Corner of Mouth Lift and Facelifts

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in a corner of mouth lift. I have tissue hanging over my mouth corners that makes a deep marionette line. What can be done to correct it?  Have a attached an unflattering picture for your assessment.

A: Thank you for sending your picture. If you look closely what you have, it is not a true downturned corner of the mouth (only very slightly is the commissure turned down) but rather there is an overhang of facial tissue along the marionette lines. While there is some mild benefit to be gained by a corner of the mouth lift, most of the problem needs to be improved by a lower facelift to pull back the tissues that have descended and fallen forward. Thus a lower facelift with a corner of the mouth lift is what is needed for an ideal improvement. That is the only combination of facial procedures that would be worth the surgical effort. It is not uncommon to do a combined facial rejuvenation surgery of a doer facelift with a corner of mouth lift. This improves the shape of the corner of the mouth, reduced marionette lines and gets rid of jowling.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana