The best way to fix downturned lips depends on what’s pulling your mouth corners down. Botox in the DAO muscle treats muscle-driven downturn, while dermal filler treats volume loss. Skin tightening helps mild loose skin, and a corner lip lift corrects true structural downturn.
Matching the treatment to the cause matters more than picking the most popular option. Two people with the same downturned look can need very different treatments. That’s why finding your cause first saves you money, spares you extra visits, and helps you avoid letdown results.
This guide explains what causes downturned mouth corners and how each of the five main treatments works. You’ll also learn what natural methods can really do and how the options compare on cost and staying power. Our goal is to help you assess the risks before booking anything.
Quick answer: how to fix downturned lips
Downturned lips can be treated in several ways, but the best option depends on what is causing your mouth corners to point downward. The main treatments include:
- DAO Botox for strong muscle pull that drags the mouth corners downward
- Dermal filler for lost volume or reduced support around the mouth
- Botox and filler together when both muscle pull and volume loss are contributing
- Skin tightening for mild sagging around the lower face
- Corner lip lift surgery when the mouth corners are structurally positioned downward
-Medically reviewed by Molly Rodriguez, RN, MPH | 10+ years of experience | Founder & owner of EauClaireBodyCare
👉Interested in Botox or fillers?Click here to book a consultation at Eau Claire Body Care.
What are downturned lips and what causes them?
Downturned lips are lips where one or both corners of the mouth, called the oral commissures, angle downward at rest. The shape can be something you were born with or develop gradually as the muscles, fat, skin, and underlying facial structure change.
Downturned mouth corners are also different from marionette lines. Your mouth corners describe the position of the lips themselves, while marionette lines are folds that extend downward from the corners toward the chin. You can have one without the other, although both commonly appear together as the lower face ages.
Below are the 6 main causes of downturned lips, and most people can have one or more at the same time:
1. Overactive DAO muscles
The depressor anguli oris (DAO) is a triangle-shaped muscle that runs from each mouth corner down to the jawline. Its job is to pull the mouth corners down when you frown. When the DAO stays overactive at rest, it drags the mouth corners down even when your face is relaxed.
Here’s a quick self-check: place a finger on the corner of your mouth and gently frown. If you feel a firm band tighten along the side of your chin, an overactive DAO may be part of your downturned lips.
2. Genetics and your natural lip shape
Some downturned lips are simply part of your natural anatomy, rather than a change caused by aging. Your oral commissure angle, lip proportions, chin projection, and facial muscle attachments can give your mouth a naturally downward orientation.
If your lip shape has looked similar for years, age-related volume loss probably is not the only explanation. Treatment then becomes less about restoring something you lost and more about deciding whether you want to modify a natural feature.
3. Genetics and your natural lip shape
Some downturned lips are simply part of your natural anatomy, rather than a change caused by aging. Your oral commissure angle, lip proportions, chin projection, and facial muscle attachments can give your mouth a naturally downward orientation.
If your lip shape has looked similar for years, age-related volume loss probably is not the only explanation. Treatment then becomes less about restoring something you lost and more about deciding whether you want to modify a natural feature.
4. Aging, volume loss, and marionette folds
Aging can make previously level mouth corners appear lower because the support around your lower face gradually changes. Fat beneath the skin can shift or decrease, while the skin and other soft tissues can begin to sag.
Your facial bones also change gradually with age, which can reduce some of the deeper support beneath your skin. Together, these changes can make the mouth corners look heavier or more downward-facing.
That is why someone without downturned lips in their 20s may notice a different resting expression later in life. Marionette lines may also become deeper at the same time, making the downward appearance more noticeable.
5. Loose skin and changes in facial structure
Loose or sagging skin can make downturned mouth corners more noticeable, especially when your jawline and lower face have changed with age. However, skin is not always the only reason the corners begin to look lower.
Your chin position also affects how the area around your mouth looks and how well the surrounding tissues are supported. A chin that sits farther back can change the overall balance of your lower face.
