Most Cost-effective Procedure for Drooping Mouth Corners?

Dear Droopy
You should be much more concerned about what is right rather than what is cost-effective. Yes, fillers can be fantastic ,but the costs do add up. At your age, it probably makes sense to consider a facelift.
Ultimately, I find that some patients are really not so excited about having surgery. In the long run it is probably more cost effective to have surgery and then use fillers to correct what can't be fixed with surgery. However, it is possible to have great improvement just with fillers.
The dilemma you will have is that most surgeons who offer facelifts, are not enthusiastic users of fillers. Also in the short term, there is more money in performing surgery than in performing fillers. So you have to be careful of economic bias on the part of your consultant.
I would recommend that you seek multiple opinions and in particular, consider seeing a cosmetic dermatologist regarding their take on fillers. You might look on the liquidfacelift.com website for the name of a highly qualified physician who performs these services in your area.
Ultimately do what your are comfortable with and recognized that all of there options are expensive and there are no absolute best ways to approach this.

Off-label use of BOTOX® Cosmetic has been used on the anterior lower lip region to minimize the appearance of frown lines. Unfortunately, the effects are temporary. Also, dermal fillers have been used in this area, but care must be taken not to "overinject," as this will make the lower aspect of the mouth too full and unnatural in appearance.

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.  

Each patient's anatomy is unique. The marionette lines that run from the corner of the mouth down to the jaw line can be improved with a facelift procedure or augmentation of the marionette line with filler injections or other tissue transfer. In a younger patient with a downturned corner of the mouth, a small amount of Botox injected by an expert injector can help to lift the corners of the mouth slightly.
A facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon should be able to assess and offer formal recommendations during a consultation.
All the best,

Without seeing you in person, it’s difficult to recommend a specific treatment option. If you are just beginning to see drooping and lines at the corner of your mouth, dermal fillers may be a good option. These are simple, quick injections that can restore some lost volume. However, if your signs of age around the mouth are more pronounced, you may benefit from a lower facelift for better and more long-lasting results than fillers alone can provide.

The changes that come to this area with ageing are extremely complex and the potential treatments available are multiple. I wouldn't say that anyone treatment is the best in all cases and I would be very wary of anybody who tells you what you should have done without giving you a full examination and questioning you on your motivation and expectations. 

As we age lines at the corner of the mouth can form. These are treated with injection of filler. This can have an improvement in the corner of the mouth and can help lift it. Some patients feel as if they are constantly frowning, and some filler to support the corner can help with this appearance.More advanced aging can lead to a line from the corner of the mouth down to the jaw. This results from tissue in the face descending. This is called a marionette line. Marionette lines are not treated with filler. Proper treatment of marionette lines requires elevating the sagging facial tissue.Advanced facial aging includes marionette lines, nasolabial folds, jowls, and facial deflation. This requires a facelift procedure to be adequately treated. Consultation with your local surgeon will help determine which procedures are right to meet your goals.

For a 61 yearold with aging lower face (drooping at the corners of mouth), a lower face andneck lift is the answer. Do not waist your money on fillers. My advice would beto visit an experienced facelift surgeon for a comprehensive consultation.

At 61 years of age, a facelift is probably the best option for you.  There are cheaper quick fixes and non surgical options, but they really are a dissappointment and you simply end up wasting your money.  A well done facelift can't be beat!

Can you post a few pictures to show us what you're concerned about. In some people, a combination of Botox and fillers is a great option. In others, a facelift is a better option.Best,

The area around the mouth, particularly the "marionette folds", has a complex anatomy with skin, muscle, fat, and connective tissue layers all coming together in one spot. In terms of non-surgical therapies, I recommend a combination of fillers to the marionette folds, pre-jowl area, and chin, as well as gentle Botox to the muscles that pull down on the mouth. Surgery for this area can be direct -- meaning the lips themselves are operated on, as in a lip lift or corner lip lift; or indirect -- meaning that a more comprehensive technique, such as a facelift, is used. The best options will vary significantly between patients.