl above. Each needs a different answer.

How Doje Clinic assesses marionette lines

In a 1:1 consultation, Dr. Byun Jeik — a surgery specialist whose filler work has been recognised through the Merz Golden Record Awards and the Belotero Expert Committee — reads the lower face as a unit. He looks at the line at rest, while talking and while smiling, checks how much the jowl contributes, and assesses the strength of the downward-pulling muscle.

• If the jowl casts the shadow, lifting usually matters more than filling.
• If the groove is a true hollow, a soft, flexible filler placed in the right plane restores support.
• If the mouth corner is pulled down, relaxing that muscle can soften the line and the expression together.
• If the skin itself creases, skin-quality care completes the result.

Mark-View 3D skin analysis can add objective information on skin condition, especially when skin quality is part of the plan.

Options from mild to advanced

Fine creases

When the line is a surface crease, skin boosters such as Rejuran or collagen boosters like GOURI or Re2O can improve skin thickness and recovery over a series of sessions. Results are gradual and subtle.

Grooves from volume loss

Here the core tool is marionette soft filler. The area moves constantly when we eat and talk, so Doje uses a soft, flexible filler and places it conservatively to support the corner without stiffness or visible bulk. A biostimulatory option such as Radiesse may be considered for deeper support in selected cases.

A downturned corner

A small, carefully placed dose of botulinum toxin in the depressor muscle can reduce the downward pull. Dosing is deliberately conservative, as the same area takes part in speech and smiling.

Lines driven by jowl descent

When the lower face has descended, the Doje signature lower-face thread lift repositions the jowl so that less shadow falls on the line. Energy devices such as Ultherapy Prime or Softwave can add support and tightening. The clinic states 17 years of accumulated thread-lift experience and that thread results can last up to two years or more, though individual results vary.

Which Doje program fits

The Marionette Program was designed for this concern: a Doje signature lower-face thread lift and marionette soft filler, with Radiesse, Ultherapy Prime, Softwave and GOURI/Re2O as options. Its starting point is distinguishing the causes of lower-face sagging and marionette lines, so each element is added only when your assessment supports it. If the jawline itself has blurred, the Jawline Program may be combined or preferred.

When a surgical opinion is more appropriate

If marionette lines are part of heavy jowling with loose skin running into the neck, filler and threads can only soften them. Adding more filler to compensate tends to look heavy. In that situation a lower facelift assessed by a qualified surgeon may give a more proportionate result, and Dr. Byun will say so.

Cost

Your fee depends on whether you need skin care, filler, lifting or a combination, so it is quoted after the 1:1 consultation. Ask for a written quote; Korean non-covered (비급여) aesthetic fees are set per plan.

Frequently asked questions

Why do marionette lines make me look sad or tired?

They pull the visual line of the mouth downward, so even a relaxed face can read as unhappy. Softening the line and the corner often changes the resting expression more than people expect.

Can filler alone fix marionette lines?

Only when the line is mainly a hollow. If the jowl above casts the shadow, filler alone tends to add weight; lifting is usually needed as well.

Why does Doje use a soft filler here?

The mouth area moves constantly. A soft, flexible filler integrates with that movement and is less likely to look stiff or lumpy.

Can Botox help marionette lines?

It can reduce the pull of the muscle that drags the mouth corner down. It does not restore volume or lift tissue, so it is usually one part of a plan.

How long do results last?

It varies by method and person. Filler and toxin are temporary; the clinic states thread-lift results can last up to two years or more.

What is the downtime?

Usually short. Mild swelling or a small bruise after filler, and temporary tightness after threads for several days, are common.

Related at Doje Clinic

• Marionette Program
• Marionette Soft Filler
• Lower-Face Thread Lift
• Drooping Mouth Corners
• Jowls
• Soft Filler
• Filler Aftercare

Medical information on this page is general education, not a diagnosis. Suitability, risks and the final plan are confirmed in a 1:1 consultation with Dr. Byun Jeik. Last updated 17 October 2026.