SmileLift - Mona Lisa Smile

A resting face communicates whether or not you intend it to. As the corners of the mouth drift downward with age, people begin reading an expression that does not match what the person is feeling, and patients describe being asked repeatedly whether something is wrong. The frustration is rarely about vanity. It is about being consistently misread.

SmileLift™ was developed by Sam Assassa, MD, who founded Beverly Hills Aesthetics in 1995, is board certified in Internal Medicine, and has served as President of the American Association of Aesthetic Medicine and Surgery since 2006. He has taught aesthetic technique to physicians in more than 15 countries and has performed over 25,000 aesthetic procedures.

“People read the droopy mouth corner as a negative cue. It gives them a mistaken signal that the person is sad, angry, or grumpy, and the patient has usually been living with that misreading for years before they mention it.” — Sam Assassa, MD

Why the Corners of the Mouth Turn Downward

The change is not one thing. Dr. Assassa attributes it to four factors acting together: alteration in skin quality, changes in muscle function, loss of the support structure beneath, and loss of fat volume around the mouth.

The muscle at the corner of the mouth that pulls downward continues working with age while the tissue it acts on loses volume and elasticity. The cheek fat that once supported the corner from above descends. The result is a corner that sits lower at rest, often accompanied by a crease running down from it, and the face reads as sad even when it is not.

“This sad grin is instigated by the alteration of skin quality, muscle function, support structure, and fat volume.” — Sam Assassa, MD

How the SmileLift™ Procedure Works

SmileLift™ is a thirty minute office procedure performed under local anesthesia. It requires no scalpel and no stitching, and it addresses the position of the mouth corner directly rather than filling around it.

Treatment is carried out using a small instrument developed by Dr. Assassa, working at the corner of the mouth without an incision and without sutures. Because the correction is made at the corner itself rather than by adding volume beneath it, the change is to where the corner rests when your face is relaxed, and it is visible immediately. The change is to resting position, meaning the corner sits higher when the face is relaxed, rather than an alteration to how you smile.

SmileLift™ Compared With Filler for Downturned Mouth Corners

Dermal filler is the more common approach to this concern, placed as structural support at the angle of the mouth to lift the corner and soften the crease running beneath it. It is reversible, requires no anesthesia, and generally lasts six to eighteen months.

SmileLift™ addresses the corner position directly rather than supporting it with volume, and results are longer lasting. Which suits a particular patient depends on how much of the change is volume loss and how much is position, and both approaches are available here. Filler is often the reasonable starting point for patients who want to see the effect before committing to a procedure.

What to Expect After a Smile Lift

Bruising, swelling, and discomfort do occur and typically last a few days. Most patients plan around three to five days before an event where they would prefer not to be visibly bruised.

The procedure is performed under local anesthesia and you go home the same day.

SmileLift™ Risks and Safety

This is a medical procedure performed under local anesthesia and it carries real considerations. Bruising, swelling, and discomfort are expected rather than unusual. Asymmetry between the two sides is possible, since the goal is a matched resting position on a face that was never perfectly symmetric to begin with.

Any procedure working near the corner of the mouth is working near the nerve branches supplying the muscles of the lower face, and temporary changes in movement or sensation are possible.

Individual results vary and no outcome can be guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions About the SmileLift™

Is the SmileLift™ actually surgery?

It occupies the space between. It is performed in the office under local anesthesia rather than general, with no scalpel and no stitching, and you go home the same day. It is more accurately described as minimally invasive than as non-surgical, since an instrument is used beneath the skin, and that distinction matters for how you should think about recovery and consent. It is considerably less involved than a surgical corner-of-mouth lift.

How long do SmileLift™ results last?

Longer than filler placed for the same concern, which generally lasts six to eighteen months. Because the procedure addresses the position of the corner rather than supporting it with volume that gradually breaks down, the effect is durable. Individual longevity varies with anatomy and with ongoing age related change in the surrounding tissue.

Will it change how I smile?

The intent is to change your face at rest, not in motion. The corner sits in a more neutral position when your face is relaxed, so the expression people read when you are not doing anything is closer to what you actually feel. Your active smile is not the target of the procedure.

Can filler do the same thing?

For many patients, filler placed as vertical structural support at the angle of the mouth lifts the corner and softens the crease beneath it, and it does so reversibly with no anesthesia. Where the change is largely volume loss, filler is often the right answer and is worth trying first. Where the corner has genuinely dropped in position, filler supports it rather than repositions it, and the result can fall short of what the patient wanted.

Am I a candidate for a smile lift?

The typical candidate has downturned mouth corners at rest that do not reflect their mood, often with a crease running down from the corner, and does not want a surgical facelift. Candidacy is determined by examining how much of the change is position, how much is volume, and how much is skin quality, since those respond to different treatments. Patients with significant lower face laxity may be better served by a surgical approach.

How much does the SmileLift™ cost in Beverly Hills?

The practice has previously published SmileLift™ at $1,500. Pricing is confirmed at consultation and current figures are published on the fees page. Cosmetic treatment is generally not covered by insurance and several payment options are available.

Why Patients Choose Beverly Hills Aesthetics for Smile Lift

• Procedure Developed Here: SmileLift™ was created by Dr. Assassa and is performed by him.
• Position And Volume Assessed Separately: Whether the corner has dropped or deflated determines the treatment.
• Both Options Available: Filler and SmileLift™ offered, so the recommendation is not limited to one.
• Local Anesthesia Only: Performed in the office without general anesthesia or a facility stay.
• Three Decades Of Facial Work: Non-surgical facial treatment as a specialty since 1995.

Schedule a Smile Lift Consultation in Beverly Hills

If people keep asking whether you are upset when you are not, the corners of your mouth are worth having looked at properly. Dr. Assassa will assess how much of the change is position, volume, and skin quality, and tell you whether filler or the SmileLift™ suits your face better. Beverly Hills Aesthetics serves patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, and Century City. Request a consultation or schedule your appointment online.