Botox for DAO: Lifting Downturned Mouth Corners

A lot of people who ask about Botox for DAO open with the same line: “People keep asking me if I’m upset, and I’m not.” If the corners of your mouth turn down at rest, a small dose of Botox in the depressor anguli oris (DAO) muscle can relax that downward pull and let the corners sit a little more level. It’s a subtle tweak, not a smile makeover, and it works best when the downturn comes from muscle pull rather than volume loss.

Here’s how our injectors decide whether it’s a good fit, what it can and can’t do, and how it pairs with filler when the muscle is only part of the story.

What the DAO Muscle Does

The depressor anguli oris is a small, triangle-shaped muscle that runs from the corner of your mouth down toward your jawline. Its job is simple: it pulls the mouth corners down. You use it when you frown, pout, or make a “yikes” face.

Over time, some people’s DAO becomes more active or simply wins the tug-of-war against the muscles that lift the mouth. Add the natural loss of volume around the mouth and chin that comes with age, and the corners start pointing down even when your face is relaxed. That’s the “resting sad face” a lot of patients describe.

Genetics matter too. Some people notice a downturned mouth in their 20s, long before any real aging.

How Botox for DAO Works

The idea is to weaken the muscle that pulls down so the muscles that lift can do a bit more of the work. With the DAO relaxed, the mouth corners usually rest in a more neutral position.

Treatment is quick. We place a small number of units on each side, usually low on the muscle near the jawline. The exact dose varies from person to person, but it’s typically a light treatment compared to areas like the forehead.

Placement is where experience really shows. Right next to the DAO sits a muscle that controls your lower lip. If Botox lands too close to it, your smile can look uneven or your lower lip can feel weak when you talk or drink. That’s why we keep the dose conservative and the placement precise, and why this isn’t an area we’d want someone new to injecting to practice on. Our earlier post on Botox gone wrong covers what happens when placement is off and how those issues are managed.

What to expect after treatment

• You’ll start noticing a change in about three to five days.
• The full effect usually shows up around two weeks.
• Results often last around three to four months, sometimes a little less in this area since the mouth moves so much.
• Downtime is minimal. Small bumps fade quickly, and bruising is possible but usually mild.

Who Is a Good Candidate (and Who Isn’t)

When we’re deciding whether Botox for DAO makes sense, we look at what’s actually causing the downturn. Ask yourself: when you push the corners of your mouth up slightly with your fingers, does it look like the “fix” you want? If yes, and the corners pull down mostly when you talk or frown, the muscle is likely a big part of the problem.

Botox tends to work well for:

• People with a strong DAO pull and only mild volume loss
• Patients who look sad or annoyed at rest but have good skin quality
• Anyone already treating the chin or lower face who wants to soften the downturn too

It’s not the right tool alone if:

• Deep marionette lines are mostly from lost volume or jowling
• Skin laxity is the main issue
• You rely heavily on precise lip control, such as singing professionally or playing a wind instrument, and don’t want to risk even a temporary change

In those cases, we’ll tell you straight. Spending money on Botox that can’t fix a volume problem isn’t a good plan.

Pairing Botox With Filler for Mouth Corners

For many people over 40, the best results come from treating both the muscle and the volume. Botox relaxes the downward pull. Filler supports the corners and softens marionette lines that formed as fat and bone changed over the years.

We might place a small amount of filler at the mouth corners or along the marionette lines, and sometimes the chin, since a weak chin can make the whole lower face look like it’s sagging. Our guide to Botox vs. filler explains how the two do different jobs, and our dermal filler options cover the products we use for this area.

The lower face often works as a team. People who treat the DAO frequently also benefit from a few units for a dimpled, orange-peel chin, since the chin muscle tends to tighten up in the same patients. And if the neck bands are pulling everything downward, some injectors treat those too. Our post on facial balancing walks through how we look at the whole face rather than one line at a time.

Quick answers

How many units of Botox for DAO?

It’s usually a small dose, often just a few units per side. Your injector will adjust based on how strong the muscle is and how your smile moves.

Can Botox lift the corners of the mouth?

It can make them sit more level by relaxing the muscle that pulls them down. It won’t add volume or tighten loose skin, so it’s a subtle lift rather than a dramatic one.

What are the risks of DAO Botox?

The main risk is an uneven smile or a weak-feeling lower lip if the product affects a nearby muscle. It’s temporary and wears off, but careful placement and conservative dosing help avoid it.

Is DAO Botox worth it?

For the right person, yes. If muscle pull is the main reason your mouth turns down, it’s a quick, low-downtime way to look more relaxed and approachable.

If friends keep asking if you’re okay when you’re just thinking about I-4 traffic, it may be worth a closer look. Our nurse practitioners will watch how your mouth moves and tell you whether Botox in Orlando, filler, or both would help. Book a free consultation or call 407-440-2025 to schedule.

This article is for general education and isn’t a substitute for an in-person medical evaluation. Every face is different, so the best plan comes from a consultation.

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