Botox for Gummy Smile: A Simple Smile Transformation

A gummy smile is one of those small details that can feel outsized in photos and conversation. If more than about 3 to 4 millimeters of gum shows when you grin, you may notice you hold back in group shots or tilt your head to minimize it. I see this often in clinic, and I’ve learned that the fix does not always require surgery or orthodontics. For many patients, a few precisely placed units of Botox offer a subtle, elegant change that preserves what you love about your smile and softens what distracts you.

The goal is not to freeze your expression or make every smile look identical. The aim is to rebalance the muscles that lift your upper lip so your teeth and gums share the stage. When it’s done well, people see a more confident version of you, not a cosmetic procedure.
What creates a gummy smile
Gummy smiles have several common causes, and patients often have a blend of factors. The upper lip may be hyperactive, which means the levator labii superioris complex (a group of muscles that elevates the upper lip) lifts higher than average when you smile. Some have a shorter upper lip at rest. Others have vertical maxillary excess, where the upper jaw is longer relative to the face, which shows more gum naturally. Orthodontic relapse, thin periodontal tissues, altered tooth eruption, or a high smile line can add to the picture.

Before any botox treatment, your injector should identify which mechanisms are in play. If the main driver is a hyperactive lip, Botox injections can work beautifully by dialing down the over-lift. If the issue is jaw length or tooth size, other solutions like crown lengthening, orthognathic consultation, or orthodontics might be more appropriate. Many patients land in the middle, where small doses of botox create a meaningful improvement without committing to surgery.
How Botox softens a gummy smile
Botox cosmetic works by temporarily relaxing targeted muscles. For gummy smiles, the focus is on the elevator muscles that pull the upper lip too high when you grin or laugh. The classic target is the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi, which sits along the side of the nose. Some plans also include the levator labii superioris and zygomaticus minor, depending on your anatomy and smile pattern.

By easing those muscles, the upper lip still lifts, just not as dramatically. You keep your natural expression. Teeth show. Gums peek a little less. Patients often describe it as a new “sweet spot” where smiles feel less self-conscious and more balanced.

Experienced injectors do not chase every millimeter, and they do not flood the area with units. Precision matters. Too much product, or placements that ignore your unique smile dynamics, can lead to an over-corrected look or slight lip heaviness. The skill lies in giving you just enough change to notice, without tipping into odd or stiff.
Who is a good candidate
If your gummy smile stems largely from a hyperactive upper lip, you are likely a strong candidate for gummy smile botox. I look for a pronounced lift at the center and sides of the lip when patients grin, especially if it happens consistently across spontaneous and posed smiles. If you only see gum with forced big laughs, you may need fewer units or can consider a test dose.

Those with thin upper lips, a lip flip already in place, or prior filler near the philtrum require careful assessment. When lip support is minimal, relaxing the elevator muscles can sometimes make the lip feel slightly heavier at rest. A conservative first session solves that. If dental or skeletal structure is the primary cause, I explain the limits of botox for gummy smile and outline alternatives.

Medical suitability matters as well. A licensed botox injector or botox doctor will ask about pregnancy, breastfeeding, neuromuscular conditions, current medications, and prior botox results. If you have upcoming dental procedures or periodontal treatment, timing the botox appointment around those visits helps avoid confounding variables like swelling or tenderness.
What to expect at a consultation
A thorough botox consultation has a few hallmarks. We start by reviewing your dental history, bite alignment, and periodontal health. Then we study your smile from multiple angles. I ask patients to smile gently, then broadly, then laugh. We note where the gum shows most, how the upper lip moves, and whether one side lifts higher than the other.

I map injection points on the skin with a pencil. For gummy smile botox, there are usually two to four points around the base of the nose and upper lip elevators. If the nose scrunches when you smile, tiny units for bunny lines botox can help too, but it is optional. We discuss expected change, the number of botox units, and how long botox results usually last.

We also review trade-offs. You should understand that botox is temporary and requires maintenance. If you are searching “botox near me” because you want a quick, reversible test before any surgical plan, botox treatment is a smart first step. If you already plan orthodontics or gum contouring, timing botox around those treatments can make the transition smoother.
The treatment process step by step
On treatment day, the sequence is efficient. After photos and smile analysis, we cleanse the area. Some patients prefer a dab of topical numbing, although the injections are fast and typically tolerable with no numbing at all. The needles are very fine. You feel a quick pinch and mild pressure. The actual injection time is often under five minutes.

Dosage depends on anatomy. For gummy smile botox, I commonly use a total of 2 to 8 units, split across two to four sites. Smaller faces or lips that already sit low at rest may start with 0.5 to 1 unit per point. Clients who exhibit strong elevator activity may require a touch more. The principle is conservative dosing first, especially if it is your first botox treatment near me or you’re switching from another botox provider.

