Treatments
Conditions

Expert care for a wide range of skin conditions, ensuring healthy, radiant skin.

Precision cosmetic surgery tailored to enhance and refine your natural beauty.

Cosmetic Andrology

Advanced procedures designed to enhance male aesthetics and address intimate concerns.

Cosmetic Gynaecology

Tailored surgical solutions to enhance feminine aesthetics and improve intimate well-being.

Comprehensive solutions to address a range of body concerns, from stubborn fat to skin laxity.

Breasts

Tailored solutions for breast concerns, including size, shape, and symmetry.

Other Areas

Targeted solutions for stubborn areas of the body, tailored to your unique needs.

Volume & Contouring

Specialized treatments to enhance body volume and improve overall contour for a balanced silhouette.

Holistic care focused on improving overall health and well-being for a balanced lifestyle.

Digestive Health

Comprehensive care to support digestive health and improve overall well-being.

Energy & Immunity

Holistic approaches to boost energy levels and strengthen your immune system for optimal health.

General Health

Personalized strategies to maintain and enhance your overall health and vitality.

Expert care for a wide variety of skin and facial concerns, promoting a healthy, glowing complexion.

Unsafe Injectables Are Costing Lives - The Law Must Change
Home  Articles  The 5 Benefits You Didnt Know About Downward Smile Botox

The 5 Benefits You Didn’t Know About Downward Smile Botox

The 5 Benefits You Didn’t Know About Downward Smile Botox

Summary Overview

  • Botox is a one of the leading treatments that targets the depressor anguli oris which is the muscle that is responsible in lifting downturned mouth corners.
  • If you are looking for a subtle and natural-looking treatment to improve your facial symmetry then this is recommended for you.
  • There is minimal to almost no downtime with Botox.
  • Results may vary but typically, there will be visible results within 3 to 7 days and it could last from 3 to 4 months.
  • Botox is a very versatile treatment and could be customised to each face and can also be combined with fillers for a fuller effect.

 

What You Will Learn

By the end of this article, you will learn the following:

  • You will learn to understand what are the reasons why you have a downward smile and how getting botox can actually help in addressing it.
  • You will learn to identify the 5 benefits of botox in addressing downward smiles.
  • You will learn how to properly set expectations before, during, and after the treatment.
  • You will learn to identify how you might be a suitable candidate for the treatment and the different risks that come along with the treatment.
  • You will learn about the different questions to ask your chosen clinic and how you can actually choose a safe and reputable clinic in the UK.

 

What is a Downward Smile & Why Botox?

You would typically notice having a downward smile within the corners of your mouth turn down naturally. Visually, it creates the idea that you look sad and sometimes fatigue even when your face is just at rest. The reason behind this is because of your triangular muscle called the Depressor Anguli Oris. This is the muscle within the corners of your mouth up to your jawline. Its responsibility is to pull the edges of your lips downward. In most cases, DAO can become overactive or hypertonic due to genetics or repetitive facial expressions. It could possibly lead to a permanent frown.

Botox on the other hand, is one of the leading treatments nowadays that is commonly used to treat it by temporarily relaxing your DAO muscle. It works by injecting a small precise amount into your muscle. It will then block the nerve signals that are actually the reason why it pulls down. When your DAO finally relaxes, the upward muscle will then take over and will significantly allow corners of your mouth into a neutral position. This is one of the best non-surgical lip flip effects that works best for people who are looking for a subtle and natural looking treatment to get rid of their downward smile.

 

Benefit 1: It Can Enhance Your Facial Symmetry

When you inject Botox into the DAO muscles, it can significantly improve your facial symmetry by correcting its uneven resting look. If you are dealing with the looking side or sometimes even if you are at rest, people might think you are tired, then this could possibly help you. For some cases that are dealing with this, they naturally have one side of the mouth that pulls down more aggressively than the other because of the muscular habits or structural differences. When you intentionally and precisely weaken the stronger side, Botox can align the corners of the mouth. It will then create a balance and more harmonious appearance that looks natural while you speak and even at rest.

 

Botox treatment

Effective & professional doctor-led Botox at our central London clinic

 

The Science Behind Facial Symmetry

Our human brain is naturally wired in perceiving symmetry as a one of the primary indicators of overall health well being and appearance of an individual. When the eyes perceive symmetrical features, it suggests balance. When Botox relaxes the DAO, it generally restores the vertical alignment of your lips. It then gives a satisfying subconscious preference for a balance and more youthful looking for people who see it.

 

Before & After Comparisons

When you do Botox to treat DAO, there will be a significant visual shift from a heavy lower looking face into a lifted and symmetrically balanced appearance. In some cases of the patients, before the treatment, the corners of their mouth often casts small shadows that actually extend toward the chin. This leads to looking tired or grumpy. Then after the treatment, the results significantly reduce the appearance of these shadows. It creates a subtle and natural looking upward tilt without undergoing any major surgery.