This is why treating only the visible mouth corner does not always create the most balanced result. Your provider should assess your whole lower face before recommending filler or another procedure.
6. Previous Botox, filler, dental work, or lip surgery
A mouth corner that changed after a cosmetic or dental procedure needs a different assessment from naturally downturned lips. Botox can temporarily change how the muscles around your mouth work together, particularly when one side responds differently.
Filler can create temporary unevenness from swelling, while placement or movement of the filler can cause longer-lasting asymmetry. Lip surgery physically changes tissue position, so postoperative changes may need evaluation by the surgeon who performed your procedure.
Dental work can also temporarily change how your mouth moves because of swelling, numbness, or changes in your bite.
If your mouth shape clearly changed after treatment, return to the original provider before trying another cosmetic correction. Adding another procedure before identifying the problem can make the area harder to evaluate.
How to fix downturned lips based on the cause
To fix downturned lips, you can choose from AO Botox, dermal filler, combined Botox and filler, skin tightening, or corner lip lift surgery. Each option treats a different reason your mouth corners may point downward.
Here’s how each cause-based treatment works and whether it’s the right fit for you:
1. Botox for muscle-related downturned corners
Botox can be the best solution to fix downturned lips if strong DAO muscle activity is pulling your mouth corners downward.
Botox belongs to a group of wrinkle-relaxing injections that temporarily reduce muscle activity. When used in the DAO, the goal is to weaken some of the downward pull affecting your mouth corners.
The muscles that raise your mouth corners then have less opposing force to work against. This can create a subtle improvement in how the corners sit when your face is relaxed.
Botox can’t replace missing facial volume or physically lift significantly sagging skin. It may therefore provide limited improvement when muscle activity is only a small part of your problem.
2. Dermal filler for lost volume and structural support
Dermal filler can be the best solution to fix downturned lips if lost facial volume or support is causing your mouth corners to sit lower.
Hyaluronic acid dermal filler can replace volume in carefully selected areas around your mouth, chin, or lower face. Hyaluronic acid is a substance naturally found in your body that helps hold water within your tissues.
Depending on your facial shape, the most useful filler may not need to go directly into your lips.
That distinction matters because larger lips do not automatically mean higher mouth corners. Lip fullness and mouth-corner position are two different concerns that sometimes require different treatment approaches.
3. Botox and filler for multiple causes
Botox and filler can be the best combination for downturned lips if both muscle pull and lost facial support are contributing to the downturn.
Botox reduces the strength of the muscle pulling downward, while filler replaces volume or support where your face has lost it. Each treatment therefore addresses a different part of the same visible concern.
Combination treatment of Botox and filler doesn’t automatically mean using large amounts of both products. The goal is to identify each contributing problem and use only the treatment needed for that specific problem.
👉 Interested in Botox or filler? Book a consultation at Eau Claire Body Care today!
4. Skin tightening for mild lower-face laxity
Skin tightening can help fix downturned lips if mild sagging around your lower face is contributing to the downward appearance.
Treatments such as RF microneedling use controlled radiofrequency energy and tiny needles to encourage your skin to produce new collagen. Collagen is one of the proteins that helps your skin stay firm and supported.
Over time, this process can improve skin firmness and some mild sagging around the lower face.
A 2024 systematic review found improvements with several minimally invasive facial rejuvenation treatments, although results varied between methods.
However, i strong DAO pull or noticeable sagging around the lower face is the main cause, skin tightening alone may not fully lift your mouth corners.
5. Corner lip lift for significant structural downturn
A corner lip lift can be the best solution for downturned lips if the mouth corners are structurally positioned downward and you want a longer-lasting correction.
During a lip lift surgery, a surgeon removes and repositions a small amount of skin near the outer mouth corners. This physically raises the corners rather than changing muscle activity or replacing lost volume.
A corner lip lift may make more sense when your downturn is pronounced and mainly comes from your natural mouth shape. It may also suit someone seeking a longer-lasting change who accepts surgery, recovery, and visible scars.