Immediately after, small bumps can appear at the injection sites and typically settle within 15 to 30 minutes. Makeup can be applied after a few hours if needed. Most patients leave with no visible signs of treatment and go back to work or errands.
When botox kicks in and how long it lasts
Botox onset builds in stages. You may notice subtle changes by day three, then a clear shift by day seven. The final outcome often settles by the two-week mark. For a gummy smile, I ask patients to send a quick smile photo at day 7 and again at day 14 to confirm symmetry and decide if a tiny refinement is useful.

Results typically last 10 to 12 weeks for this area, sometimes as long as 14 weeks. The upper lip elevators are small muscles that work frequently, so they metabolize botox a bit faster than the forehead. With repeated, consistent treatments over a year, some people find they can stretch intervals slightly. If you track your own botox timeline, you’ll learn your rhythm.
Safety, comfort, and downtime
Botox for gummy smile has a strong safety record when performed by an experienced botox injector. The typical side effects are minor: a few pinprick marks, slight redness, or mild tenderness. Bruising is uncommon but possible. I recommend avoiding heavy workouts and inverted yoga positions for four to six hours, keeping fingers away from the injection sites, and skipping saunas the day of treatment.

There is no real downtime. You can talk, eat, and smile normally right away. I do not restrict flossing or brushing. If you have a dental appointment the same day, it is better to separate the visits to avoid pressure on the area.

The most important safety factor is who injects you. A trusted botox injector reads your expression dynamics, uses conservative dosing, and knows how to avoid diffusion into unintended muscles. This is not the place to gamble on cheap botox or pop-up botox deals with unclear credentials. The face is nuanced, and your smile is central to how you interact with people. Choose a licensed botox injector or certified botox injector with specific training in perioral anatomy.
How many units of Botox do I need
Patients love clear numbers, and I do too. For a hyperactive lip, many start at 2 to 6 units total. If gum show is more pronounced, the plan might reach 8 units. The exact number depends on muscle strength, facial proportions, and whether we are also treating bunny lines or balancing asymmetry. We avoid heavy dosing. Over-relaxation risks a smile that feels flattened, or a lip that does not lift in sync with the rest of the face. If your priority is subtle change, ask your injector to begin at the low end and reassess at two weeks.
Combining gummy smile Botox with other treatments
The perioral area responds well to layered, minimal tweaks. A light lip flip botox can gently evert the upper lip at rest, which makes it appear slightly fuller without filler. If you already plan a lip flip, we coordinate doses so the combined effect looks natural. Small amounts of hyaluronic acid filler in the Cupid’s bow or lateral vermilion can support the lip and reduce the need for higher botox units. Patients with downturned corners sometimes benefit from a micro-dose around the depressor anguli oris to soften a constant frown, although that is judged case by case.

If masseter botox for jawline softening is on your radar, it does not conflict with gummy smile treatment. The masseter sits well below and posterior to the upper lip elevators. Done properly, both can be performed the same day, though I often stage them for clarity and to isolate responses.
How this differs from other Botox uses on the face
Gummy smile botox leverages tiny units to refine a highly expressive, small area. Contrast that with forehead botox, where doses can be higher and spans wider. Glabella botox for 11 lines focuses on frown muscles and requires careful balance to keep brows lifted. Crow’s feet botox aims at the orbicularis oculi around the eyes. Each zone has its own dosing logic, but the principle is consistent: less can be more when your goal is to preserve expression and soften distractions.

Patients sometimes ask if treating the nose bridge for bunny lines, or the mentalis muscle for chin dimpling, will change their smile. Those treatments can complement your result if indicated, but they are not substitutes for gummy smile botox. A thorough botox consultation clarifies which muscles drive your concern and which plan will achieve the cleanest result.
What results look like in real life
Before and after photos show the story clearly, but in-person feedback matters more. I encourage patients to evaluate several moments: the first laugh with friends, a wide smile in bright light, and a casual grin for a selfie. If you had 5 millimeters of gum showing and now see 1 to 2, the effect feels significant yet natural. Colleagues may comment that you look well-rested or happy, but they rarely pinpoint a change in your gums.

My own guideline is that you should not need to adjust your smile posture consciously. If you feel you have to “work at” smiling, or your lip feels heavy, the dose may have been a touch high. That is why I stay conservative on a first visit. It is easier to add a unit than to wait for an overly strong dose to wear off.
Costs, pricing, and planning maintenance
Botox cost varies by region, product sourcing, and injector experience. Practices may charge by area or by botox units. In many markets, the botox price per unit ranges within a band that reflects local overhead and expertise. For a gummy smile, because unit counts are low, the total fee is often modest compared to larger areas like forehead lines or masseter botox. Be wary of prices that seem too good to be true. Cheap botox sometimes means diluted product, inconsistent technique, or poor follow-up support.

