The DAO stands for Depressor Anguli Oris – it’s Latin for “Pulls Down The Corner of The Mouth” and it is a small muscle that does exactly what its name suggests.
The DAO is important because it contributes to a downturned mouth shape and the “marionette folds” – the grooves that appear below the corner of the mouth with age.
Two main treatments are done to treat this area.
The first is a small amount of “anti-wrinkle injection” (neuro-modulator) can be used to weaken the DAO action.
Often some is placed in the chin as well to stop the chin muscle tugging upwards at the same time.
Secondly some dermal filler can be used to strengthen and volumise the area as well.
This tends to strengthen the jawline also, and I often think of it as “joining the chin up to the lower cheek”.
It’s an area that loses volume as we age, so this combination treatment can be very effective, as the picture below shows.
