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Two Long-Term Solutions For Droopy Corners Of Mouth

- Written By

Brenda Galloway , ABMS

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This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by experts. Our team of experts strive to be objective, unbiased, honest and to present both sides of the argument. This article contains scientific references. Read more about our process.

droopy corners of mouth

For many people, corners of mouth drooping are a source of frustration. This disorder, also known as oral commissure ptosis, can make you look older and impact your self-esteem. But don’t worry! This post will look at practical treatments for this problem and how they might help you reclaim your youthful grin.

Drooping Mouth Corners’ Influence

Drooping mouth corners can be caused by various variables such as aging, genetics, facial muscle weakness, and skin elasticity loss. The issue affects not just your appearance but also your general facial expression. When the corners of your lips droop, you may appear melancholy or exhausted even if you aren’t.

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What is the cause Of drooping mouth corners?

The most common cause of a downturned mouth is normal aging, which can happen to anyone at any age. These lines might emerge on the sides of the mouth due to volume loss in the cheeks and lateral sides of the face.

Other possible causes include:

  • Cigarette smoking habits
  • Collagen and elastin loss
  • Skin protein loss
  • Genetics 
  • Overexposure to the sun

reasons for droopy lines around the mouth

1) Aging

The natural aging process causes a loss of collagen and elastin, proteins that determine how plump and firm skin is. As these degenerate, skin might sag or appear slack, which can cause this anxiety, particularly around the mouth.

2) Tobacco

Tobacco use hastens the natural aging process by reducing blood supply to the top layer of skin, diminishing vitamins and nutrients, and actively degrading collagen, affecting the skin’s ability to “bounce back” from facial expressions as it becomes looser or saggier.

3) Genetics

Genetics can also influence how the mouth looks, as it is passed on from mother to daughter and father to son.

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Non-Surgical Procedures for Rejuvenating Your Smile

1) Massage and Facial Exercise

Facial workouts and massage techniques can help you tone and strengthen the muscles around your lips. Exercises that target the oral commissure muscles, such as smiling widely or gently elevating the corners of your mouth, can help lift and firm the area. Additionally, upward stroke facial massages improve blood circulation and skin elasticity.

2) Fillers for the Skin

Dermal fillers are a non-surgical approach for efficiently treating sagging mouth corners. 

The sagging appearance can be reduced by injecting hyaluronic acid-based fillers into the marionette lines (which run downward from the corners of the mouth). Fillers restore a more youthful shape and reduce sagging by adding volume and support to the area.

3) Skin Tightening Procedures

Various non-surgical skin-tightening treatments have gained popularity in recent years due to their ability to correct facial drooping. Treatments based on radiofrequency, ultrasound, and lasers increase collagen formation, which helps tighten the skin around the mouth corners. These procedures are generally safe and require little to no downtime.

Long-Term Solutions to cure corners of mouth drooping

Surgical procedures may be recommended in more severe situations of drooping mouth corners. These operations aim to realign muscles and tissues for long-term outcomes. 

To find the best surgical solution for your unique needs, speak with a certified plastic surgeon or oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Here are two examples of standard procedures:

1) Lifting the Corner of the Mouth

A corner of mouth lift, also known as a commissuroplasty, is a surgical procedure that includes making small incisions around the corners of the mouth to elevate and realign the oral commissures. This technique can efficiently restore sagging corners, giving the mouth a more young and symmetrical appearance.

2) Lip Lifting

A lip lift operation focuses on elevating the upper lip, which might correct drooping mouth corners indirectly. The sagging look is decreased, and the overall grin is regenerated by reducing the space between the nose and the upper lip. Lip lifts can be performed alone or with other cosmetic rejuvenation procedures.

Drooping mouth corners exercises

Concentrated exercises can help reverse sagging mouth corners. Several exercises, dubbed “face yoga,” focus on strengthening the muscles that keep the corners of the mouth elevated. They also have the additional effect of increasing blood flow to the location. An increase in blood flow is beneficial to healing and tissue strength.

The exercises are divided into specific parts of the face and the entire face. It is vital to note that these exercises must be performed regularly for any improvement to be noticed.

1) Pluck your lips

To execute the lip pucker exercise, follow these steps:

  • Purse your lips as if you’re about to give an overdone kiss.
  • Keeping your lips in this position, attempt to draw the corners of your lips as close together as possible.
  • Hold for 5 seconds, then release for the same amount of time.
  • Repeat five times.

Line and wrinkle treatments can be effective and can last up to three months on average, depending on the patient. Because your muscles are already conditioned to relax after your initial treatment, the results of subsequent sessions should remain longer. Additional treatments are typically recommended every three months to retain a youthful and revitalized appearance.

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Cosmetic treatment risks

Lip lifts and fillers, like any other operation, have hazards.

Scarring. Cosmetic surgeons do their best to decrease and conceal scarring, but there is always the possibility that new scar tissue will grow.

Infection. Anything that breaches the skin’s protective barrier increases the danger of infection.

Damage to the nerves. Cosmetic procedures can result in numbness, tingling, or even complete loss of sensation if nerves are severed.

Hematoma. Blood is collected beneath the skin at the surgical site. An allergic response occurs to the dermal fillers or even the employed sutures.

Which is better exercise or cosmetic surgery?

This is a very personal question. Both workouts and cosmetic surgery are effective treatments for drooping mouth corners. You will need to examine the benefits and drawbacks of each to choose which one is ideal for you. Some people will even decide to do both.

1) Exercise 

They can be completed at home at little or no expense. The exercises should be done daily to improve and then maintain the appearance of the lip corners. Exercise can only take you so far when you’re up against aging or genetic variables.

2) Cosmetic surgery

Cosmetic treatments to improve your lips’ appearance and correct sagging mouth corners are frequently one-time procedures. There are appointments with the cosmetic surgeon before and after the process, but they do not necessitate a routine. Cosmetic surgery does include certain dangers.

the bottom line

Drooping mouth corners are no longer a reason for concern. You can recover your youthful smile and increase confidence with various non-surgical and surgical treatments. Whether you go for face exercises, dermal fillers, or surgical treatments, you should consult a skilled specialist who can advise you on the best course of action. Accept the available solutions and let your bright smile show!

How we reviewed this article

Trend Of Health has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy

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