Can you fix downturned lips naturally?
Natural methods can subtly support the look of your mouth corners. Still, no exercise, massage, or skincare product can reliably lift downturned lips the way clinical treatments can. Home care can also support healthier-looking skin, but those effects are different from changing muscle pull or mouth-corner position.
Do face yoga and facial exercises work on downturned lips?
Current research does not show that face yoga or facial exercises reliably lift downturned mouth corners.
A 2014 systematic review found insufficient evidence to determine whether facial exercises produce meaningful facial rejuvenation.
Meanwhile, a newer 2025 review found some small improvements in certain facial areas during individual studies. However, researchers still concluded that the evidence was not strong enough to confirm that these techniques reliably work.
Face exercises are therefore better treated as an optional habit rather than a proven replacement for professional treatment. They cannot reliably counter strong DAO pull, replace lost facial volume, or physically reposition a naturally downturned mouth corner.
Can gua sha or facial massage lift mouth corners?
Gua sha and facial massage may temporarily reduce puffiness or help tight facial muscles feel more relaxed. However, current evidence does not show that massage permanently moves downturned mouth corners into a higher position.
Also, massage alone can’t replace facial volume or selectively weaken the DAO muscle when that muscle is pulling strongly downward.
If you enjoy facial massage and your skin tolerates it, gentle techniques can remain part of your routine. Just keep your expectations focused on temporary appearance or relaxation rather than a permanent mouth-corner lift.
Botox for downturned mouth corners: how DAO treatment works
Botox treats downturned mouth corners by relaxing the depressor anguli oris, the muscle that pulls those corners down. If your downturn is muscle-driven, DAO Botox can lift the mouth corners. Removing the downward pull lets your natural lifting muscles hold the mouth in a more neutral position.
One thing you should know upfront: this use is off-label in the United States. The FDA-approved indications for BOTOX Cosmetic cover frown lines, crow’s feet, forehead lines, and neck bands, not the DAO or mouth corners. Off-label use is legal and common in aesthetics, but it makes injector experience the single most important safety factor.
How relaxing the DAO can lift the corners of your mouth
The DAO pulls the outer corner of your mouth downward toward your jaw. Botox temporarily reduces how strongly that muscle can contract.
Once that downward force becomes weaker, the muscles pulling in the opposite direction face less resistance. Your mouth corners may then sit slightly higher when your face is relaxed.
A 2022 research on DAO Botox supports this treatment approach and shows why understanding lower-face anatomy matters.
How quickly DAO Botox works and how long it lasts
DAO Botox usually starts working within 3 to 7 days, with full results showing up around two weeks. Most people keep their result for roughly 3 to 4 months before the muscle activity slowly returns.
The effect wears off completely rather than fading into something worse than baseline. If you like the result, maintenance visits a few times per year keep it consistent.
A 2016 clinical study showed that results of Botox injections on congenital mouth drooping lasted for 6 to 9 months.
Can DAO Botox make your smile uneven?
Yes, DAO Botox can make your smile uneven for a while if the product spreads beyond the target muscle or if the two sides respond differently. Smile asymmetry is the most common meaningful side effect of this treatment, which is exactly why anatomy knowledge and careful dosing matter so much.
The reassuring part is that any unevenness is temporary. Because Botox wears off, an imperfect result fixes itself within a few months.
A 2021 anatomical study explains how incorrect Botox injection placement or depth can affect normal lower-face movement.
DAO Botox vs. a lip flip: what is the difference?
DAO Botox and a lip flip treat different problems, even though both use small doses of Botox around the mouth. DAO Botox targets the muscles at the sides of the chin to lift downturned corners. Meanwhile, lip flip instead relaxes the upper lip’s border muscle so the lip rolls slightly outward and looks fuller.
A lip flip won’t lift downturned corners, and DAO treatment won’t make your upper lip look bigger. Some people benefit from both, but they aren’t interchangeable.
Can dermal filler fix downturned lips?
