Show Less Gum: Botox for Gummy Smile Explained

1. A gummy smile draws the eye upward, away from the eyes and teeth, and that can make photos or first impressions feel a little off. I meet plenty of people who like their teeth but dislike how much gum shows when they grin. Some simply want options that are reversible and subtle. Botox injections for a gummy smile can be a tidy answer when used with judgment and anatomical precision. This is not about erasing personality. It is about making small adjustments to muscle pull so the upper lip rests more naturally when you smile. Done well, the change looks like you on your best day, not a different face. What counts as a gummy smile, and why it happens Most clinicians consider more than 3 to 4 millimeters of visible gum above the upper front teeth as a gummy smile. That measure is helpful, but the cause matters more than the number. The usual culprits fall into four buckets. First, hyperactive elevator muscles. The levator labii superioris, levator labii superioris alaeque nasi, and zygomaticus minor can lift the upper lip too high when they contract. If the lip lifts 2 to 4 millimeters more than average, the gums show, even with well-proportioned teeth. Second, a short upper lip. Some people have a shorter philtral length, so even a normal smile exposes more gingiva. Third, tooth and jaw proportions. Overeruption of teeth, vertical maxillary excess, or a high lip line can all expose more gum. Orthodontic history and skeletal patterns play a role here. Fourth, gingival factors. Enlarged gums from medication or inflammation can make any smile look gum heavy. Botox treatment only addresses the first two: muscle activity and, to a smaller degree, the appearance of a short upper lip by relaxing the elevators. If your gummy smile stems from tooth position or jaw anatomy, a neuromodulator may soften the look but not fully correct it. That is why a careful diagnosis is crucial before you consider botox for gummy smile. How botox helps, in plain terms Botox is a purified protein that blocks nerve signals to the treated muscle. Fewer signals mean weaker contraction. When placed into the muscles that lift the upper lip, it reduces how high the lip rides during a smile. The result is a shorter vertical excursion, which means less gum show. Think of it as dampening the volume a notch, not muting the speaker. The classic injection site for gummy smile correction sits near the “Yonsei point,” a small triangular area where several elevators converge beside the nostril and above the nasolabial fold. A tiny dose here can relax the coordinated pull that yanks the lip upward. Depending on your anatomy, a clinician may also treat points closer to the midline or near the zygomaticus minor to balance the effect. Precision avoids the heavy, flat look some people fear. Most of my patients who respond well get a 1 to 3 millimeter reduction in gingival show, which is enough to make the smile look more tooth focused and less gum dominant. Who makes a good candidate If your gums show primarily because your upper lip lifts vigorously when you smile, you are a strong candidate. If you see a clear difference between your at-rest lip and your full smile, and you can feel a strong upward pull near the base of the nose when you grin, that points toward hyperactive muscles. Healthy gum tissue matters too. Inflamed or overgrown gums will still show, even with a reduced lift. I also look at lip length, dental proportions, and any orthodontic or surgical history. People with vertical maxillary excess can still benefit, but expectations should be realistic. Botox for gummy smile is best for mild to moderate cases. For severe cases, dental procedures like crown lengthening or orthognathic surgery may be the definitive solutions, with botox as a temporary or adjunctive measure. What the procedure feels like, step by step A proper botox consultation sets the tone. Your provider should ask about medical history, allergies, prior botox injections, facial surgeries, and any tendency to bruise. You will smile, speak, and laugh while they map the lift of your lip. Photos help, especially botox before and after images taken in similar lighting and expressions.

2. The injection process is straightforward. Makeup is removed and the skin cleansed. Most clinics skip numbing cream because the needles are very fine and the area is small. You will feel a few quick pinches beside the base of the nose, sometimes one on each side, sometimes two per side. Some clinicians add a central point if the middle of the lip hikes more than the corners. The entire botox procedure takes less than 10 minutes. There is no real downtime. A little redness or a small bruise is possible and typically fades within a few days. Many go back to work or lunch right after. Dosing that respects anatomy Tiny doses go a long way in the elevator muscles. In my experience, most first-timers do well with 1 to 2 units per injection point, and 2 to 4 points total. That puts the early total in the 2 to 8 unit range. More is not better. You can always add a conservative botox touch up at the two-week mark if needed. Higher doses raise the risk of over-relaxation, which can make speech feel slightly different for a few days or create a less animated smile. Balance is the goal. Experienced injectors target the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi to soften the central lift, and the zygomaticus minor to temper the lateral rise when indicated. They also account for asymmetry. Most faces are not perfectly even. A half unit to one unit difference side to side can prevent a crooked result. What results look like, and when to expect them Do not judge your botox results on day one. The effect builds gradually. Most people notice a softening of the lift within 3 to 5 days, with full effect around days 10 to 14. This timeline is predictable, which is why follow-up photos around two weeks matter. If gum exposure remains more than you like, a careful micro-dose can fine tune. Before and after photos tell the story best. In the clinic, I take them at rest, a half smile, and a full laugh. The after photos usually show teeth framed by lip rather than gum. Friends say the smile looks more balanced but cannot pinpoint why. That is the compliment you want. How long does it last, and how often to repeat Botox longevity for gummy smile typically sits around 8 to 12 weeks in first-time patients, stretching to 12 to 16 weeks once you have had a few sessions. Small muscles metabolize neuromodulator a bit faster than larger areas like the forehead. If your metabolism is brisk or you are an athlete, you may land at the shorter end.

