The depressor anguli oris pulls the mouth corner down with every expression. Relax it, and the corner finds its old position.
The corners of the mouth, called the oral commissures, sit at a slight upturn in younger faces and at neutral or downturned in older faces. When they turn downward at rest, the face reads sad, tired, or older even when the mood doesn't match.
The primary cause is hyperactivity of the depressor anguli oris muscle. Volume loss at the corner and lower face contributes.
Clients come in because their resting face doesn't match how they feel. Friends ask if everything is okay. Photos read as sad even when the mood was lighthearted. Treatment lifts the corner without forcing a smile.
Three factors create a downturned mouth.
Depressor anguli oris activity pulls the mouth corners down. Years of repeated contraction settles the corner in a lower position.
Volume loss at the mouth corner and surrounding tissue allows the corner to descend further as supporting structure thins.
Habitual expression from stress, focus, or sleep position can deepen the pattern over decades.
Most clients notice the change in photos rather than mirrors. The mouth corners read lower than they remember. The face looks sad or tired even at rest.
Some clients have always had downturned corners; others develop the pattern in their forties and fifties.
Mouth corner descent typically becomes visible in the forties. Volume loss in the cheek and around the mouth accelerates the change. Skin laxity adds to the appearance.
The industry treats downturned mouth with two to four units of Botox per side in the depressor anguli oris muscle. Some clinics add small amounts of HA filler at the mouth corner for structural lift.
The challenge is precise placement. Too superficial or too medial affects smile mechanics.
We treat downturned mouth with calibrated neuromodulator placed precisely in the depressor anguli oris. Two to four units per side is typical. Placement matters more than dose.
For clients with significant volume loss at the corners, we may add small amounts of soft HA filler to restore structural support. This is reserved for clients where the corner has thinned visibly, not for every case.
Results show in five to ten days. Most clients maintain on a three-to-four-month schedule.
At RN Esthetics, every treatment starts with listening. We are nurse practitioners, registered nurses and estheticians who treat every client as the hero of their own story.
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Had my first blood draw today with it was INCREDIBLE!!! Also the front desk were all so pleasant especially Kelsie! I highly recommend RN Esthetics!!
I was truly blown away after my appointment here. Every single person I interacted with, from the front desk to the providers who handled my treatments, was incredible! They made me feel so welcomed and cared for, and were both informative and genuinely kind. The space itself is spotless, cozy, and easily the most inviting place I’ve ever been for Botox. Michelle did my Botox and she was amazing! I also had a hydrafacial and dermaplaning, and I already can’t wait to come back again and again.You will not regret booking here!
I highly recommend RN Esthetics! The staff is welcoming, knowledgeable, and helpful without making you feel rushed. The facility is spotless and clean, which made me feel even more comfortable and confident being there. Great experience overall!
