Marionette lines are the facial creases that run from the corners of the mouth to the chin. They’re called “marionette lines” because they make your lower face look like the mouth of a marionette. The appearance of marionette lines can make you seem sad and unpleasant, which, in turn, can affect your social and professional life. Dr. Jarrell uses the FDA-approved Belotero Balance dermal filler to soften the marionette lines, making you look significantly younger.
Belotero Balance for Marionette Lines
Dr. Jarrell can correct unwanted marionette lines with injections of an FDA-approved dermal filler, known as Belotero Balance. This is a novel cross-linked dermal filler that restores your skin’s natural hyaluronic acid reserves. Hyaluronic acid binds up to 1,000x its own weight in water, making your skin look firm, supple, and youthful. When injected underneath targeted facial tissues, it fills out the marionette lines, making you look youthful and vibrant. The results are instantaneous and natural-looking.
What Causes Marionette Lines
Marionette lines are the lines that run from the corners of the mouth to the chin. They appear when the depressor anguli oris muscle, aided by gravity, pulls down the corners of your mouth, leading to noticeable facial creases. However, the depressor anguli oris (DAO) muscle is always present on your face, and the force of gravity is constant, so why do marionette lines appear as you grow older? If they’re caused by the collective force of gravity and the DAO muscle, why aren’t they always present?
When you’re young, your skin contains a high volume of hyaluronic acid and collagen. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance that makes your skin look smooth and supple. It binds up to 1,000x its own weight in water, making your skin look plump. Collagen is a fibrous protein that holds your skin tissues upright to counter the effects of gravity and the DAO muscle. Marionette lines appear when your skin’s collagen and hyaluronic acid reserves are depleted because of aging, leading to sagging skin.
The Marionette Lines Treatment Overview
Belotero Balance is performed as an in-office treatment that generally takes between 45 minutes to 1 hour. Dr. Jarrell will carefully review your medical history, ensure you’re a suitable candidate, and then clean your facial skin and apply a numbing cream to the treatment area 15 minutes prior to treatment. She will then clean the treatment area to remove the numbing cream. An appropriate dose of Belotero Balance will then be injected underneath your facial tissues using ultrafine needles.
Benefits of Belotero for Marionette Lines:
- Non-surgical treatment
- Minimal pain or discomfort during or after the treatment
- Minimal downtime or recovery period
- Restore natural hyaluronic acid reserves
- Immediately visible results that can last 6 months to 12 months
Side Effects & Recovery
Belotero Balance requires very little to no downtime — you can resume your daily activities and work immediately. However, you should avoid strenuous activities and workouts for a day or two. The most common side effects are mild post-treatment redness, swelling, bruising, and tenderness for a few days.
Results: Onset & Longevity
Belotero Balance produces instant results — your marionette lines will look instantly softer. The final results last for 6 to 12 months, following which you’ll need maintenance doses.