3. A reasonable botox maintenance plan is three to four sessions per year. Some patients prefer a steady schedule. Others come in when they notice more gum show returning. Both approaches work, as long as you allow the muscles to recover between treatments so you can assess true need. Safety, side effects, and how to avoid a heavy smile Botox side effects in this area are usually minor and temporary. You may see a pinprick bruise, mild tenderness, or a small bump for an hour or two. Less common effects include a slight change in enunciation of certain sounds or a flatter upper lip when smiling if the dose was too high. These typically resolve as the botox wears off. The bigger risks come from misplaced injections. If the product diffuses into the wrong plane, it can relax muscles that shape the upper lip in unhelpful ways. This is rare with careful technique, conservative dosing, and accurate anatomy. If you have a major event or photoshoot, schedule your botox treatment at least two to three weeks ahead. That way, if a touch up is needed, you have time to refine. Contraindications include pregnancy, breastfeeding, certain neuromuscular disorders, active skin infection at the injection site, and known allergy to components of the product. Discuss all medications and supplements with your provider, especially those that increase bleeding or bruising. Cost and value without the guesswork Botox price varies by city, injector experience, and whether the clinic charges by unit or by area. For a gummy smile, the total dose is small, which keeps the botox cost lower than larger areas like the forehead or crow’s feet. In most markets, expect a range in the low hundreds, often less than a forehead session. If you see botox specials or botox deals, ask what product is used, how dosing is determined, and whether follow-up adjustments are included. Lower price means little if you need repeated corrections or if the injector lacks experience in perioral anatomy. I recommend paying for skill. A slightly higher botox price for precise placement is usually worth it, especially near the mouth where a millimeter of change is obvious. How botox compares to other options Botox vs fillers for gummy smile is a frequent conversation. Dermal fillers can add subtle volume to the upper lip, which can mask gum show in select cases by everting the vermilion. But filler cannot stop an overactive elevator from pulling the lip upward. For dynamic gummy smiles, botox is the first-line choice. In some cases, a tiny filler enhancement plus botox gives the best balance. Botox vs surgery is about permanence. Lip repositioning surgery and orthognathic procedures can deliver lasting results for significant gum exposure, especially with skeletal causes. They involve downtime, higher cost, and a bigger commitment. Botox is temporary, adjustable, and lower risk, which makes it a sensible trial for those testing the waters.

