How to Lift the Corners of the Mouth Without Fillers: The Secret to a Younger-Looking Face

One of the most common requests from my patients is the desire to “rejuvenate” the face without radical changes or adding unnecessary volume. Very often, it is the corners of the mouth that betray fatigue or add a few extra years. Drooping mouth corners create a sad or stern expression, even if you are in a great mood.

Many people believe that injections of fillers are the only way to solve this problem. However, modern plastic surgery and aesthetic medicine offer a range of alternative solutions that make it possible to achieve a natural result without “overfilling” the lips.

Why do the corners of the mouth droop with age?

As we age, several processes affect this delicate area, including:

• decreased tone of the muscles that control lip position;
  
  
• loss of skin elasticity;
  
  
• downward pull of soft tissues due to gravity.
  
  

An additional factor is the hyperactivity of the muscle that depresses the corner of the mouth (m. depressor anguli oris). This muscle creates the so-called “sad face.” As a result, the face takes on a tired, sometimes even sorrowful expression.

How to lift the corners of the mouth without fillers?

1. Botulinum toxin
Injecting minimal doses of botulinum toxin into the muscles that pull the corners of the mouth downward helps relax them. As a result, the antagonist muscles take the lead, and the corners of the mouth lift naturally. This is a quick and minimally invasive procedure lasting only a few minutes. The effect lasts for 6–12 months, and the face appears more open and friendly.

2. Surgical approach: cheiloplasty
For patients with pronounced drooping of the corners, a small plastic surgery procedure—cheiloplasty—can be performed. Through micro-incisions hidden in the natural folds of the skin, the lips are reshaped, the corners lifted, and the face looks much younger. Unlike botulinum injections, the effect of surgery is much longer-lasting and, in many cases, allows patients to get rid of the “sad face” problem entirely.

3. Endoscopic midface lift
In cases where drooping corners are part of a broader age-related tissue ptosis, a more comprehensive approach is advisable. For example, a patient’s own fat, transplanted into the lower third of the face, can restore lost volume. When combined with a minimally invasive lift (such as an endoscopic one), this method achieves rejuvenation without excessive lip augmentation.

An endoscopic lift can also be performed without lipofilling, depending on the patient’s anatomy. The procedure repositions the soft tissues of the cheeks, restores a youthful contour, and naturally elevates the mouth corners.

4. Facial muscle training
While exercises cannot replace medical procedures, regular face-building practices help maintain muscle tone and prevent excessive weakening.

Octopus lips: why fillers are not always the answer

It is worth mentioning the phenomenon of “octopus lips” - an unnatural effect that occurs after excessive filler injections into the lip area. In such cases, the lips become overly protruding, turn outward, lose definition, and resemble octopus tentacles. This is a vivid example of how chasing a quick fix can worsen one’s appearance.

Key features of so-called octopus lips:

• excessive outward eversion of the mucosa, especially at rest;
  
  
• “tentacles”—small protrusions of filler or tissue along the lip edge, creating an uneven effect;
  
  
• heaviness and discomfort while eating or speaking;
  
  
• lips lose their natural anatomy and dynamics, appearing artificial and disproportionate.
  
  

The causes of octopus lips vary. Among them: excessive amounts of filler injected into the central or peripheral parts of the lips; incorrect injection technique, in which the filler extends beyond the natural border; or the use of low-quality or overly dense fillers in this delicate area.

Octopus lips have become a kind of anti-trend in modern aesthetics. They clearly demonstrate why one should be cautious with fillers and always turn to experienced specialists who can enhance your natural beauty.

Conclusion

Today, lifting the corners of the mouth and improving their shape without fillers is absolutely possible. Botulinum therapy, device-based techniques, surgical correction, and lipofilling allow for rejuvenation of the lower third of the face or elimination of the “sad face” effect without the risk of “overfilled” lips.

My advice is simple: don’t chase quick fixes or fleeting trends. Choose methods that highlight your individuality and preserve naturalness. After all, the goal of modern plastic surgery is not to create a “new” face, but to emphasize your authentic beauty and give you confidence.