A gummy smile can be charming, but if you feel your upper gums take center stage whenever you laugh, you are not alone. In aesthetic practice, I meet people who love their teeth and their lips yet wince at photos because their smile feels top heavy. Gummy smile botox is a quick, minimally invasive way to soften that effect. When it is done well, the result looks natural, not frozen, and your smile keeps its warmth.
This is not a one size fits all treatment. The ideal approach depends on facial anatomy, dental health, muscle strength, and personal style. What follows is a detailed look at how botox injections can help a gummy smile, what the procedure involves, what to expect from botox results, and how to decide if it makes sense for you.
What makes a smile look “gummy”
A smile shows more gum than you want for several reasons. Some are skeletal, some dental, some muscular. Many people have a combination.
Think about how the upper lip moves when you laugh. The lip lifts because several muscles pull it upward and outward. The levator labii superioris, levator labii superioris alaeque nasi, and zygomaticus minor are key players. In some people, these elevator muscles are hyperactive, so the lip rises higher than average, uncovering several millimeters of gum. If you have a short upper lip at baseline, the effect becomes more prominent. Orthodontic history can matter too. If the teeth and gums sit lower in the face, or if there was altered eruption of the teeth, more gum may show even with average muscle pull.
A fast chairside test helps sort this out. We watch you at rest, while you say “eee,” then during a full smile. If your upper lip travels far from rest to full smile, often 6 to 8 millimeters or more, muscle overactivity likely contributes. If your gums show even at rest, skeletal or dental factors may play a larger role. Botox cosmetic treatment addresses the muscular component. It will not change tooth size, gum contour, or upper jaw position. That distinction determines whether botox for a gummy smile is sufficient on its own, or whether it should be paired with dental or surgical options.
How botox softens a gummy smile
OnabotulinumtoxinA, commonly known as botox, temporarily relaxes targeted muscles by blocking the chemical signal that tells the muscle to contract. For a gummy smile, the goal is not to immobilize the upper lip. The goal is to reduce the strength of the elevator muscles so the lip does not vault so high when you grin.
Experienced injectors work along the “Yonsei point,” a small triangular area near the side of the nose that influences the levator complex. Precise placement here can bring the upper lip down by a millimeter or two at peak smile. That small change often makes all the difference. In cases with more lift, we sometimes add micro doses near the alar base or along the upper white roll to balance symmetry. The art is in the dose. Too little, nothing changes. Too much, and the lip looks heavy or speech feels off.
These techniques draw on the same principles used in lip flip botox and botox for bunny lines. The injection sites are close, but the intention differs. Bunny lines botox softens scrunching along the sides of the nose. A lip flip softly everts the upper lip. Gummy smile botox limits upward excursion.
What an appointment feels like
Most gummy smile treatments take around 10 minutes once the plan is set. The process starts with photos, assessment at rest and full smile, then a few marks with a cosmetic pencil. We clean the skin with alcohol. Ice or a vibration device helps dull the sting. The needle is tiny. Most patients describe each botox injection as a quick pinch and a few moments of pressure. There is no need for topical numbing in most cases, though it is available if you prefer.
I advise people not to schedule a botox appointment right before a major photoshoot or public speaking event. Even though botox downtime is minimal, you can have pinpoint bruises or small welts for a few hours. If you bruise easily, the mark can persist for a few days. That is normal after any botox treatment.
How soon does botox work, and how long does it last
Botox starts working gradually. Many people feel a slight change by day 3 or 4, with full effect around day 10 to 14. For a gummy smile, the difference becomes most obvious when you laugh hard in front of a mirror or see yourself in a candid video. The upper lip simply does not jump as high.
How long does botox last depends on metabolism, dosage, and muscle strength. For this area, plan on 8 to 12 weeks of peak effect. Some people stretch to 3 or 4 months. If you want to maintain results year round, botox maintenance visits two to four times a year usually suffice. If you prefer to save it for special seasons, think in terms of timing. For example, an appointment about 3 weeks before wedding festivities allows the result to mature and look natural.
Getting natural looking botox in this area
Natural looking botox is about restraint and anatomy. You want your smile lines to crinkle, your eyes to light up, and your words to sound normal. With gummy smile botox, we divide the dose between both sides and test symmetry. If your left side shows more gum, we can adjust the left dose higher by a unit. Some patients benefit from a small addition at a 2 week touch up. A tiny tweak often solves a subtle asymmetry that only shows at maximum grin.
