Mouth Corner Botox in Korea: How It Works and Who May Benefit

Why mouth corners turn down

The corners of the mouth naturally sit at slightly different angles from person to person. In some people, they turn downward, which can make the face look sad, tired or stern even when relaxed. This can be partly genetic, and it often becomes more noticeable with age as skin loses firmness and volume around the mouth decreases.

One muscle plays a particularly important role: the depressor anguli oris, often shortened to DAO. As its name suggests, it pulls the corners of the mouth downward. When this muscle is strong or very active, it can exaggerate a downturned expression. Mouth corner Botox aims to relax this muscle slightly so the corners are pulled down less.

How mouth corner Botox works

A small amount of botulinum toxin is placed into the DAO muscle on each side, below and slightly outside the corners of the mouth. By reducing this muscle's downward pull, the muscles that lift the corners may have a little more influence, which can make the mouth look more neutral at rest.

Onset. The effect usually develops over several days to about two weeks.
Type of change. Subtle. The aim is a softer, less downturned look, not a permanent smile.
Duration. Temporary, fading gradually as muscle activity returns.
Precision. Placement matters a great deal, because several muscles around the mouth control speech, eating and smiling.

Who may benefit

A doctor will assess your face in person, but people who often ask about this treatment include those who:

Look sad or annoyed at rest. Friends or colleagues may ask if they are upset when they feel fine.
Have visibly active DAO muscles. The corners pull down noticeably when talking or frowning.
Have early lines below the mouth corners. Sometimes called marionette lines, these can be partly influenced by muscle pull, though volume loss and laxity are often involved too.
Want a subtle refinement. Many people prefer a small change that does not alter their personality or expressions.

Mouth corner Botox may be less helpful when the downturn comes mainly from volume loss or sagging skin. In that case, a doctor may discuss other approaches, such as filler for support or lifting treatments for laxity. Our face lifting overview describes these.

Possible side effects

Because the mouth area is so active, careful technique and conservative dosing are important. Possible effects include:

Common and temporary. Small bruises, mild swelling and tenderness at the injection points.
Changes in lip movement. If toxin affects a nearby muscle, you may temporarily find it harder to move your lower lip, pronounce certain sounds, drink from a cup or smile evenly.
Asymmetry. One side may respond differently from the other. A doctor can assess this at follow-up.

These effects are usually temporary, but if anything feels wrong, contact the clinic. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a neuromuscular condition or take medications that affect bleeding. Suitability and results vary, and the doctor decides at consultation.

Mouth corner Botox at Daybeau Clinic Seomyeon

At Daybeau Clinic Seomyeon, Wrinkle Botox with a Korean toxin is priced per area. The listed areas are the forehead, glabella, nose bridge and eye area, each at 3,000 KRW. This is a first-visit price in KRW, VAT excluded (10% VAT added at payment), checked October 2026.

Mouth corner Botox is not one of the named areas on our price list. If you are interested, ask during your consultation whether it is suitable and available for you, and it will be quoted after an in-person consultation. You can see all listed options on our price list and read more on our wrinkle Botox page.

Preparing for your consultation

Bring photos of your face at rest. Pictures where you look "sad" without meaning to can help explain your concern.
Mention previous treatments. Especially fillers or Botox around the mouth or chin.
Think about your work. Singers, musicians who play wind instruments and people who speak for a living may want to discuss timing, since lip movement can be briefly affected.
Ask about combining. Mouth corner Botox is sometimes considered with chin or jaw treatments, but this depends on your face.

Frequently asked questions

Will mouth corner Botox change my smile?

It aims to soften the downward pull at rest without changing your smile, but temporary effects on lip movement are possible. Conservative dosing helps reduce this risk.

Can it remove marionette lines?

It may soften lines influenced by muscle pull, but lines caused mainly by volume loss or laxity often need other approaches. Your doctor will explain what is realistic.