Smile Lines & Marionette Lines Treatment (Nasolabial Folds)
Have the lines from your nose to the corners of your mouth deepened, so you look tired or sad even when you aren’t? These are smile lines (nasolabial folds), and below them marionette lines. Fillers soften them in one visit, HIFU firms the skin around them, and Sculptra rebuilds support underneath, from about Rs 10,500 a session in a course.
Also known as nasolabial folds, laugh lines, smile lines, marionette lines or mouth lines.
Is this you?
- Lines from your nose to your mouth that stay when you stop smiling
- Lines from the corners of your mouth down to your chin
- A tired or sad look, even when you feel fine
- Flatter cheeks than a few years ago
See a doctor first if filler you had before left lumps, swelling that won’t settle or a change in skin colour: the doctor checks it before any more treatment.
What causes smile and marionette lines?
- Lost cheek volume As cheeks flatten, the skin below folds more deeply.
- Less collagen Skin loses firmness with age, so folds stay when you stop smiling.
- Sagging Tissues of the mid-face slowly drop with time.
- Sun and smoking Both break down collagen and deepen lines.
- Weight loss Losing face fat can make folds look deeper.
How we treat smile and marionette lines, step by step
- Deep foldsStep 1 · Deep foldsFillersHyaluronic acid gel softens the fold straight away; smile lines often need about 1 ml, lasting 6–12 months. Rs 35,000 per ml.
- 1 visit, top-ups every 6–12 months
- Swelling or bruises for a few days
Folds with loose skinStep 2 · Folds with loose skinHIFU TreatmentFocused ultrasound firms the skin around the folds, building over about three months. Laugh lines Rs 14,995, or Rs 20,993 for two.- 1 session, repeated about yearly
- Minimal: mild redness or swelling
Lost supportStep 3 · Lost supportSculptra Collagen StimulatorBuilds new collagen under the folds over 2–3 sessions; in a trial the improvement lasted up to 25 months. Rs 195,000 a vial.- 2–3 sessions, 4–6 weeks apart
- Swelling or bruising, a few days
More treatments for smile and marionette lines
Profhilo Skin Booster“My skin looks dull and dry lately.”- From Rs 95,000
- Downtime Minimal: small bumps fade in 24 hrs
- Results last About 6 months; top-up twice a year
Thread Lift“My cheeks and jawline have started to sag.”- From Rs 17,995
- Downtime Swelling, bruising for 1–2 weeks
- Results last Months; fades as threads dissolve
Cheek, Chin & Jawline Fillers“My face looks flat and my chin is weak.”- From Rs 35,000
- Downtime Mild swelling for a few days
- Results last 12–18 months
Free consultation
Not sure which one suits you?
A doctor checks your skin and goals, then tells you honestly what will work, and what won’t. No obligation.
Meet our 48 doctorsWe usually reply within 15 minutes.
What results to expect
Fillers show straight away. In a study of 75 people with moderate to severe smile lines, 97% responded well to a hyaluronic acid gel, and with one top-up the improvement lasted up to 18 months. Collagen-building treatments are slower but last longer: in a trial in which 116 adults had Sculptra for their smile lines, the improvement lasted up to 25 months after the last session.
The honest limit: smile lines are part of a healthy face, so the aim is to soften them, not erase them. Very deep folds from heavy sagging may need surgery, and fillers need top-ups.
Sources
- Persistence and improvement of nasolabial fold correction with nonanimal-stabilized hyaluronic acid 100,000 gel particles/mL filler on two retreatment schedules: results up to 18 months
- A randomized study of the efficacy and safety of injectable poly-L-lactic acid versus human-based collagen implant in the treatment of nasolabial fold wrinkles
- A systematic review of the efficacy of microfocused ultrasound for facial skin tightening
- Global Aesthetics Consensus: avoidance and management of complications from hyaluronic acid fillers
- FDA: Dermal fillers (soft tissue fillers)
Caring for your skin at home
- Sunscreen every day, SPF 30 or higher, because sun breaks down collagen.
- A retinoid at night, if your doctor recommends one, helps skin quality over months.
- Don’t smoke: it deepens lines around the mouth.
