DAO Botox: Lifting Downturned Mouth Corners

The depressor anguli oris (DAO) is a small muscle that runs down from the corner of the mouth and pulls it downward. It's the counterpart to the muscles that lift the mouth when you smile. In some people the DAO is relatively dominant, so the mouth corners are tugged down — which can read as a sad, tired or stern expression even when you feel neutral.

Relaxing the DAO with a small, precise dose reduces its downward pull, so the lifting muscles can let the corners sit a little higher. The effect is subtle — it softens the downturn rather than creating a smile — and it depends heavily on accurate placement, because nearby muscles control the lip and smile.

This is detailed, expressive-area work. A conservative approach and a doctor who understands the lower-face muscle balance are important to avoid affecting your smile or speech.

Downturned corners and the lines that run down from them (sometimes called marionette lines) can have several contributors: the DAO muscle, volume loss, and skin changes. Because of this, DAO treatment is frequently discussed alongside dermal filler or skin-quality steps rather than used alone. A doctor assesses which factors are at play for you.

It suits people whose downturned corners are mainly driven by an overactive DAO, and it's less useful when volume loss or skin laxity is the main issue. Honest assessment matters here, because the wrong tool gives a disappointing result. Our Botox and fillers treatment-plan guide explains how these are sequenced.

At DrPlus in Johor Bahru, the lower face is assessed as a whole so the plan targets the real cause.