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What is the Best Facial Procedure to Address the Drooping Corners of the Mouth?
Downturned mouth corners usually come from a mix of things: descent of the cheek fat pads, loss of skin elasticity, and weakening of the muscles around the mouth (particularly the depressor anguli oris pulling the corners down unopposed). A facelift addresses the jowl and midface descent well, but it doesn't always fully correct the corners themselves. For that specific area, a direct corner-of-mouth lift (a small excision at the oral commissure) or filler to support the marionette lines and add volume back to the area can make a real difference. Fat grafting is another option if there's significant volume loss along the jawline and cheek. Often the best result comes from combining a facelift with one of these targeted corner treatments rather than relying on either alone. Botox to relax the depressor muscle can also help in milder cases. Since the right combination depends on your specific anatomy and degree of descent, an in-person exam with a board-certified plastic surgeon would help determine what will give you the most natural, balanced result.
Clinical Context
The depressor anguli oris is the small muscle that pulls the corners of the mouth downward when it works without balance from other muscles nearby. Relaxing it with Botox can soften a mild downturn. Fillers and fat grafting restore volume and support to the area, while a direct corner lift permanently shortens the tissue causing the droop. A facelift improves jowls and midface sagging but doesn't always correct the mouth corners on its own, which is why combining approaches often gives a more complete result.
