A downturned mouth can make the face look stern, tired, or unapproachable, causing many people to feel less confident in social or professional situations. Although this concern may seem difficult to correct, modern aesthetic medicine offers several effective ways to gently lift the lip corners and restore a naturally pleasant expression.
At We Clinic, our surgery doctors explain the most common causes of a downturned mouth and the treatment options that can lift the corners of your lips, helping your face look softer, friendlier, and more balanced. These techniques may also enhance overall facial harmony and, according to Asian facial-reading beliefs, improve your perceived “facial fortune.”
If you’re wondering how to fix a downturned mouth and which treatment might be right for you, here is expert guidance from We Clinic’s aesthetic specialists.
What does a downturned mouth look like?
A downturned mouth typically shows at the corners of the lips, where the lip edges naturally slope downward instead of lifting slightly. The vermilion border and lip line appear to turn down at the sides, and the upper and lower lips do not sit parallel to each other. Even if the person has a defined cupid’s bow or a naturally pretty lip shape, the expression can still look less friendly.
People with a downturned mouth are often perceived as having a stern, annoyed, or sad expression, as if they are pouting or frowning even when their face is at rest. This can also make the person look older than they are. From the perspective of Asian facial reading or “face fortune” beliefs, a strongly downturned mouth is usually considered unfavourable for overall luck and interpersonal relationships.
Downturned Mouth and Asian Face-Reading Beliefs
In Asian face-reading traditions, a downturned mouth is often considered unfavourable because the shape of the lips is believed to reflect emotional balance, communication style, and long-term life stability. Many people who follow these beliefs choose to enhance their lip shape not only for aesthetic reasons but also to align with the symbolic meanings associated with balanced, well-proportioned lips.
According to these traditions, the lips represent one’s emotional health, personality, the way they communicate, and even their happiness in later life. A harmonious lip shape is thought to attract positive relationships and good fortune.
Characteristics of a Lucky or Auspicious Lip Shape
Face-reading texts often describe an ideal lip shape as follows:
- A soft, defined cupid’s bow
- Upper and lower lips that are proportionate to each other
- Both lip corners slightly lifted, creating a gentle upward curve
- A clear vermilion border with visible definition
- Lip corners aligning with the center of each eye when drawn vertically
- A full, smooth lower lip with no deep lines; naturally pink and well-hydrated
Traditionally, a well-shaped cupid’s bow is believed to bring charm, persuasive communication, confidence, and even financial luck. For women, having lifted lip corners is associated with kindness, intelligence, and the ability to achieve goals with clarity.
How a Downturned Mouth Is Interpreted
Within these cultural beliefs, a downturned mouth with drooping corners or visible lines may be seen as a sign of stubbornness, emotional heaviness, or interpersonal challenges. People with downward-sloping lip corners are sometimes thought to struggle with communication, conflict resolution, or maintaining positive relationships.
For those who value face-reading traditions, correcting a downturned mouth or lifting the lip corners can symbolize improving one’s charm, communication, and overall fortune. Today, many aesthetic treatments can refine the lip shape safely and naturally to achieve this effect.
What Causes a Downturned Mouth?
A downturned mouth can develop from several different causes. In some people, it is simply their natural lip shape from birth, often inherited from one or both parents. In others, the corners of the mouth gradually turn downward over time due to changes in muscles, soft tissue, or facial volume.
Common causes of a downturned mouth include:
- Genetic lip shape – a naturally downturned mouth that resembles the lip shape of a parent
- Weakness of the lip elevator muscles – when the muscles responsible for lifting the mouth corners lose strength or tone
- Skin laxity from aging – as we age, the facial skin and supporting structures become looser, causing the corners of the mouth to droop
- Rapid weight loss – a sudden loss of facial fat can lead to skin sagging and downturned lip corners
Excess fat in the lower cheek or jowl area – fullness around the lower cheeks can drag the corner of the mouth downward - Thick, heavy lips – very bulky or sagging lips may appear to hang or droop, mimicking a downturned mouth
Understanding the underlying cause of a downturned mouth is important, because it helps your doctor choose the most appropriate treatment whether that involves lifting the lip corners, restoring lost volume, or tightening sagging tissue around the lower face.