Yes, dermal filler can fix downturned lips when the cause is volume loss or weak structural support around the mouth. Filler rebuilds the foundation beneath and beside the mouth corners, and with that support back, the mouth corners can sit level again instead of collapsing inward and down.
Placement matters more than product. The same syringe can lift or worsen a downturn depending on where it goes.
How filler supports downturned mouth corners
Hyaluronic acid filler can replace lost volume in selected areas around your mouth and lower face. Restoring that support may make the transition around your mouth corners look less heavy or downward.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons explains that dermal fillers can restore facial volume and soften certain folds. However, these treatments remain temporary because your body gradually breaks down the filler.
However, if a strong DAO muscle continues pulling downward, adding filler without addressing that muscle may create limited improvement.
Lip filler vs. marionette-line filler for downturned corners
Lip filler and filler around marionette lines do different jobs, even though both treatments are performed near your mouth.
Lip filler changes the fullness, border, or shape of your lips themselves. Marionette-line filler replaces support beneath or beside your mouth where deeper folds have developed.
You can therefore have thin lips without having downturned mouth corners. You can also have naturally full lips whose corners still angle downward.
When chin or lower-face filler may improve mouth-corner support
Chin filler can improve mouth-corner support when a weak or sunken chin is letting the whole lower face collapse inward. Building up the chin and the area just before the jowls restores the scaffolding the mouth corners rely on. That can soften a downturn without touching your mouth corners directly.
This approach suits people whose downturn worsened as their jawline softened. Our full-face balance assessment catches this pattern; a corner-only assessment misses it.
When adding more lip filler will not fix the problem
More lip filler won’t fix downturned mouth corners when the problem is muscle pull, loose skin, or heavy existing filler. Adding volume to lips that already lack support can weigh the mouth corners down further and make the downturn look worse, not better.
If repeated lip filler visits haven’t improved your mouth corners, the cause was never lip volume. A different treatment category, not a bigger syringe, is the answer.
When is a corner lip lift better for downturned lips?
A corner lip lift is better than injectables when your downturn is structural, lifelong, or too strong for Botox and filler to correct. This lip lift surgery permanently moves the mouth corners upward. That makes it the clearest option for downturn that genetics built into your face.
Eau Claire Body Care doesn’t perform surgery, so consider this section an honest map of when a surgical referral makes more sense than another round of injectables.
How corner lip lift surgery raises the mouth corners
A corner lip lift surgery raises the mouth corners by removing a small triangle of skin just above each corner. Closing that gap rotates the corner upward. The procedure is usually done under local anesthesia in under an hour.
Because the change is made to the tissue itself, the new corner position doesn’t wear off. That permanence is the procedure’s main advantage and its main risk.
Who is a good candidate for a corner lip lift?
Good candidates for a corner lip lift surgery have clear, stable, structural downturn and realistic expectations about scarring. Surgical candidacy also depends on skin quality, healing history, and whether simpler options were tried or ruled out.
Surgeons generally prefer candidates who have tested the look with filler or Botox first. If a temporary version of the change made you happy, you might be ready for a permanent solution.
Corner lip lift scars, recovery, and long-term results
Corner lip lift surgery leaves scars because the surgeon must make incisions beside the mouth corners.
Swelling, tenderness, and temporary unevenness can occur while the area heals. Because your mouth moves constantly when speaking and eating, careful post-operative wound care also matters.
The surgical change is designed to last much longer than Botox or filler. However, your skin and facial tissues will continue changing as you age.
For that reason, describing the result as long-lasting is more accurate than saying your mouth corners can never droop again.
What a corner lip lift cannot correct
A corner lip lift can’t correct marionette folds, jowls, volume loss, or an overactive DAO. It changes the position of the corner itself and nothing else, so downturn driven by the surrounding structures will persist or come back.
Many surgical patients still benefit from filler or Botox afterward. Surgery moves the corner; the rest of the lower face still needs its own plan.
