Marionette Lines

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Marionette lines are the vertical creases that run from the corners of the mouth down toward the chin - named after the painted lines on marionette puppets.

Consultation and 2-week follow-up included for first-time clients.

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Available at

Torrance · Huntington Beach (2026)

Treatment time 45 min
Lasts 3–5 months

About marionette lines at HoneMD

Marionette lines are the vertical creases that run from the corners of the mouth down toward the chin - named after the painted lines on marionette puppets. They create a downturned or sad expression even when you feel perfectly fine, and they're one of the most common reasons clients tell us "people keep asking if I'm tired or upset."

Marionette lines have two causes that work together: loss of structural volume in the lower face (gravity, aging, weight changes) and chronic over-activation of the depressor anguli oris (DAO) - the muscle that actively pulls the mouth corners down. Treating one without the other only partially solves the problem.

At HoneMD - serving Torrance and Huntington Beach - we treat marionette lines with a combination approach: filler to rebuild the lost volume that's letting the lower face fall, and DAO neurotoxin to relax the down-pulling muscle. The combination is dramatically more effective than either treatment alone. Undetectable by design.

Who this treatment is for

  • You see vertical creases running from your mouth corners toward your chin - even when your face is relaxed
  • People ask if you're tired, upset, or angry when you feel fine
  • Your mouth corners look turned down at rest
  • Your lower face has lost volume or definition over time
  • You're already addressing chin or jawline filler and want to complete the lower-face plan
  • You want to soften lower-face aging without surgery

The HoneMD approach

Marionette lines sit at a complex anatomical intersection. The DAO muscle is thin and runs close to other lip-control muscles - mis-place neurotoxin and you can affect smile symmetry. Filler placed too superficially in the marionette area creates a visible ridge; too deep and it doesn't lift. Our nurse-practitioner injectors use a layered technique: structural filler placed deep on the mandible to rebuild the bone-level support, softer filler in the dermis to smooth the line itself, and 2–4 units of neurotoxin into the DAO to release the downward pull.

We typically use Juvederm Vollure, Restylane Refyne 3 for the dermal layer (these flex naturally with facial movement) and Volux or Voluma for the deep structural rebuild. Tox is whatever your regular neurotoxin is.

Benefits

  • Softens vertical creases from mouth to chin
  • Lifts downturned mouth corners (DAO release)
  • Restores youthful structural volume to the lower face
  • Reduces the "tired" or "upset" resting expression
  • Supports overall lower-face balance and harmony
  • Combines naturally with chin filler, jawline filler, or lip treatments

Pricing

From $525 for new clients. Combined treatment typically includes 1 syringe of filler ($525) plus DAO tox ($99–$150 add-on, 4–8 units). Larger volume corrections may need 2 syringes over 1–2 sessions. We confirm scope and price before treatment begins. Know the plan. Know the price.

Consultation and 2-week follow-up included for first-time clients.

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Individual results may vary. When discounted pricing is displayed, it reflects new client promotional rates. Actual costs depend on anatomy, goals, and provider recommendations.

What to expect

Consultation (15 min): mouth-corner position assessment at rest and at smile, photography, DAO activation evaluation, filler-zone mapping.

Treatment (45 min): topical numbing, filler placement in deep and superficial layers, neurotoxin injection into the DAO. Filler products contain lidocaine.

Immediately after: visible filler effect. Mild swelling for 24–72 hours. Bruising possible but minimized with cannula technique.

1–2 weeks: tox onset - mouth corners lift. Filler fully integrates.

Maintenance: tox refresh every 3–5 months; filler every 12–18 months.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Two things working together: loss of structural volume in the lower face (aging, gravity, weight changes) and chronic DAO muscle activation pulling the mouth corners down. Treating only one cause leaves the other unaddressed.
For most clients, both. Filler rebuilds structure and smooths the line. Tox releases the downward muscle pull. Done together, the result is significantly better than either alone.
Filler: 12–18 months. DAO tox: 3–5 months. Combination treatment is typically refreshed in stages.
Not when dosed correctly. We use a layered conservative approach and check the result from multiple angles before completing treatment. The goal is your mouth at rest doesn't look downturned - not a fuller face.
Yes - the hyaluronic acid filler portion is fully reversible with filler rehab. The tox wears off naturally in 3–5 months.
Yes - commonly. Marionette + chin + jawline together creates a complete lower-face rebalance. Many clients do all three in a single appointment.
Topical numbing first, lidocaine in filler products. Most clients describe pressure during filler placement and brief pinches for the tox.
Pairs Well With

Related treatments

Pairs well with: Chin Filler · Jawline Filler · Nasolabial Fold Filler · Lip Filler · Filler Rehab

Visit our Torrance med spa to plan your treatment.

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