Can a Downturned Mouth Be Corrected?
Yes a downturned mouth can be improved using techniques that lift the corners of both lips, creating a softer, naturally pleasant curve. These treatments help reduce the appearance of a stern or unhappy expression and make the face look more approachable.
In addition to lifting the lip corners, certain lip-shaping procedures such as creating a defined cupid’s bow or refining thick, heavy lips can enhance the overall balance of the mouth. These techniques are especially helpful for people with straight or heavy lips that make the face look tired, sad, or tense.
In the next section, we’ll explore the modern treatment options available today to correct a downturned mouth and restore a fresher, more harmonious facial expression.
Treatment Options to Correct a Downturned Mouth: Lip Corner Lift
There are several ways to correct a downturned mouth, and one of the most common non-surgical options is filler injection to subtly lift the lip corners. For those who want a more long-lasting or permanent correction, surgical lip-corner lifting procedures are available. At We Clinic, this is performed through a technique that enhances the cupid’s bow shape while lifting the corners of the mouth for a naturally pleasant expression.
There are two main surgical approaches: internal lip corner lift and external lip corner lift.
The external technique requires an incision on the skin at the corner of the mouth, which may leave a visible scar making it less popular. The internal technique, however, involves creating the incision inside the lip, avoiding any external scar, which is why it is preferred by most patients.
At the We Clinic, Dr. PingPing performs the internal technique known as the Lifting Smile. This method involves carefully trimming and rolling the inner lip tissue upward to elevate the mouth corners without cutting the outer lip or leaving visible scars. The result is a soft, natural “smiling” appearance, as if the lips are gently curled upward.
Because the incision is placed inside the lip, the Lifting Smile technique avoids issues such as restricted mouth opening, which can occur when scars form at the external corners. Additionally, the internal approach does not interfere with the muscles involved in speech or lip movement, and it avoids major blood vessels and nerves around the mouth.
For aesthetic refinement, the doctor also evaluates the patient’s lip shape, thickness, and overall facial proportions to ensure balance. The lower lip can be subtly adjusted to avoid excessive fullness, allowing it to harmonize with the upper lip for a naturally beautiful result.
Where Is the Best Place to Correct a Downturned Mouth?
If you’re considering correcting a downturned mouth, choosing the right clinic and doctor is the most important step. At We Clinic, Dr. PingPing is highly experienced in lip-shaping procedures, especially the creation of a natural, lifted cupid’s bow. Whether you struggle with thick lips, sagging lips, an undefined lip shape, or a clearly downturned mouth, she can design and refine the lip shape to complement your facial proportions.
Using her specialized technique, Dr. PingPing creates a soft, natural-looking lip with lifted corners without leaving visible scars. The result is a sweeter, more refined expression with a subtle upward curve that enhances facial harmony.
Another crucial factor to consider is real patient results. A reliable clinic should provide clear before-and-after photos, showcasing different cases of downturned mouth correction so patients can understand the expected outcomes. At We Clinic, all consultations can be done directly with an experienced aesthetic doctor. The clinic is modern, clean, and fully equipped with up-to-date instruments to ensure safety and the best possible results.
You should also check the clinic’s credibility such as verifying its official 11-digit medical license number, ensuring the treatment rooms are bright, hygienic, and spacious, and confirming that the equipment used is certified and modern.
Browse our collection of lip-shaping and corner-lift case results to see the transformations for yourself.
Summary
A downturned mouth is a lip shape where the corners of the mouth tilt downward and the border between the upper and lower lips is no longer parallel. This can make the face appear stern, tense, or unfriendly, which may affect both one’s self-confidence and how others perceive them.
The good news is that a downturned mouth can be improved with modern lip reshaping procedures, such as creating a defined cupid’s bow or lifting the lip corners to achieve a softer, naturally smiling appearance.
Because these procedures require precise technique and a deep understanding of lip anatomy, they should only be performed by an experienced specialist. When choosing a clinic, it is important to look for a trustworthy facility with doctors who focus specifically on lip surgery, offer clear before-and-after results, and allow you to consult directly with the treating surgeon. With the right team and technique, correcting a downturned mouth can safely enhance both your appearance and confidence.
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