Compare downturned lip treatments: results, cost, downtime, and longevity
The best downturned-lip treatment is not simply whichever option lasts longest or costs the least. You should compare what each treatment actually fixes, how much recovery it involves, and whether ongoing maintenance fits your preferences.
| Factor | DAO Botox | Dermal Filler | Skin Tightening | Corner Lip Lift Surgery |
| How fast it works | 3–14 days | Immediate | 2–6 months | Visible after healing (1–2 weeks) |
| How long it lasts | 3–4 months | 6–18 months | 1–2 years | Permanent |
| Typical U.S. cost | $100–$400 per session | $600–$1,500+ per area | $500–$3,000+ per series | $2,000–$5,000+ |
| Downtime | None to minimal | Minimal; bruising possible | None to minimal | 1–2 weeks |
| Reversible? | Wears off naturally | Yes, with hyaluronidase | Not applicable | No |
| Best suited for | Strong downward muscle pull | Lost volume or support | Mild sagging or skin-quality concerns | Mouth corners needing physical repositioning |
(Average pricing as of August 2026)
What are the risks of treating downturned mouth corners?
Every treatment for downturned mouth corners carries risks. The mouth area is less forgiving than the forehead because the muscles there control eating, speaking, and smiling. Knowing the specific risks of each option helps you weigh them honestly instead of finding out afterward.
Here are some risks you should weigh, but none of these risks should scare you away. With a skilled provider, most of these risks are highly preventable:
1. DAO Botox risks and smile asymmetry
The main risk of DAO Botox is a temporary uneven or weak smile when the product reaches nearby lip muscles. Botox side effects in this area can also include trouble with certain mouth movements, mild drooling, or a smile that feels slightly “off” for a few weeks.
A 2025 research on lower-face Botox explains how the close position of these muscles can increase the risk of unintended changes in movement.
These effects fade as the Botox wears off. Careful dosing and precise placement by an experienced injector keep the risk low.
2. Dermal filler risks around the mouth
The most serious filler risk is vascular occlusion, which happens when filler enters a blood vessel by accident and blocks blood flow. The FDA identifies unintended injection into a blood vessel as the most concerning risk of dermal fillers Rare but severe outcomes include tissue death, vision loss, and stroke.
The area around the mouth contains major vessels, including the facial artery. Common milder filler risks include bruising, swelling, lumps, and unevenness, most of which resolve or can be corrected.
But here’s the good news: an experienced injector can stop this from happening. All our injectors at Eau Claire Body Care undergo periodic training to ensure the accuracy and safety of our injectable treatments. We’ve also been doing injectables for 10+ years to over a thousand clients!
3. Corner lip lift risks and scarring
Corner lip lift risks include visible scars, infection, uneven mouth corners, changes in sensation, delayed healing, and dissatisfaction with the result.
The scars deserve particular consideration because the incisions are made in an area that remains visible and moves throughout the day.
Your surgeon should explain where those scars will sit and how they typically change while healing. You should also understand what degree of lifting is realistic before agreeing to surgery.
Who should delay or avoid treatment for downturned lips
You should delay treatment for downturned lips if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, have a skin infection near the mouth, or have a big event coming up within 2 weeks. People with certain nerve and muscle conditions should avoid botulinum toxin.
Also, if you have severe allergies in your history, you should seek careful contraindications review before getting dermal filler.
A licensed injector should walk through your medical history before any treatment. You can book a consultation with our injectors at Eau Claire Body Care to learn which injectable treatment is best for you.
What if your downturned lips are uneven or appeared after treatment?
Uneven or newly downturned lips after a cosmetic treatment usually trace back to product placement, product movement, or natural unevenness the treatment unmasked.
Most of these cases are temporary or fixable. However, sudden unevenness with other symptoms needs a medical checkup rather than a cosmetic touch-up.
Here’s how to assess the scenario:
Why one side of your mouth may turn down more than the other
One side of your mouth turning down more than the other is usually normal, not a defect. Nearly everyone has some facial asymmetry. The muscles, volume, and bone on each side of your face are never perfect mirrors.
