Marionette lines
Vertical creases that frame the chin and lower mouth area
Marionette lines are deep vertical creases that run alongside the chin and frame the lower face. They emerge as facial ligaments loosen and cheek fat descends during ageing, serving as key landmarks that shape how observers perceive facial structure.
- Vertical creases that frame the chin and lower mouth area.
- Form as facial ligaments relax and cheek fat descends with age.
- Not everyone develops them; facial structure determines their appearance.
- Depth can be reduced using facelifts or synthetic facial fillers.
What it is
Marionette lines are prominent vertical creases that run alongside the chin and frame the lower face. They sit at the edges of the mouth and help define the overall look of a person. These marks form naturally over time as the soft tissues shift. The connective bands around the mouth and jaw gradually lose tension, allowing the cheeks to drop slightly. As the underlying fat pads shrink and move downward, the skin folds into these distinct paths. Because they sit at a key junction of the lower face, they play a major part in how people perceive facial structure and maturity. Observers often notice them because they trace the outer boundary of the chin. Some individuals develop them early, while others never show them, depending entirely on their unique bone structure and tissue layout.
Styling and care
These lines are generally permanent once formed, but their depth can be reduced through cosmetic procedures. Surgeons may perform facelifts to reposition cheek tissue away from the mouth area, which smooths the surrounding skin. Alternatively, practitioners can inject synthetic facial fillers directly into the creases to lift and flatten them. Using fillers on their own often achieves a similar smoothing effect. These approaches focus on restoring volume and adjusting tissue placement rather than removing the natural anatomical structure.
Questions people ask about Marionette lines
What are marionette lines?
They are long vertical creases that run along the sides of the chin and frame the mouth. These marks serve as key landmarks that influence the overall impression of a person's face.
Why do they appear?
They develop as the connective tissues around the mouth loosen during ageing. Cheek fat pads also deflate and slide downward, causing the skin to fold into these visible paths.
Does everyone get them?
No. Whether these lines form depends on individual facial structure and anatomy. Some people never develop them regardless of age.
How can they be treated?
Their appearance can be minimised through surgical facelifts that lift cheek tissue away from the mouth. Synthetic facial fillers used alone or with surgery can also smooth the creases.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Marionette lines", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFaceShape rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
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