 

Benefit 2: It Boosts Your Confidence and Improves Self‑Esteem

How you look when at rest could sometimes be a reflection on how you feel inside. It could possibly have an impact on your psychological well-being. The majority of the patients seek Botox because of wanting to get rid unsolicited comments about how they look tired, lonely, and even angry even when they’re not. By treating this skin concern, it doesn’t just improve your physical appearance but it will significantly boost and improve your confidence.

 

Benefit 3: There Is Minimal To No Discomfort and Has A Quick Recovery

One of the best benefits of DAO Botox is how the procedure is significantly fast and has minimal to no discomfort at all. You could take this in less than ten minutes and you can immediately be back to your daily routine. The injections used in Botox are ultra-fine needles, and for most patients, they describe the feeling during the treatment as nothing more than a tiny, momentary pinch. You are not undergoing any surgery during Botox that is why there is not much needed downtime afterwards.

 

Where Is The Best Injection Sites

In order to achieve your desired results, the injection points are strategically located near the base of your jawline instead of injecting it directly into the lips. This is to ensure that the toxin will stay away from the muscles which are responsible for speaking and whistling. Typically, one or two small injection sites for each side of the lower chin are followed to effectively improve or lift the downward pull on the mouth.

 

Benefit 4: It Can Be Customisable

Botox is not a one-size-fits-all solution especially in treating downward smile. It could possibly be customised according to each individual’s unique muscular anatomy. You chosen clinic and skilled injector will first need to assess how your specific muscles move when you talk and smile. This is essential so he can determine the exact dosage required for the treatment. This will significantly ensure that you will achieve a lifted look while still maintaining full range of motion in your lips. It will prevent you from having a frozen look and make sure that your smile remains natural and expressive.

 

Benefit 5: Talk About Long‑Lasting Effects

When you finally chose DAO Botox, the result could typically last from 3 to 4 months. However, it would still depend on individual metabolism and how active your facial muscles are. With consistent follow-up appointments, most patients observe that the muscle becomes less active and there is much longer time before a follow up treatment. Since this is only temporary and not a permanent solution, it is still best to adhere to regular maintenance every few months. This is to ensure that the corners of your mouth remain lifted and prevents downward pulling again.

 

Knowing The Risks & Expectations

Just like any medical and aesthetic treatments, there will always be risks. While Botox is minimally invasive, it still has specific risks due to the complex network of muscles around the mouth. Few of its common side effects are temporary redness, minor bruising, or swelling at the injection site. These are just temporary and will eventually fade over time. However, the most significant risk that you need to be aware of is the unintended spread of the toxin to nearby muscles like the depressor labii inferioris. Once it spreads, it could possibly lead to an asymmetric smile or difficulty with speech.

 

When Choosing the Right Provider

Choosing a highly skilled practitioner and clinic are the most important essential for a successful outcome. Always look for fully qualified dermatologists or plastic surgeons, who have a wide experience and deep understanding of facial anatomy. They should also have a proven track record with lower-face injectables. You can maximise the details found in their website or during your consultation. Make sure that you do your research as well before deciding to proceed with the treatment.

Reserve a botox appointment

One of our experts will be more than happy to answer any questions you have.

02074364441

Book Appointment

or Request a Callback
or Chat via Whatsapp Whatsapp logo

Esther Winklehner

Esther Winklehner

★★★★★

As someone who has struggled with acne for years, coming into Harley Street Skin has been an amazing experience. So professional and so helpful!

5th February 2026

Lucy McCadden-Forrest

Lucy McCadden-Forrest

★★★★★

Dr Glancey was great - very thorough and provided a perfect service and after care

5th February 2026

Arian Nik

Arian Nik

★★★★★

Rosa was amazing and thank you so much to Paula for looking after me x

3rd February 2026

61,329

Happy patients served.

or Chat via Whatsapp Whatsapp logo

61,329

Happy patients served.

or Chat via Whatsapp Whatsapp logo

Need to reach us?
Contact or visit our clinic.

We're based in central London at the historic 14 Devonshire Pl which is only a short 2 minute walk from Regents Park tube station a 10 minute taxi journey to Kings Cross, and St Pancras stations.

We're open Monday - Friday 8am - 8pm, and Saturdays 9am - 5pm, feel free to drop in to talk to a member of our team where they can answer any of your questions.

Alternatively book an appointment, request a callback, chat via whatsapp Whatsapp logo , or call us on 0207 4364441.

Map
Book Appointment
At our Central London Clinic