If you have botox for frown lines, botox for crow’s feet, or a botox brow lift at the same visit, context matters. Too much brow lift can brighten the eyes, but if the upper lip also lifts less, the balance can feel off in photos. I prefer to stage changes the first time we work together. That approach lets both of us read your face in motion and refine a personalized botox plan without overshooting.
Typical dose and technique, in plain numbers
Most gummy smile treatments use micro doses, often 2 to 4 units per side of botox. Stronger elevator muscles can need 5 to 6 units per side. Rarely more. If you are switching from Dysport or Xeomin, the unit counts differ, but the effect can be similar when converted appropriately. This is not the same dosing conversation as botox for forehead lines or how many units of botox for frown lines. The muscles we target for a gummy smile are smaller and more sensitive to small changes.
A careful injector will palpate the levator band, sometimes ask you to smile repeatedly, then place the needle at a shallow depth. We keep clear of the lip elevator’s neighbors that help with speech and chewing. Precision matters. It is one reason experience counts more than a bargain.
How much does it cost
Costs vary by city, injector experience, and whether the clinic prices by unit or by area. Many practices charge botox pricing per unit, commonly between 10 and 20 dollars per unit in the United States, with coastal cities often at the higher end. A typical gummy smile treatment might use 6 to 12 units total, so you can estimate the range. Some offices offer botox package deals or a botox membership that reduces cost if you commit to regular visits. I suggest weighing the savings against the value of continuity with an injector who knows your face. Saving a few dollars while chasing the best botox clinic every time can lead to inconsistent results.
Safety, side effects, and good judgment
Is botox safe for a gummy smile? When performed by a qualified clinician who understands facial anatomy, the safety profile is excellent. The medication has decades of use in both therapeutic and cosmetic settings, including medical botox for conditions like eyelid twitching, migraines botox treatment, and hyperhidrosis botox treatment for underarm sweating. Cosmetic doses are small.
Expected symptoms include tiny injection site marks, mild swelling, or a bruise. Less common effects include an overly heavy upper lip, temporary speech changes like a soft lisp on “f” or “v” sounds, or an asymmetric smile. These usually fade as the medication wears off. If your job depends on crisp enunciation, say voice acting or public speaking, mention that at the botox consultation. We can reduce the dose or adjust sites to protect those functions.
Red flags are rare but deserve prompt attention: spreading bruise with significant pain, signs of infection, or persistent asymmetry beyond the expected window. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a neuromuscular disorder, delay cosmetic botox. The risk benefit equation does not favor treatment in those settings.
Aftercare that actually matters
Most aftercare is common sense. Keep the area clean the rest of the day. Avoid rubbing or massaging the injection sites. If you develop a bruise, cold compresses help for the first day. You can resume makeup after several hours if the skin is intact. Many people ask what not to do after botox. Skip hot yoga, facials, and intense workouts for the first 24 hours. Can you work out after botox the next day? Yes, normal exercise after 24 hours is fine. Can you drink after botox? A small drink is not dangerous, but alcohol can increase bruising, so I suggest waiting a day if bruising bothers you.
Who is a strong candidate
The best candidate shows healthy teeth and gums, no gum display at rest, and 3 to 6 millimeters of gum at full smile. Their upper lip length is average, and they can point to photos where the lip looks like it jumps too high. In these cases, botox alone can deliver subtle botox results that look like the smile settled into a better balance.
If you show a lot of gum even when not smiling, or if the gum line is uneven due to tooth shape or gingival contour, your dentist should join the conversation. Laser gum top botox agencies Burlington, MA contouring, orthodontic movement, or restorative dentistry may do more for you than botox. Sometimes we combine both. Dental work can set the frame, and botox can fine tune the motion.
How this relates to other popular botox treatments
Patients often pair gummy smile treatment with small doses elsewhere. For instance, botox for bunny lines smooths nose scrunching that competes with the smile. Crow’s feet softening can keep the eyes sparkly without shutting the smile down. If you clench your jaw, masseter botox for jaw clenching may slim the lower face slightly over time and can reduce tension headaches. In people with a very strong mentalis muscle, botox for chin dimpling can smooth orange peel texture that shows during a big grin. Each area has its own dosing strategy, and stacking too many areas at once can look unnatural. A conservative first session, then a botox touch up two weeks later, yields cleaner results than trying to solve everything in one pass.
For those curious about botox versus fillers, remember that botox weakens muscle activity while fillers add structure and volume. If your upper lip is thin and rolls inward when you smile, a small lip filler treatment or a lip flip botox can improve show and shape. If your concern is gum exposure, the elevator muscle control remains the main lever. Both tools can complement each other when planned carefully.
