By London Finsbury Clinic · 4 November 2026

Marionette lines are shaped by the skin, supporting tissues and natural movement of the lower face. Looking at these layers together helps us plan a softer, balanced appearance around the mouth.

The area below the mouth corners

Marionette lines extend from the corners of the mouth towards the chin. Their appearance can include a fine crease, a deeper fold or a shadow beside the jawline. The shape of your chin, the position of nearby facial fat and the quality of the skin all contribute to this transition.

At London Finsbury Clinic, we assess your lower face at rest and during expression. This gives us a fuller understanding of the area and helps us choose where support will be most useful.

Skin quality and collagen support

Collagen contributes to the strength and structure of the skin. Together with elastin and hydration, it helps the skin feel supple and resilient. As these qualities change over time, the transition below the mouth corner can become more defined.

Our approach considers both the visible crease and the surrounding skin. Improving tissue quality and support can help the area look softer while keeping the natural character of your face.

Facial support and the jawline

The lower face works as a connected area. Changes in volume and support beside the chin and along the jawline influence the shadows seen around a marionette fold. We look at these neighbouring features together when planning treatment.

A personalised assessment helps us distinguish a localised hollow from a broader tissue-quality concern. Carefully selected filler can provide targeted support, while collagen-stimulating treatment offers a gradual approach to the surrounding tissue.

Movement and expression

The depressor anguli oris, often called the DAO, contributes to downward movement of the mouth corner. The platysma contributes to movement across the lower face and neck. Understanding how these muscles work helps us assess the area in a way that respects your expression.

Speaking, smiling and moving naturally are central to the way your face looks. Our plan takes these movements into account alongside the skin and underlying support.

Bringing the assessment together

We explain which features contribute most to your marionette lines and the purpose of each proposed treatment. Where tissue quality is the priority, we often favour Lenisna collagen stimulation. Where a defined hollow needs support, a suitable filler may have a useful role. Lifting and skin-quality treatments can be considered when they add something specific to the plan.

The aim is a considered improvement that fits your face: softer transitions, thoughtful support and preserved expression. Explore our marionette lines treatment approach to see how we put this assessment into practice.