What Is Gummy Smile Botox?
Gummy smile Botox is a non-surgical cosmetic treatment in which a small, precisely measured dose of botulinum toxin type A — commonly known as Botox — is injected into the hyperactive muscles responsible for the excessive elevation of the upper lip during smiling.
Botox works by temporarily blocking the nerve signals that cause a muscle to contract. When injected into the upper lip elevator muscles — specifically the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi (LLSAN) — gummy smile Botox gently reduces the muscle’s ability to pull the upper lip as high as it normally would when smiling. The result is a smile where the upper lip rises to a more aesthetically balanced position — revealing the optimal amount of gum tissue and creating a natural, proportionate, and confident smile.
The treatment is fast — taking only a few minutes — requires no anaesthesia, involves no surgery, and produces visible results within days. It is one of the most elegantly simple yet genuinely impactful treatments in aesthetic medicine.
What Is a Gummy Smile?
A gummy smile — clinically referred to as excessive gingival display — is a condition in which more gum tissue than is considered aesthetically proportionate is visible when a person smiles. Most aesthetic guidelines suggest that up to 2mm of gum visibility when smiling is within the normal and attractive range. When 3mm or more of gum tissue is consistently visible, it is generally considered a gummy smile.
The degree of gumminess varies significantly from person to person — ranging from a mild excess that is only noticeable in photos, to a more pronounced display that the patient is acutely aware of in everyday social interactions.
A gummy smile can result from several underlying causes, including:
Hyperactive Upper Lip Elevator Muscles
The most common cause — and the one most effectively addressed with gummy smile Botox — is overactivity in the muscles that elevate the upper lip when smiling. In patients with hyperactive lip elevator muscles, the upper lip rises higher than average during a smile, exposing a greater area of gum tissue than would otherwise be visible. This is a purely muscular issue and responds exceptionally well to Botox treatment.
Vertical Maxillary Excess
In some patients, the upper jaw bone has developed with more vertical height than average — positioning the gum tissue lower and making more of it visible when smiling. This structural cause typically requires orthodontic or surgical intervention and is assessed during consultation.
Short or Thin Upper Lip
A naturally short upper lip provides less coverage of the gum tissue when at rest and rises to expose even more when smiling. In many cases, combining gummy smile Botox with a small amount of lip filler to add length and volume to the upper lip delivers a particularly refined and comprehensive correction.
Altered Passive Eruption
In some patients, the gum tissue has not receded to the appropriate level during dental development — leaving the teeth partially covered and the gum margin higher than optimal. This is a dental concern that can be addressed by a periodontist.
During your consultation at Beverly Hills Clinic, our physician will assess the specific cause of your gummy smile and recommend the most appropriate treatment pathway — which in the majority of cases is our gummy smile Botox treatment.
The Results of Gummy Smile Botox Treatment
When performed correctly by an experienced aesthetic physician, gummy smile treatment with Botox delivers results that are:
Natural-Looking The goal of gummy smile Botox is not to freeze the upper lip or prevent normal movement — it is to subtly reduce the range of elevation to a more aesthetically pleasing degree. A well-executed treatment preserves the natural dynamism of your smile entirely. Friends and family will notice that you seem more confident and that your smile looks better — but they will not be able to identify what has changed.
Immediately Visible Within Days Unlike many aesthetic treatments where results develop gradually over weeks, gummy smile Botox produces visible improvement within 3 to 5 days of the injections — with the full result established within 7 to 14 days as the Botox settles fully into the targeted muscles.
Proportionate and Balanced The correction brings the smile into the aesthetically ideal range — where the upper lip frames the teeth beautifully and the gum display is minimal or entirely absent, depending on the degree of correction the patient wishes to achieve.
Completely Reversible Because Botox is a temporary treatment, the effects naturally wear off over time — meaning that if a patient is ever unhappy with their result, or simply wishes to return to their natural smile, the treatment reverses entirely on its own.