Realistic expectations and timing
Expect modest changes, not a new face. The upper lip will still lift, only less. In photos, you should notice more focus on teeth and less gum. Friends may say you look more relaxed when you laugh. Family might not notice at all unless you point it out. That is the goal with subtle botox results. The smile belongs to you, not to the procedure.
If you have a deadline like a reunion or wedding, get your first treatment at least six weeks in advance. That way, you see the full effect, can request a small adjustment at the two week mark if needed, and live with the look for a while. If you have never tried botox treatment anywhere on your face, a dry run several months earlier helps you learn how your body responds and how long your botox results last.
Choosing the right injector
Experience with smile dynamics matters more than a glossy ad. Before committing, browse botox patient reviews and look for those that mention smiles, balance, and natural outcomes. During your botox consultation, ask to see botox before and after photos of gummy smile cases or similar upper lip work. A strong injector can explain where they plan to place the needles and why, how many units they recommend and the reason, and what plan Burlington botox B looks like if you need a tweak at follow up.
If you are searching phrases like botox near me for wrinkles or best botox doctor, filter results by training and volume of facial work. A physician, PA, or RN with advanced botox techniques and a history of customized botox treatment tends to deliver steadier outcomes. If someone pushes a large multi area package for a first time botox visit, that is a cue to slow down. A personalized botox plan works better than a one size fits all bundle.
When botox is not enough
If your gummy smile stems from vertical maxillary excess, dental overeruption, or significant gingival display at rest, botox can only do so much. It may still improve confidence for events or photos, but the effect will be partial. In those cases, collaboration with a prosthodontist, periodontist, or orthodontist opens more options, from gum contouring to orthognathic surgery. Not everyone needs or wants surgery. Knowing that botox is a reversible, low risk step can be a relief while you weigh the bigger decisions.
A quick note on men, aging, and prevention
Brotox for men is not a punchline in the clinic. Men often have stronger levator and zygomatic muscles, so doses may need slight adjustment. The aim remains the same: keep expression, reduce the jump. As for preventative botox, there is not much to “prevent” in a gummy smile unless you see early signs of hyperactive lift and want to trial a small dose. This is more relevant for wrinkles, like botox for forehead lines or botox for crow’s feet, where repeated motion etches creases. For gummy smiles, we treat what we see today and adjust as your face changes with time.
The visit flow, from consult to follow up
Here is a simple path that reflects what most patients experience.
- Consultation and smile analysis, plus discussion of goals, risks, units of botox needed, and whether to combine with bunny lines or lip flip botox. Treatment day, 10 minutes in the chair, minimal discomfort, instant return to daily life with light aftercare. Checkpoint around day 10 to 14, when the result peaks, with the option for a small touch up if needed. Maintenance every 3 to 4 months, or timed to personal milestones, with notes kept on dose and placement for consistency.
Common questions, answered candidly
How often to get botox for a gummy smile? Most people repeat at 3 month intervals. If your effect lasts longer, stretch the timeline.
Where can you get botox in this region? Primarily near the alar base along the levator complex. Precise placement is tailored to your anatomy.
Can the smile look strange? If overdosed or misplaced, the lip can feel heavy or speech can change slightly. These effects are temporary. Skilled dosing prevents most issues.
Can I combine with fillers? Yes, if you want more upper lip show or structure. If so, stabilize the botox result first, then add filler at a later visit for cleaner control.
Does it help with lip asymmetry? Sometimes. If one side lifts more, asymmetric dosing can even it out. If the asymmetry comes from tooth or gum differences, dental input helps.
Why restraint pays off
The temptation with any non surgical wrinkle treatment botox is to chase perfection. Real faces move. They crease, crinkle, and light up when you laugh. Your best outcome preserves that. In practice, I find small doses provide the sweet spot. You keep your personality. The camera stops fixating on your gums. People see you, not your procedure.
If you also plan to treat botox for eyebrow wrinkles, botox for neck bands, or botox for pore reduction with techniques like micro botox, map the entire plan so that every change supports your overall look. A face in motion needs coordination. That is where a clinician who keeps careful records and photographs pays dividends over time.
The bottom line for a balanced smile
Gummy smile botox offers a subtle lift that can shift attention from gum to grin. It uses tiny doses, works within two weeks, and lasts a few months. The best candidates have normal gum show at rest and extra gum display at full smile driven by strong elevator muscles. The downsides are usually mild and short lived when an expert injector handles the treatment.
If you have been curious, book a thoughtful botox consultation rather than hunting only for affordable botox or same day botox deals. A few careful questions, a mirror, and a measured plan go further than a discount ever will. The aim is not to erase your smile. The aim is to help it look like it always belonged to your face.