Sad Mouth Getting You Down? We Have The Fix!

If, even in your happiest moments, you’re still being told to ‘cheer up’ asked ‘why so glum?’, you may well have a condition known as ‘sad mouth’. 

Sad mouth, also called marionette lines, is the name given to the horizontal lines that appear at the corners of your mouth. These lines tend to turn downwards, giving the impression of being sad, cross or tired – even if you’re not!

These lines can really affect your confidence and self-esteem, but a solution doesn’t have to be painful or invasive – in fact, you can get immediate results pretty much painlessly. If you want to know how we can turn that frown upside down, then read on…

The Main Causes Of Sad Mouth

Ageing

Unfortunately, sad mouth lines are one of those unwanted effects of the ageing process. As you age, collagen production in your body slows down. Collagen is the plumping protein that keeps your skin smooth and firm, so, as that depletes your skin starts to loosen and sag. 

Think of collagen as the scaffolding that provides strength and support to your skin. Without it, wrinkles and lines appear and skin feels more papery. You’ve probably noticed this more in areas like your neck, the back of your hands and on your face – all the places that get seen the most!

As well as losing the firmness that collagen gives, skin also loses elastin, which is the protein responsible for the tautness of your skin. It’s elastin that gives your skin the ability to snap back when pinched or moved. If you gently pinch the skin on the back of your hand, you can see it takes a moment to settle back into position – the longer it takes, the less skin elasticity you have.

And to top it all off, loss of both collagen and elastin is commonly associated with menopause. As if there isn’t enough to think about with ‘the change’!

Genetics

Marionette lines and sad mouth tend to run in the family – so if your mum, dad, or other blood relation has them, then it’s likely you inherited them.

Environmental

It’s no secret that UV rays are really, really bad for skin. While overexposure to UVB rays puts you at risk of skin cancer and actinic keratosis, UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply, affecting the dermis layer. 

This harmful UVA radiation encourages the production of free radicals which can lead to DNA damage in your skin. 

It’s these free radicals that are responsible for the breakdown of your collagen. Sun damage can affect you at any age, so prolonged exposure can result in the premature ageing (photoaging) of your skin. That’s why sunscreen is vital, even on overcast days.

As well as damage caused by the sun, our skin is exposed to the dangers of pollution on a daily basis. Soot and nitrogen dioxide are both common in urban environments and both create more free radicals, which just adds to the ageing of your skin.

Lifestyle

Smoking worsens the look of sad mouth lines in two ways. Firstly, the toxic chemicals found in cigarettes lead to the production of, you guessed it, free radicals. As with sun damage and pollution, these free radicals play a large role in the destruction of your collagen, giving skin a sunken look. 

Secondly, the constant pursing of your lips creates lines all around your lips. You can read more about smokers lines and treatment here.

How To Banish Sad Mouth

Fortunately, there are plenty of simple and non-invasive solutions to the facial lines that create sad mouth. At Elite Aesthetics we offer you a variety of treatments that best suit your individual needs.

Dermal Fillers

Like the name suggests, dermal fillers ‘fill’ the dermal layer of the skin. The fillers are made from hyaluronic acid, which naturally occurs in the body. Hyaluronic acid is found in skin, joints and in the eyes, where it lubricates and maintains moisture, so is readily accepted by your body – this means it’s one of the most popular treatments we offer.

Dermal fillers are injected into the affected area and immediately plump out the skin, making the lines that define your sad mouth disappear. This treatment is highly effective at smoothing out both fine lines and even deep wrinkles, giving skin a rejuvenated look.

Click here to learn more about our dermal fillers…

Botulinum Toxin

Another option available for the treatment of sad mouth is botulinum toxin, often referred to as “Botox”. These simple and relatively painless injections take moments, offering you a simple, easy and effective solution. 

In a nutshell, botulinum toxin is a muscle relaxer. The toxin is injected into the affected area and blocks the nerve’s signal to the muscles. This relaxes the muscles that pull the mouth corners downwards, leading to a reduction in the visibility of the sad mouth lines that make you look grumpy or unhappy – and a smoother, more youthful appearance. 

Click here to learn more about botulinum toxin for sad mouth…

PDO Thread Lift

This revolutionary treatment is fast becoming one of our most popular solutions to ageing, sagging skin. Until recently, if you wanted to address your loose facial skin, you would need to consider invasive and expensive facelift surgery but now, with the development of thread lifts, there’s a quick solution that is far less painful and much, much less invasive. 

The thread lift works in two stages; the immediate repositioning of the skin and then the regeneration of collagen. 

In stage one, a suture is threaded along the subdermis using a fine needle, so there’s no need for uncomfortable incisions. The thread is tightened, physically lifting the skin and creating a smooth appearance straight away. 

Stage two happens gradually. The thread used is made from PDO (Polydioxanone) which is fully dissolvable over a long period of time and therefore well tolerated by the body. The threads stimulate collagen production, leading to naturally firmer skin in the area.

With treatments taking just half an hour, it’s easy to see why thread lifts are the preferred choice for treating conditions like sad mouth.

Click here to learn more about thread lifts…

Where Are We Located?

Our professional clinic is easy to find; we’re located in Greenhithe, Kent which is just 10 minutes from both Dartford and Gravesend stations, 15 minutes from Maidstone and just 20 minutes from London. 

We welcome the opportunity to talk to you about how we can help you transform your sad mouth into a smile. Our highly qualified clinicians have all the answers to your questions, and can help you decide which treatments best suit your problem, lifestyle and desired outcome.

If you want to banish those lines that give the impression of a sad mouth, then please just get in touch.