Marionette lines
Before treatment, marionette lines appear as a visible crease between lip corner and chin. The face looks more closed, harsh or sad. In some patients, expression seems tired despite sufficient rest. This reflects gradual volume descent, deep fat loss and skin thinning.
The fold can be subtle and visible only during expression, or pronounced and present at rest. In advanced forms, it accompanies loss of jawline definition and lip corner descent. This overall change explains why treatment cannot be limited to simple superficial filling. A structural approach is needed for a truly harmonious result.
Immediate results after treatment
A major advantage of hyaluronic acid treatment is how quickly results become visible. Fold improvement is perceptible immediately after injection. The hollow softens, the mouth-to-chin transition becomes smoother and expression looks less stern.
However, this immediate result is not yet final. Slight injection-related swelling can temporarily increase volume. A few days are generally needed to assess the actual correction. The optimal result appears between five and ten days after the session, once local inflammation has subsided and the product has integrated into tissues.
In some cases, a touch-up can be performed after two to four weeks to adjust correction and achieve a perfectly balanced result.
Before/after result of marionette line treatment
The final result involves more than the disappearance of a wrinkle. Well-performed treatment changes overall facial perception. Expression becomes more relaxed, softer and more rested. Patients often describe a « less harsh » face without looking transformed.
Clinical studies confirm this overall improvement. Marionette lines become shallower and less visible after hyaluronic acid injection. Global aesthetic scale assessment shows notable improvement in most patients from the first month.
In some clinical series, more than 80 % of patients show improvement of at least one fold severity grade after treatment, with results judged natural by observers and patients themselves. The aim is a subtle result integrated with the whole face.
Results for skin quality and expression
Beyond correcting the hollow, hyaluronic acid injections improve skin quality. The product's deep hydration strengthens skin suppleness and improves appearance. The area looks smoother, less marked and more radiant.
This contributes to overall result perception. The lower third of the face looks firmer and better supported. The lip corners seem slightly raised, softening general expression. Studies show volumising injections restore facial harmony and improve perceived attractiveness without altering natural expressions.
Duration of results after marionette line treatment
Result duration is decisive when evaluating this technique. Because hyaluronic acid is resorbable, its effects are not permanent but are long-lasting. Literature data and clinical experience agree on average persistence between nine and fifteen months.
However, duration varies with several parameters, particularly product type, injection depth and individual metabolism. In some cases, it extends to twelve to eighteen months. Deep injections are also observed to last longer than superficial corrections.
Natural results
Marionette line treatment success is assessed primarily through the natural appearance of the result. Harmonious correction should not be immediately noticeable : the face should look rested, balanced and rejuvenated, without artificial feature changes or altered facial identity.
Available clinical data indicate that hyaluronic acids with appropriate rheological properties, particularly suppleness and tissue integration, follow lower-face dynamics. This encourages significant aesthetic improvement without rigidity or altered expressiveness. Patients most often describe subtle rejuvenation and improved perceived attractiveness while retaining their authentic appearance.
Overall facial management, including deep volume restoration, optimising support structures and improving skin quality, also optimises results. Conversely, isolated marionette line filling without correcting underlying structural imbalances risks an insufficient or even artificial result.
Results according to age and fold depth
The extent of the result depends on initial fold depth and tissue quality. In young patients with early folds, correction is often complete and very natural. In older patients with substantial volume loss and skin laxity, improvement is clear but may require a gradual approach.
Several sessions may be needed to restore lower-face balance. This progression achieves a natural, lasting result. Studies show aesthetic improvement persists when correction is gradual and appropriately adapted.
How results change over time
After injection, clinical progress generally involves gradual, harmonious improvement. The injected product integrates progressively into tissues while the skin regains physiological suppleness and mobility.
Through its hygroscopic and viscoelastic properties, hyaluronic acid also improves skin quality. Increased tissue hydration and local mechanical stimulation promote better dermal health, contributing to a smoother, more even treated area.
As the product is gradually absorbed, breakdown is slow and even. Return to the initial state is gradual rather than abrupt. Follow-up and regular maintenance sessions preserve the result.