4. If you are considering botox vs dysport or botox vs xeomin, the differences are modest in experienced hands. Onset, spread, and unit equivalence vary slightly, but the end result depends far more on where and how much is injected than on the brand. Some patients feel one product lasts a week longer or kicks in a day sooner. That pattern can guide future sessions. Realistic expectations: natural look, not frozen smile People often arrive with a quiet fear that botox for face treatments will make them look stiff. Around the lips, that concern makes sense. The goal here is not to erase expression, it is to limit excessive elevation. You should still laugh, speak, and eat normally. If your smile feels too subdued in the first week, remember that the peak effect softens after two to three weeks. At your follow-up, your provider can plan a lighter dose next time or alter the injection points to preserve more lateral lift while controlling the central lip rise. Expect a subtle shift, not a total transformation. If you want dramatic change and you have 5 to 6 millimeters of gum showing at full smile, you may need a staged approach: botox first, then possibly dental or periodontal input. I often coordinate with dentists for crown lengthening, orthodontists for intrusion, or periodontists for gum contouring when anatomy calls for it. Aftercare that actually matters There is a lot of folklore about post-botox rules. Here is what consistently helps and what does not. Keep your head upright for 3 to 4 hours after injections. Light facial movement is fine. Skip deep massage, face- down yoga, or heavy hats pressing on the area that day. Avoid strenuous exercise, saunas, and hot yoga until the next day. Heat and increased blood flow can potentially shift distribution in the first hours. Everything else, including smiling and speaking normally, is encouraged. You do not need to exaggerate expressions to “work in” the product. You do not need ice unless you bruise easily. Makeup can go back on after a few hours if the skin is intact. A brief note on related facial uses Patients who come for a gummy smile sometimes ask about botox for frown lines, botox for forehead lines, or botox for crow’s feet while they are in the chair. Combining areas makes sense if your schedule allows, and it helps align the rhythm of botox maintenance. Other popular adjuncts include a micro-dose lip flip for subtle eversion, masseter treatment for jawline softening or TMJ symptoms, and small touches around the chin to smooth an orange-peel texture. Each area has its own dosing and risk profile, which should be explained at consult. If you have brow heaviness, choose lighter dosing in the forehead. If you speak for a living, be conservative around the perioral area. Good injectors tailor the plan rather than applying a standard template. Choosing the right provider and setting Botox is common. Expertise is not. Look for a botox provider who examines you while animated, not only at rest, and who explains which muscles they plan to treat and why. Ask to see botox reviews that mention perioral work, and request before and after photos for gummy smile cases with lighting and angles you can trust. Training and certification matter, but so does volume of experience and a conservative aesthetic. Medspas do great work when supervised by clinicians who live and breathe facial anatomy. If you are searching for botox near me online, go beyond the top sponsored listing. Visit the clinic, gauge how they handle questions, and whether they recommend alternatives when botox is not the right tool. An ethical practice will steer you to dental or surgical consults if your anatomy calls for it. How I approach first-time patients I start with a conservative plan. I map lift patterns, note asymmetries, and take standardized photos. We discuss what a realistic reduction looks like in millimeters, and what happens if we do nothing. I place the smallest dose likely to move the needle. Two weeks later, we review botox facilities near me botox results with photos and adjust, if needed, with a

5. half unit here or there. This builds a data set for your face. The second session benefits from that memory, and the result usually feels effortless and consistent. Patients appreciate a schedule that fits their calendar. Some like spring and fall sessions. Others prefer every three months. If special events are on the horizon, we anchor a botox timeline that brings peak effect to the right week and allows for any touch up. Common myths, addressed quickly Botox makes the smile fake. Not if you choose a measured dose. The aim is balance, not immobility. Once you start, you have to keep going. You can stop any time. The effect wears off completely, and your baseline returns. Botox thins the skin. It does not. It acts at the neuromuscular junction, not on the dermis. Results are instant. They are not. Expect visible change by day three to five, with full effect by two weeks. When botox is not the answer If your gums show at rest, not only on smiling, botox is unlikely to help. If you have long clinical crowns due to recession and thin biotype, exposing more tooth with botox is neither possible nor desirable. Severe vertical maxillary excess often needs an orthodontic or surgical plan. If you already struggle with lip competence or mouth-breathing, relaxing elevators could worsen dry mouth symptoms. These are the edge cases where restraint is wise. What satisfaction looks like over a year Patients who stick with a conservative botox maintenance schedule for gummy smile tend to settle into a comfortable rhythm. The first session teaches your anatomy. The second and third refine dosing. By the fourth, you rarely need a touch up. Photos look consistent from season to season. The upper lip shows more vermilion and less gum, and friends focus on your eyes and teeth rather than the pink border above them. That is the quiet win of botox aesthetic work. Not “Did you get something done?” but “You look rested,” or simply, “Great smile.” Botox Near Me in Holmdel NJ: Age-Defying Results - TODAY Botox Near Me in Holmdel NJ: Age-Defying Results - TODAY Final practical notes If you are curious, book a botox consultation rather than jumping straight to treatment. Bring a few photos of your smile in different contexts: candid laughter, posed grin, and relaxed expression. Mention any history of cold sores, as injections can occasionally trigger them, and prophylaxis may be advised. Skip alcohol and blood-thinning supplements a day or two before if you want to reduce bruising. Plan your appointment on a day without dental work or facial massage afterward. If travel or timing keeps you from in-person shopping, call clinics and ask smart questions: What is the typical unit range for gummy smile? Do you take follow-up photos? How do you handle adjustments if one side lifts more than the other?

6. Straight, confident answers signal experience. The bottom line is simple. Botox for gummy smile is a targeted, reversible way to show less gum and more you. In the right hands, with the right diagnosis, it is a few pinches, a few days of patience, and a smile that draws attention to the places you want it most.