Drooping Mouth Corners in Cheongdam & Apgujeong, Seoul

The mouth corner as a balance point

The corner of the mouth is where several muscles meet in a small, dense knot of fibres called the modiolus. Some of them pull the corner up and out — the muscles we use to smile — while the depressor anguli oris pulls it down. At rest, the corner sits wherever these forces balance. Drooping corners, or 입꼬리 처짐 in Korean, appear when that balance shifts.

• Depressor dominance. With age and habitual expression, the downward-pulling muscle can become relatively stronger than the elevators, tipping the corner down even when you feel relaxed.
• Loss of support. The fat and soft tissue just below and lateral to the corner thin out, and the lips themselves lose volume, so the corner has less of a platform to sit on.
• Lower-face descent. As the cheek and jowl descend, they add weight around the mouth and drag the modiolus lower.
• Teeth and bite. Worn teeth, missing teeth or changes in bite can reduce the vertical support of the lower face, which shows first at the mouth corners.

Drooping corners often travel with marionette lines, but they are not the same thing: one is about the position of the corner, the other about the groove beneath it. Treating the corner alone can make a surprising difference to how friendly a face looks at rest.

How Doje Clinic assesses the mouth corners

Dr. Byun Jeik studies the mouth at rest, during speech and in a full smile, because a treatment that looks good in a photograph must also move well in conversation. In the 1:1 consultation he looks for:

• how strongly the depressor muscle contracts when you frown or say certain sounds;
• whether the corner lacks support from below or is being pulled by descended tissue from above;
• asymmetry between the two sides, which is common and changes the dosing plan;
• skin quality around the lips, including fine vertical creases.

The plan is then built around what is actually tipping the balance — not a standard recipe.

Options from mild to advanced

Balancing the muscle

A very small dose of botulinum toxin placed in the depressor muscle can let the elevators win back a little ground, so the corner rests slightly higher. Doje doses this conservatively, because the surrounding muscles are involved in speech, eating and the shape of your smile. Effects typically appear over one to two weeks and are temporary.

Building a small support

Where the corner has lost its platform, a soft filler placed just below and beside it creates subtle support. The goal is a gentle shelf, not visible fullness. Very small volumes are typical, and the lip line itself is treated only if your proportions call for it.

Improving the skin around the mouth

Fine creases at the corner respond better to skin-quality treatment than to volume. Skin boosters such as Rejuran or collagen boosters such as GOURI or Re2O can improve texture and resilience over a series of sessions.

When descent is the driver

If a heavier lower face is dragging the corners down, the Doje signature lower-face thread lift addresses the cause. Lifting the jowl area reduces the load on the mouth corner, after which much less filler or toxin is usually needed.

Which Doje program fits

When drooping corners come with marionette lines or lower-face sagging, the Marionette Program provides the framework: lower-face thread lift and marionette soft filler, with Radiesse, Ultherapy Prime, Softwave and GOURI/Re2O as options. When the corner is the only concern, single treatments such as toxin or soft filler may be all that is needed.

When another opinion is more appropriate

A surgical corner-of-mouth lift can permanently change the shape of the mouth corner and is sometimes considered when a person wants a lasting structural change; it requires assessment by a qualified surgeon and leaves a small scar. If tooth wear, missing teeth or bite changes are contributing, a dental assessment is worthwhile, because no injectable can replace lost dental support. Dr. Byun will point this out where it applies.

Cost

Plans range from a single small toxin treatment to combined lifting, so fees are quoted after the 1:1 consultation. Ask for a written quote; Korean non-covered (비급여) aesthetic fees are set per plan.

Frequently asked questions

Can Botox lift the corners of the mouth?

It can help by relaxing the muscle that pulls the corner down, so the corner rests slightly higher. The change is subtle and temporary.

Will toxin around the mouth affect my smile or speech?

With conservative dosing and precise placement, most people notice no functional change, but this area is sensitive, which is why Doje doses carefully and reviews you afterwards.

How long does toxin for mouth corners last?

Typically around three to four months, though duration varies from person to person.

Is filler for mouth corners noticeable?

It should not be. Very small amounts of soft filler are used to support the corner rather than to add visible volume.

Are drooping corners the same as marionette lines?

No. Drooping corners describe the position of the mouth corner; marionette lines are the grooves beneath it. They often occur together and may be treated together.

Is there downtime?

Usually minimal. Small injection marks or mild swelling for a day or two are common; threads may add a few days of tightness.

Related at Doje Clinic

• Marionette Program
• Botox
• Soft Filler
• Marionette Lines
• Lip & Perioral Lines
• Botox vs Filler
• Botox Aftercare

Medical information on this page is general education, not a diagnosis. Suitability, risks and the final plan are confirmed in a 1:1 consultation with Dr. Byun Jeik. Last updated 17 October 2026.