- Keep your weight steady, since losing face fat can deepen folds.
- Creams won’t fill a fold; they help the skin, not the volume underneath.
Smile and marionette lines: your questions answered
Straight answers from our doctors to what people ask most about smile and marionette lines.
Choosing a treatment 6
01What is the best treatment for nasolabial folds?
For a quick, visible change, dermal fillers soften the fold in one visit, often with a little in the cheeks to lift from above.
If the skin is loose, HIFU firms it, and Sculptra rebuilds support for a longer-lasting result. Your doctor checks what is causing your folds first.
02How do I get rid of smile lines?
Smile lines can be softened a lot, not erased.
Filler gives the quickest result, HIFU and Sculptra build firmness over months, and Profhilo improves skin quality around them. Daily sunscreen and not smoking slow them from deepening again.
03What helps marionette lines?
Marionette lines run down from the mouth to the chin and usually need a small amount of filler along the line and at the corner of the mouth, sometimes with support at the jawline.
Sculptra also softens them by rebuilding collagen. A thread lift can lift sagging along the jaw that deepens them.
04Botox or filler for smile lines?
Filler.
Smile lines come from lost volume and sagging, not from a muscle, so Botox doesn’t soften them and can affect your smile. Botox suits lines made by movement, such as forehead lines and crow’s feet. For those, see our wrinkle treatment page.
05Are laugh lines the same as smile lines?
Yes, laugh lines, smile lines and nasolabial folds are the same lines, running from the nose to the corners of the mouth.
Marionette lines are different: they run from the mouth down to the chin. Both are treated in similar ways, often in the same visit.
06Where can I get smile lines treatment near me?
Smile lines treatment is available at all 12 Cutera Aesthetics clinics, at the same price in every city.
We have clinics in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Hyderabad and Sialkot, with female doctors at each one. Find your nearest clinic, or message us on WhatsApp and we’ll book your free consultation at the one closest to you.
Cost & results 2
07How much does nasolabial folds treatment cost in Pakistan?
Korean filler is Rs 35,000 per ml, and smile lines often need about 1 ml.
HIFU for laugh lines is Rs 14,995 a session, or Rs 20,993 for two, and Profhilo Rs 95,000 a session. Sculptra is Rs 195,000 a vial. Prices are the same at all 12 clinics, the consultation is free, and any current offer is explained at the clinic.
08How long do the results last?
Filler in the smile lines usually lasts 6–12 months, and up to 18 months with a top-up.
HIFU firms the skin over about three months and is repeated about yearly. Sculptra builds over two to three months after each session and can last up to two years.
Safety & recovery 2
09Is filler for smile lines safe, and is there downtime?
Yes, with a trained doctor using approved hyaluronic acid gels.
Expect mild swelling or a small bruise for a few days. Rare problems such as a blocked blood vessel need fast treatment, which is why a doctor injects, and hyaluronic acid can be dissolved if needed.
10Will I look overfilled?
Not with a careful plan.
The doctor softens the fold rather than filling it flat, and often lifts from the cheek first, so the result looks natural. Starting with a small amount and adding later, if you want, is the safest way to avoid an overdone look.
اردو میں خلاصہ
ناک کے کنارے سے منہ کے کونوں تک آنے والی لکیروں کو سمائل لائنز یا نیزولیبیئل فولڈز کہتے ہیں، اور منہ سے ٹھوڑی تک آنے والی لکیریں میریونیٹ لائنز کہلاتی ہیں۔ عمر کے ساتھ گالوں کا حجم اور کولاجن کم ہونے سے یہ گہری ہو جاتی ہیں۔
کیا یہ ختم ہو سکتی ہیں؟ یہ مکمل ختم نہیں ہوتیں، لیکن کافی نرم کی جا سکتی ہیں۔
علاج: ہمارے ڈاکٹر پہلے وجہ دیکھتے ہیں، پھر فلرز، ہائیفو یا اسکلپٹرا تجویز کرتے ہیں۔
گھر پر: روزانہ سن بلاک لگائیں، سگریٹ سے بچیں اور وزن مستحکم رکھیں۔
مفت مشورے کے لیے ہمیں واٹس ایپ کریں۔