If budgeting helps, ask about a botox payment plan or membership that includes periodic maintenance. You can also time visits with other planned care, such as wrinkle botox for crow’s feet or forehead lines, to coordinate touch-ups. Patients who book botox on a predictable three to four month schedule often enjoy steadier results.
Choosing the right injector and clinic
Credentials and experience are non-negotiable for facial work. Look for a top rated botox practice with medical oversight, ideally a botox clinic or botox med spa led by a physician or advanced practitioner trained in facial anatomy. Read reviews for mentions of natural outcomes and attentive follow-up. A botox specialist should ask you to animate your face from multiple angles, design a plan in front of a mirror, and explain why each point matters. If you are searching “botox injection near me” or “botox injector near me,” use that short list to schedule consultations rather than rushing to treat on the first visit.

Good clinics photograph all angles pre-treatment, document units and placements, and schedule a two-week check when needed. A trusted botox injector takes notes so your second session builds on the first, not reinvent it. That continuity is how results become consistently excellent and individualized over time.
Aftercare you can actually use
The first 6 to 8 hours are simple. Keep the area clean, avoid rubbing, and skip strenuous exercise or steam rooms. If you bruise easily, a cool compress for a few minutes can help, but avoid pressure. You can eat and drink as normal. There is no special sleep position required. If you notice minor asymmetry at day seven, take well-lit photos smiling and at rest, then contact your provider. Most small variances respond to a micro-adjustment.

For patients layering other treatments, such as filler or under eye botox, space them a week apart unless your injector plans them together. Clear timing prevents you from attributing a minor tweak to the wrong procedure and helps your provider calibrate future sessions.
Realistic expectations and edge cases
Not every gummy smile responds the same way. Some patients with strong skeletal components will see partial improvement with botox for gummy smile but still show more gum than average when laughing broadly. Others have asymmetric smiles, where one side lifts higher. In those cases, small dose differences per side create a balanced result. A few patients prefer a slight residual gum show to preserve a playful, familiar look. We can target that too.

If you try a conservative dose and feel underwhelmed, do not give up on the method. A small increase at a two-week follow-up often lands perfectly. Conversely, if your lip feels overly relaxed, your injector can map that response and lower the dose next visit. The advantage of cosmetic botox in this area is its reversibility. You get to pilot the look without a long-term commitment.
When surgery or dental work may be better
If you have significant vertical maxillary excess, severe altered passive eruption, or periodontal concerns, surgical and dental solutions might deliver the definitive change you want. Crown lengthening can rebalance tooth-to-gum ratios. Orthognathic surgery addresses skeletal length, albeit with more downtime and cost. Orthodontic planning or aligners may move teeth to a more aesthetic display. A balanced approach could involve gummy smile botox as a bridge while you plan larger interventions, or as a finishing touch after dental work to polish the final smile line.
Common questions patients ask
Does it hurt? Most people rate it as a 1 or 2 out of 10. Quick pinches, then it is done.

Will I look overdone? If the injector uses conservative dosing and understands smile dynamics, no. The upper lip will still lift, simply Botox NJ https://www.myethosspa.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gbp&utm_content=morristown not as high.

How fast can I see results? Early effect by day three, full by day 14.

How long does botox last in this area? Typically 10 to 12 weeks, occasionally longer.

Can I pair this with a lip flip botox? Yes, with careful planning. Often it enhances balance, especially if you want slightly more lip show at rest with less gum show on smiling.

What if I need tiny adjustments? A short follow-up visit, often with 0.5 to 1 unit tweaks, can refine symmetry.
A simple path to getting started
If your photos echo the concerns here, schedule a botox consultation with an experienced botox injector who treats gummy smiles regularly. Bring a few pictures that show your smile in different settings. Ask how many units they typically use, how they customize doses for asymmetry, and what their protocol is for follow-up. Clarity on those points signals a provider who values precision and natural outcomes.

When you book botox, plan it at least two weeks before an event to allow full results and any small adjustments. If you are new to aesthetic treatments, you can begin with this focused area rather than tackling the whole face. It is a straightforward, high-yield way to build trust with your provider and see if their aesthetic matches your own.
Final thoughts from the treatment room
I have watched patients stand a little taller after gummy smile botox. They are not transformed into someone new. They are simply less distracted by that extra sliver of pink when they laugh. The right treatment respects your expression. It should not flatten the quirks that make you, you. Only soften the part that kept stealing your attention.

If you are searching for botox treatment near me or a botox specialist to address a gummy smile, prioritize skill over speed, and precision over quantity. The best botox is measured in millimeters and milliseconds, applied thoughtfully, and maintained on a schedule that suits your life. With the right plan and a trusted botox provider, a small adjustment can bring your smile into effortless balance.