Uneven downturned lips are worth a closer look when it’s new, getting worse, or paired with weakness. Longstanding, stable unevenness is simply how your face is built, and treatment can balance it if it bothers you.
Downturned mouth corners after Botox
Downturned or uneven mouth corners after Botox are almost always short-lived and resolve as the product wears off. Botox placed for a gummy smile, chin dimpling, or jaw slimming can sometimes drift into the lip-lifting muscles and let the mouth corners drop for a few weeks.
Go back to your treating injector rather than seeking a fix elsewhere. They know exactly what was injected and where, which makes managing the effect far easier.
Uneven or downturned lips after filler
Uneven lips after filler usually come from swelling, uneven placement, or filler migration, and all three are fixable. Early unevenness often settles within two weeks as swelling resolves, while true filler migration or overfill can be dissolved and redone.
Photograph your lips daily during the first 2 weeks. The record helps your injector tell normal swelling from a placement issue at your follow-up.
Downturned mouth corners after a lip lift
Downturned mouth corners after a lip lift usually come from healing tension rather than a failed procedure. Scar tissue contracts as it matures, so corner position can shift subtly during the first several months of post-procedure healing.
Revision decisions shouldn’t be rushed. Most surgeons wait at least six months before judging the final result. Early corrections often chase a problem that would have fixed itself.
When sudden facial asymmetry needs medical evaluation
Sudden facial drooping is a possible medical emergency, not a cosmetic concern. New drooping on one side that shows up over hours or days can signal a stroke or Bell’s palsy . Watch for slurred speech, arm weakness, or trouble closing an eye along with it.
Call emergency services for stroke symptoms rather than waiting to see if they improve. A cosmetic fix can always come later; the medical checkup can’t.
Choose the right treatment for downturned lips at Eau Claire Body Care
Knowing how to fix downturned lips starts with identifying which cause applies to you. That’s exactly what a consultation is for.
At Eau Claire Body Care, Molly Rodriguez, RN, MPH, checks your muscle activity, volume, and skin quality. From there, she can tell what fits your anatomy best: DAO Botox, dermal filler, a combination, or a surgical referral.
For 10+ years, we’ve been providing aesthetic treatments to clients who want to improve their overall appearance. We’ve also been recognized as the #1 medical spa in Volume One’s The Best of the Chippewa Valley Reader Poll!
👉 Not sure which treatment fits your downturned lips? Schedule a consultation with Eau Claire Body Care so we can assess the cause first.
FAQs about how to fix downturned lips
Can downturned lips be fixed permanently?
Yes, but only surgically. A corner lip lift is the only treatment that permanently moves downturned mouth corners upward, because it physically removes tissue and rotates the mouth corners. Botox and filler produce excellent results, but both wear off and need maintenance to keep the improvement.
Can you fix downturned lips without Botox?
Yes. Dermal filler can lift mouth corners caused by volume loss, skin tightening helps mild laxity, and a corner lip lift corrects structural downturn. None of these involve botulinum toxin. The right Botox-free option depends on your cause, so identify that first rather than choosing by elimination.
Are downturned lips genetic?
Yes, downturned lips can be genetic when your natural facial shape gives the mouth corners a downward angle. Many people inherit mouth corners that naturally angle downward. This genetic lip shape usually shows from a young age and stays stable over time. Aging can then add volume loss and loose skin on top of an inherited downturn, making it more pronounced.
Do downturned mouth corners get worse with age?
Downturned mouth corners can become more noticeable with age. This happens as your skin, facial volume, bone support, and deeper tissues gradually change.
Marionette lines can also become deeper, making an existing downward angle look heavier. As these changes develop, the treatment that worked when you were younger may no longer address every contributing cause.
Can Botox for downturned lips make your smile crooked?
Yes, temporarily. If Botox spreads beyond the DAO into nearby lip muscles, one side of your smile can weaken for a few weeks. That creates a crooked smile until the product wears off. Precise placement and careful dosing make this uncommon, and the effect always resolves on its own.
