Sculptra for Marionette Lines: Does It Work?
Marionette & forehead wrinkles Sculptra procedure
Anatomical Understanding of Marionette
Hello. I am Director Kim Ga-eul.
Nasolabial folds, Marionette Why do they occur and how should we approach them?
Nasolabial folds occur due to loss of fat around the mouth drooping fat in the nasolabial area decreased skin elasticity
These various factors work simultaneously to create this appearance.
So today, I will explain in the easiest way possible how to utilize Sculptra for improving nasolabial and marionette lines along with
lifting techniques.
Step 1: First, we organize the drooping fat.
When the jowl fat falls down,
the marionette lines and the area around the mouth appear much deeper.
The most fundamental equipment for this is HIFU lifting.
🔸 Basic Principle of HIFU Lifting
Ultrasound creates
'thermal coagulation points' in the deep layers of the skin (SMAS) which tightens the tissues and lifts their elasticity.
The definite effect is a strong advantage. 👉Ultherapy: High intensity, verified effect 👉Shrink: Good cost-performance option
Designed according to fat thickness, skin thickness, and contours.
✴️ The key to HIFU is 'where and how to apply it.' Many people think, "Is it enough to just target the jowls?" but
this is only partially correct.
If you continuously apply the laser to just one area, it can improve to some extent,
but if the "design" is incorrect, side effects will occur immediately.
✔️ In particular, the marionette line is a banned area for HIFU.
So, just above the marionette line,
HIFU should be avoided, and other procedures should be combined.
If you follow the guidelines directly, there is a risk of creating hollow cheeks. So how should the design be done to improve without side effects?
Asian faces often have prominent cheekbones and plump sides.
Thus, starting with cheekbone design naturally leads down to the jowls and marionette lines.
However, in practice, this important cheekbone line is often omitted.
This can result in the lower part looking sunken or the overall contour not being smoothly connected.
Cheekbones are not just bones.
They are areas where fat, fascia, and skin collaboratively create structure.
Therefore, accurate design is very important.
Step 2: Fill in the sunken cheeks and wrinkle lines directly.
Simply solving the drooping does not eliminate the already deep marionette lines. Now, volume reinforcement is necessary. This is where Sculptra's true value shines.
Reasons for Sculptra's effectiveness Sculptra is a typical collagen booster injection that does not instantly provide volume like fillers,
but rather gradually creates collagen within the skin, naturally filling the volume.
🪄Sculptra Effect Timeline
🔸6-9 weeks: Collagen production begins 🔸3 months: Cheeks and marionette lines start to fill
🔸1-2 years maintenance: Newly created collagen maintains firmness
In other words, ✨The changes become younger over time, ✨With naturally lasting volume,
these two aspects make it the most suitable procedure for those who desire them.
Step 3: Wrinkles caused by muscles are resolved with Botox.
If the DAO muscle pulls the corners of the mouth downwards, the marionette lines become deeper.
Botox for the corners of the mouth will be performed together,
for a more natural and clean finish. When receiving expression Botox,
it is best to think of it as 'adding one area' for management.
⭐ Marionette wrinkle procedures must address all three aspects simultaneously.
☝️ Solve fat drooping HIFU + Complementary treatments for banned areas ✌️ Restore volume Sculptra 👌 Muscle control Botox for the corners of the mouth This combination ensures that the jawline is not heavy, resulting in a naturally youthful contour.
💡 Additional Q&A
Q. Does Sculptra make the face unnaturally larger?
A. Sculptra does not provide an immediate volume boost like fillers.
It gradually helps produce collagen over time,
so the face does not suddenly become larger or appear artificial.
Q. Can Sculptra reduce the size of jowl fat itself? A. Sculptra is not a procedure that reduces fat.
However, by realigning the volume structure around the jowls,
it effectively lifts the collapsed contours, thereby softening the impression of prominent jowls. Q. When can I start applying makeup after Sculptra?
A. You can apply makeup as soon as any bruising or needle marks disappear.
Typically, it is fine after about 1-2 days.
However, it is advisable to avoid hard pressure, strong massages, and saunas
for the initial 3-5 days. Thank you for reading. I am Kim Ga-eul. Recommended Beauty Column Outline & Volume
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What causes marionette lines and forehead wrinkles?
Marionette lines form from a mix of fat loss around the mouth, drooping fat in the nasolabial area, and decreased skin elasticity working together. Because multiple factors are involved, addressing just one — like injecting filler — usually isn't enough on its own.
Q2. Why is HIFU combined with Sculptra for this area?
Before adding volume with Sculptra, HIFU lifting is often used first to tighten the deeper SMAS layer and lift drooping jowl fat, since dealing with the sagging tissue helps the marionette lines and mouth area look less deep. The combination addresses both the sagging structure and the volume loss.
Q3. Can HIFU be applied directly on the marionette line?
No — the marionette line itself is considered a banned area for HIFU. Applying it directly there risks creating hollow cheeks, so treatment should be designed around it, often starting with the cheekbone area and working down, rather than targeting the marionette line in isolation.
Q4. Is this treatment right for everyone with nasolabial folds?
It depends on your specific anatomy and how much fat loss versus sagging versus elasticity loss is contributing to your case. Proper design accounting for cheekbone structure, fat, and skin matters, so an in-person consultation is the best way to determine the right combination for you.
