Jeisys Medical

Lately, when you look in the mirror, do your mouth corners seem to drop, or do you feel like your perioral wrinkles have deepened and your vertical lip lines have become more pronounced?
This may not be simple fatigue, but a sign that the **elasticity and muscle strength** beneath your skin are weakening.
The area around the mouth has thin muscle and fat layers, so even a slight loss of firmness quickly causes wrinkles to settle and the expression lines to sag heavily.
In particular, vertical lip lines form along the smile line, making them a major factor that contributes to a tired or gloomy impression.
According to one psychological study, the **‘direction of the mouth corners’** and **‘depth of perioral wrinkles’** influence a person's first impression judgment by more than 70%.
A face with slightly lifted mouth corners looks bright and positive, but a sagging mouth area with deep wrinkles can easily give a fatigued or aged impression.
Now that the time spent without masks is increasing, the impression lines and wrinkles around the mouth have become a key point that reveals a person's emotion and confidence.

Table of Contents

• Trend 1. Primary Causes of Mouth Area Sagging
• Trend 2. Impact of Mouth Area Sagging on Facial Impression
• Trend 3. Mouth Lift Strategy Through Elasticity Restoration

Trend 1. Primary Causes of Mouth Area Sagging

Reduction of Collagen and Elastin in the Skin
Collagen synthesis ability decreases by about 1% every year starting in the late 20s. Frequent exposure to UV-A damages elastin, leading to a rapid loss of elasticity.
At this time, the skin's supporting structure loosens, causing the mouth area to sag and vertical lip lines to deepen.

Facial Muscle Imbalance
The face has over 40 muscles, and the orbicularis oris and levator muscles around the mouth are particularly affected by expression habits.
Long hours spent looking at a smartphone or resting the chin in the hand causes forces to concentrate in the direction of gravity, weakening the muscles and deepening perioral wrinkles.

Changes in Subcutaneous Fat Layer and Moisture Loss
When the fat layer around the mouth thins and moisture in the dermis decreases, the face loses volume, resulting in a **'collapsed'** impression.
Since facial contours can change even with simple moisture loss, mouth area sagging is a complex issue involving the skin, muscles, and fat layer.

Trend 2. Impact of Mouth Area Sagging on Facial Impression

Mouth area sagging subtly changes the balance of the face. Even a slight drop in the mouth corners makes the face look longer, and deep vertical lip lines can make one look sad even when smiling.
According to a University of Pennsylvania study, people judge the impression of others based on mouth movement and wrinkle patterns in just 0.1 seconds.
In other words, the direction of the mouth and the depth of the wrinkles are factors that determine the impression itself, not just a simple expression.

Elasticity around the mouth also affects communication. A face with lifted mouth corners gives a trustworthy and positive impression, while a face with deep vertical lip lines can give a cold or emotionally closed impression.
Recently, the beauty industry refers to this as **'Emotion Line Management'**, and **Face Balance Lifting**, which refines the balance of expression lines and wrinkles, is gaining attention.

Trend 3. Mouth Lift Strategy Through Elasticity Restoration

To improve mouth area sagging and wrinkles, it is essential to restore the **internal skin structure** along with the skin surface. The key is managing collagen, subcutaneous fat, and muscle balance simultaneously.

Elasticity Restoration Skincare
Peptides help synthesize collagen, and retinol promotes cell regeneration, alleviating vertical lip lines.
EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor), Adenosine, and Hyaluronic Acid complexes improve the mouth line by filling in skin volume, and low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid + peptide complexes are effective for elasticity recovery.

Mouth Lifting Massage
After cleansing, apply cream or oil and gently massage with your fingertips in the direction of the center of the cheek → mouth → temple, as if pulling upwards.
Consistent effort for just 3 minutes a day can improve blood flow, revive the mouth line, and alleviate vertical lip lines.

Professional Care
In cases of severe sagging, rapid improvement is possible with thread lifting or micro-filler procedures.
Recently, lifting techniques that preserve the natural smile line have gained popularity.

TIP

Vertical lip lines did not appear overnight. Therefore, the core of improvement lies in **‘consistent routine’**.
With consistent management for about 6–8 weeks, the mouth line will gently lift, and expressions will become much more natural.
Elasticity around the mouth is the power that changes the temperature of your expression.
Start your routine with the mindset of 'let's reclaim a smiling face' rather than 'I must eliminate mouth sagging'.
The process of reviving skin elasticity is the first step toward restoring confidence.