Supporting a Lifted, More Refreshed Appearance
A downturned mouth is a common aesthetic concern that can give the face a tired, sad or stern resting expression — even when a person feels perfectly happy and relaxed. It is a concern that many people feel self-conscious about, as the appearance of the mouth and the corners of the lips plays a significant role in overall facial expression and how we are perceived by others.
A downturned mouth develops as a result of a combination of muscle activity, volume loss and the natural changes that occur in facial structure and skin quality over time. The good news is that it is a concern that responds very well to targeted injectable treatments — often with natural-looking results that restore a more neutral, lifted and refreshed appearance to the lower face.
At Symmetry Cosmetic Clinic, we take a personalised approach to addressing a downturned mouth. Our focus is on understanding the specific anatomical contributors to your concern and developing a tailored treatment plan that restores balance, softens the downward pull at the corners of the mouth and supports a more lifted, refreshed appearance — without altering the natural character of your face.
Whether you have noticed a gradual downward turn developing with age or have always had a natural tendency toward a downturned mouth, a personalised consultation allows us to assess your concerns and develop an individualised treatment plan aligned with your goals.
A downturned mouth develops as a result of a combination of muscle activity, volume loss and structural changes within the face. Understanding the specific contributors is essential to developing the most effective and natural-looking treatment approach.
The depressor anguli oris (DAO) is a muscle located at each corner of the mouth that pulls the mouth corners downward. In some individuals this muscle is particularly active or strong, creating a persistent downward pull at the oral commissures — the corners of the lips — that can give the face a sad, stern or unhappy resting expression. Relaxing the DAO muscle with a precise wrinkle relaxer treatment is often one of the most effective and immediate ways to address a downturned mouth, allowing the corners to rest in a more neutral or gently lifted position.
As we age, the loss of volume in the mid and lower face contributes significantly to the appearance of a downturned mouth. The deflation of fat pads around the cheeks, jawline and perioral area reduces the structural support that keeps the corners of the mouth lifted. Restoring volume with dermal fillers in the appropriate areas of the lower face can help to support and elevate the mouth corners, complementing the effect of muscle relaxation.
Marionette lines are the vertical lines that run from the corners of the mouth downward toward the chin. As these lines deepen with age and volume loss, they can accentuate the appearance of a downturned mouth and contribute to a heavier, more aged lower face. Addressing marionette lines as part of a comprehensive lower face treatment plan can significantly improve the overall appearance of the mouth area.
The gradual decline of collagen and elastin in the skin surrounding the mouth and lower face contributes to reduced firmness and support in the perioral area. This can allow the skin and soft tissue around the mouth to descend over time, worsening the appearance of a downturned mouth and contributing to jowling along the jawline.
For some people, a downturned mouth is a natural feature of their facial anatomy rather than an age-related change. Strong DAO muscle activity or a naturally downward-sloping oral commissure can be an inherited characteristic that has been present since early adulthood.
Your consultation begins with a detailed assessment of your facial anatomy, muscle activity, volume distribution, skin quality and aesthetic concerns. We evaluate the specific contributors to your downturned mouth — including DAO muscle activity, volume loss and skin laxity — to develop a treatment plan that addresses your individual anatomy safely and effectively.
Based on your assessment, a customised treatment plan is developed. For most people, a combination approach yields the most natural and balanced result — typically involving wrinkle relaxer treatment to the DAO muscle, with volume restoration and skin quality treatments selected based on individual need.
Selected treatments are performed according to your individual treatment plan, with the aim of softening the downward pull at the mouth corners, restoring support and volume to the lower face and improving overall skin quality in the perioral area for a more lifted, refreshed and natural-looking result.
Maintaining a lifted, refreshed appearance at the mouth corners requires ongoing care. Wrinkle relaxer treatments are temporary and will require regular maintenance, while volume restoration and regenerative treatments support longer-term structural improvement. We provide continued support and treatment reviews to help sustain your results over time.
A downturned mouth is most effectively addressed through a combination of targeted injectable treatments that work together to relax the muscles pulling the mouth corners downward, restore lost volume and support the surrounding skin and tissue.
At Symmetry Cosmetic Clinic, treatment for a downturned mouth most commonly centres on wrinkle relaxer treatment to the depressor anguli oris muscle — one of the most precise and effective ways to achieve a more lifted resting position at the mouth corners. This is frequently combined with dermal fillers for volume restoration, bio-remodelling, biostimulator treatments and the Glass Facial to improve skin quality, hydration and collagen support in the lower face and perioral area. Skin needling, professional peels, LED light therapy and medical-grade skincare programs may also be recommended to support overall skin health and complement injectable results.
Our goal is to restore a more neutral, lifted and refreshed appearance to the mouth area in a way that feels entirely natural and in harmony with your individual features.
