Marionette Lines

The skin of your face is being exposed to diverse and sometimes extreme weather conditions and requires the best care to remain healthy and retain its youthful appearance as much as possible. Aging is a natural process that cannot be stopped. However, we do want to age in a healthy way. We feel most beautiful, confident, and powerful when our body and mind are in balance.

Do people often think of you as grumpy while you are not? Does your mouth not look happy when you think you are smiling? You could be feeling wonderful, but still impress others as being annoyed or angry. This can often be traced back to mouth wrinkles, called marionette lines. Such droopy corners of the mouth can make you look less cheerful and older, and this can be very uncomfortable.

When you get older, everything droops. Age and external factors, such as smoking and sun, affect our skin and appearance. This causes skin to lose elasticity, also around the mouth, making the corners of your mouth droop. Drooping mouth corners appear when muscles fail to relax afterwards normal facial mimicry, so they remain contracted. Luckily, in such a case botulinum toxin and fillers can help!

Marionette lines typically develop due to a combination of factors, including natural aging, loss of skin elasticity, volume loss in the cheeks, and the repetitive use of facial muscles. Genetics, sun exposure, and smoking can also contribute to their formation.

While it’s challenging to prevent marionette lines entirely, there are measures you can take to minimize their development. These include using sunscreen daily to protect your skin from UV damage, avoiding smoking, staying hydrated, maintaining a healthy diet, and using skincare products that promote collagen production.

Non-surgical treatments for marionette lines include dermal fillers, Muscle Relaxants or other neuromodulators, and non-invasive skin tightening procedures like Morpheus8. These options can help reduce the appearance of marionette lines by adding volume, relaxing muscles, or stimulating collagen production.

Dermal fillers, often made of hyaluronic acid or collagen-based substances, are injected into the lines and nearby areas to add volume and fill in the wrinkles. This plumps up the skin, reducing the depth of marionette lines and restoring a more youthful appearance.

Muscle Relaxants primarily works by relaxing the muscles responsible for wrinkles caused by movement, such as crow’s feet and forehead lines. While Muscle Relaxants may not directly address marionette lines, it can be used to relax the muscles around the mouth and chin, which can help soften their appearance to some extent.

Yes, a facelift (rhytidectomy) is a surgical procedure that can effectively address marionette lines. During a facelift, excess skin is removed, and underlying muscles and tissues are tightened, resulting in a smoother and more youthful facial appearance.

The duration of results from non-surgical treatments can vary depending on the specific procedure and individual factors. Generally, dermal fillers can last from 6 months to 2 years, Muscle Relaxants typically lasts 3 to 6 months, and the results from skin tightening procedures like Morpheus8 can last up to 2 years or more with proper maintenance.

Yes, it is crucial to consult with a qualified dermatologist or plastic surgeon before undergoing any marionette line treatment. They can assess your specific concerns and recommend the most appropriate treatment based on your individual needs and goals.