Marionette lines: what are they and how to hide them?
As the years go by, the loss of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid, as well as the displacement of facial fat, leads to an increasing number of creases and wrinkles on the face. Among these wrinkles, the so-called marionette lines in the perioral area are one of the most visible signs of ageing, giving the face a more tired and sad appearance. Today, thanks to facial aesthetic medicine, it is possible to recover a more rejuvenated appearance of the face, preventing, attenuating and even eliminating these wrinkles.
What you should know about marionette lines
- What are marionette lines and why do they appear?
- Can marionette lines be prevented or corrected?
- What is hyaluronic acid treatment?
1. What are marionette lines and why do they appear?
Marionette lines are wrinkles and furrows that appear in the perioral area, more specifically in the area of the chin and the corner of the lips as a result of skin ageing and loss of elasticity in the face. Their name, as is obvious, comes from the fact that they are reminiscent of the grooves in the mouths of puppets.
Therefore, these wrinkles are not due to those marked by the facial muscles of expression, as could occur in the nasolabial fold or between the eyebrows. Marionette lines are a direct consequence of the lack of hydration, the loss of collagen and elastin in the skin, as well as the decrease of fat in the cheek area with age.
They generally begin to appear after the age of 40 in women and later in men, as the skin in this area is thicker. In addition, it is worth mentioning that a lack of an appropriate facial routine for each skin type, stress, weight loss, alcohol consumption and/or smoking can also accelerate their appearance.
2. Can marionette lines be prevented or corrected?
As we have just mentioned, certain habits can accelerate the skin ageing process and directly affect the appearance of the face. Therefore, it is always advisable to slow down the effects of ageing:
- Always use sun protection factor +50. One of the causes of premature skin ageing is exposure to the sun. To protect facial skin, it is advisable to use sunscreen every day, even in winter.
- Have a facial care routine adapted to your skin type. In this case it is possible to incorporate serums or moisturisers that help to alleviate the effects of ageing, such as those containing retinoids. There is a wide range of products on the market today that can help delay and prevent the signs of ageing.
- Eat a proper diet and exercise. Foods rich in antioxidants and other nutrients as well as physical exercise improve the appearance of the skin. It is also important to avoid unhealthy habits such as smoking or drinking alcohol.
On the other hand, it is important to bear in mind that, despite delaying the most visible effects of ageing, it will continue to happen. In the past, cosmetic touch-ups came hand in hand with advances in medicine and surgery. Most cosmetic procedures involved going into the operating theatre.
Today, these same advances and research have led to materials that make it possible to treat the signs of ageing, such as marionette lines, in a much less invasive way through medical-aesthetic techniques. One of these materials is hyaluronic acid, which is used in many facial rejuvenation treatments thanks to its moisturising and volume restoring properties.
3. What does hyaluronic acid treatment consist of?
The treatment to eliminate marionette lines on the face is carried out by means of strategic microinjections in which hyaluronic acid is introduced, obviously, after the application of topical anaesthesia. This material is used to fill the skin folds that appear at the corners of the mouth towards the chin.
As we have already mentioned on previous occasions, hyaluronic acid is a filler material that restores lost volume and redefines the contours of the face. Thanks to the microinjections of this biocompatible substance, we manage toblur the furrows in this area of the face, giving a more rejuvenated appearance.
It is worth mentioning once again that hyaluronic acid is a biodegradable and reabsorbable filler material. This means that it is absorbed by the body over time, which means that the aesthetic medical treatment is only temporary. Depending on each case it can last between 12 to 18 months but, since it is a highly safe procedure, it could be reapplied, having longer term effects in each treatment.
