Marionette Program in Cheongdam & Apgujeong, Seoul

What is the Marionette Program?

Marionette lines run downward from the corners of the mouth towards the chin. They make the face look sad, tired or disapproving even when you feel none of those things, which is why many people find them more bothersome than lines elsewhere.

The important point is that the same visible line can come from different causes. In one person the cheek and jowl tissue has slid down and piles up beside the chin. In another the area under the mouth corner has hollowed out. In a third the depressor muscles that pull the mouth corner down are strong, and the skin has thinned. Most people have a mixture. The Marionette Program was designed so that these causes are separated before any treatment is chosen.

How Doje Clinic approaches marionette lines

In the 1:1 consultation Dr. Byun Jeik watches the area at rest, while you talk and while you smile, and gently repositions the tissue by hand to see how much of the line disappears when the lower face is lifted. That simple test tells a lot about whether the line is mainly a sagging problem or a volume problem.

• Doje signature lower-face thread lift (실리프팅) – lifts the descended tissue above and beside the line, reducing the fold that hangs over it and refining the jaw border.
• Marionette soft filler – a soft, flexible filler placed in small amounts to support the hollow under the mouth corner. A soft product is chosen because this is a highly mobile area where firm filler can look stiff.

Options are considered individually: Radiesse for added support and collagen stimulation along the lower face, Ultherapy Prime or Softwave for deeper tightening, and GOURI or Re2O when thin, crepey skin is part of the picture.

Who it suits — and who it doesn't

• Suits people whose mouth corners have started to turn down and whose resting face looks more tired or stern than they feel.
• Suits early to moderate jowling that blurs the line between cheek and chin.
• Suits patients who tried filler alone in the marionette area and felt it looked heavy or did not last.
• Less suitable when the main cause is strong depressor muscle activity alone; a small toxin treatment may be discussed first.
• Not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, with active infection or cold sores around the mouth, or with very heavy lower-face laxity better suited to a surgical opinion.

What to expect, step by step

1. Consultation: dynamic assessment of the lower face, including the manual lift test.
2. Plan: thread vectors along the lower face, filler points under the mouth corners and any option, explained with the reasoning.
3. Preparation: cleansing and local anaesthesia; numbing for the filler points.
4. Treatment: threads are usually placed first, then soft filler is added in small increments while you sit upright, so the result is judged in a natural position.
5. Review: a check after early swelling settles to confirm balance and symmetry.

Recovery and aftercare

The lower face moves constantly when you eat and speak, so you may feel tightness or mild discomfort when opening the mouth wide in the first days. Swelling commonly settles over a few days to a week; bruising, if it appears, fades over one to two weeks. Eat softer foods at first, avoid wide yawning and dental treatment for a short period, do not massage the area and avoid sauna, alcohol and intense exercise for the first days. Sleep on your back with the head raised.

Cost

The fee depends on the thread design, how much soft filler is needed and whether any option is added. 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

What causes marionette lines?

Usually a combination of lower-face sagging, volume loss beneath the mouth corners, muscle pull and thinning skin. The mix differs from person to person.

Can filler alone fix marionette lines?

Sometimes for mild hollowing, but if tissue has descended, filler alone can look heavy. That is why the program pairs filler with a lower-face thread lift.

Why soft filler in this area?

The mouth area moves a great deal, and a soft, flexible filler tends to look and feel more natural there than a firm product.

How long is the downtime?

Typically several days of swelling and tightness, with possible bruising. It varies between individuals.

Will my smile look different?

The goal is to keep natural expression. Mild tightness on wide smiling in the first days is common and usually settles.

Related at Doje Clinic

• Lower-Face Thread Lift
• Marionette Soft Filler
• Marionette Lines
• Drooping Mouth Corners
• Jowls
• Thread Lift vs Filler
• Jawline Program

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.