Most Cost-effective Procedure for Drooping Mouth Corners?

It depends if you are talking about just at the corner of the mouth, or if the line extends all the way down to your jawline. In the first instance, fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm Ultra Plus work very well and are inexpensive for what they do. If you have a line that travels all the way down to your jawline this is referred to as a Marionette line. A Marionette line is really the anterior portion of a jowl - the descent of cheek fat caused by aging, which breaks your jawline contour and give a square appearance to the face. If this is the case, fillers do not work well (you would need too much to get the desired effect and you would end up with a very "full" face). For these cases, a formal face lift is the right procedure. Visit with a board certified surgeon who both performs face lift operations and also uses fillers, and have them evaluate your anatomy.

Hi @DroopyGrin,



Thanks for your question! Depending on the exact situation there’s a couple options. The most comprehensive way to refresh your face is a lower-facelift. This is the GOLD standard to really achieve youthful results that last. However, it’s a little more expensive too.



If you’re looking for something a little more budget-friendly and temporary then I would seek a plastic surgeon trained in facial cosmetics to discuss a combination treatment as follows:



BOTOX to the Muscle that pulls the corners of your mouth down. This is called the Depressor Anguli Oris (aka DAO). This would soften the downward pull caused by muscles.



FILLER injection in the pre-jowl triangle to build up the tissue that fades with time. Injecting filler or fat here can give a nice level of support to allow your corners of your mouth to return to a more normal position.



K. Chopra, M.D.
Johns Hopkins Trained Plastic Surgeon

Face Body and Breast Expert

Droopy mouth corners can be reflective of two different issues.  Sometimes, the muscles that allow us to make a sad frown are too strong, and they can then be weakened with Botox to quickly correct the problem.  Other times – or in conjunction – there can be laxity of the skin that causes what are known as “marionette lines.” For these, filler can be placed in the valley of these lines to plump them up.  In extreme cases, most often seen in patients in their late 40s and onwards, a facelift might be necessary. Many factors can determine the procedure that’s right for you, which is why it’s important to meet with a board certified plastic surgeon who is capable of both surgical and injectable solutions so he or she can properly assess, educate, and direct you.