The Gummy Smile Botox Procedure at Beverly Hills Speciality Center
Step 1 — Consultation and Smile Assessment Your treatment begins with a thorough clinical consultation. Our aesthetic physician observes your natural smile from multiple angles — assessing the degree of gum display, the activity and position of the upper lip elevator muscles, and the overall proportions of your smile, lips, and facial features. We discuss your goals, explain the procedure in full, and determine the precise dose and injection points appropriate for your anatomy.
Step 2 — Treatment Area Preparation The treatment area — specifically the junction between the upper lip and the base of the nose — is cleaned and prepared. Because the injections are very superficial and the needles used are ultra-fine, most patients do not require topical anaesthetic for this procedure. A numbing cream can be applied on request for patients who prefer it.
Step 3 — Botox Injection Using an ultra-fine needle, our physician administers a small, precisely measured dose of Botox into the upper lip elevator muscles at the pre-mapped injection points on each side. The injections take only a few minutes in total and are very well tolerated by the vast majority of patients. Most describe the sensation as a brief, mild pinch.
Step 4 — Immediate Post-Treatment Assessment Following the injections, the treated area is assessed and any minor redness at the injection sites is noted. Our physician confirms the injection points and dosing and provides you with aftercare instructions.
Step 5 — Follow-Up Review We schedule a follow-up appointment 2 weeks after the treatment to assess the full result once the Botox has settled completely. This review allows us to confirm the outcome, assess symmetry, and administer a small additional dose if any refinement is needed.
Combining Gummy Smile Botox with Other Treatments
For patients whose gummy smile is influenced not only by hyperactive muscles but also by a naturally short or thin upper lip, combining gummy smile Botox with a carefully placed lip filler treatment can deliver an especially refined and comprehensive result. The Botox reduces the muscular elevation of the upper lip, while the filler adds subtle volume and length to the lip itself — providing additional coverage of the gum tissue and enhancing the overall shape and balance of the smile.
At Beverly Hills Speciality Center, we take a holistic approach to smile aesthetics — assessing all contributing factors and, where appropriate, recommending a thoughtfully combined treatment plan that delivers the most natural and harmonious correction possible.
Is Gummy Smile Botox Safe?
Gummy smile Botox is a very safe and well-established treatment when performed by a qualified, experienced medical professional with a thorough understanding of the anatomy of the upper lip and the muscles that govern its movement.
The primary safety consideration specific to this treatment is the precision of injection placement and dosing. Incorrect placement of Botox in the upper lip region can affect adjacent muscles — potentially causing temporary asymmetry in the smile or affecting lip movement more broadly than intended. This is why the experience and anatomical knowledge of the treating physician is of paramount importance.
At Beverly Hills Speciality Center, every gummy smile treatment is performed by our licensed aesthetic physicians — practitioners who understand the fine anatomical detail of the perioral region and who use precise dosing and placement to achieve a result that is both effective and entirely natural-looking.
have a question?
Frequently Asked Questions About Gummy Smile Botox
How much Botox is needed to treat a gummy smile?
The dose required is typically very small — usually between 2 and 4 units of Botox per side, depending on the strength and activity of the patient’s upper lip elevator muscles. Your physician will determine the appropriate dose during your consultation and assessment.
Will gummy smile Botox affect my smile or facial expressions?
When performed correctly and with the appropriate dose, gummy smile Botox should not affect the natural quality or expressiveness of your smile. The treatment subtly reduces the range of upper lip elevation without freezing the muscle or preventing normal movement. Your smile will look natural — just better proportioned.
Is the treatment painful?
he injections are made with an ultra-fine needle and are very brief. Most patients describe the sensation as a mild pinch lasting a fraction of a second. Topical numbing cream is available for patients who prefer it, though most find it unnecessary for this particular treatment.
How quickly will I see results?
Initial improvement is typically visible within 3 to 5 days of the injections. The full and final result is established within 7 to 14 days as the Botox fully settles into the targeted muscles.
Can gummy smile Botox be reversed?
Because Botox is a temporary treatment, the effects naturally and completely resolve as the product wears off — usually over 3 to 6 months. There is no permanent intervention required and no irreversible change made. If a patient is ever unhappy with the result, they simply wait for the Botox to wear off naturally.
Am I suitable for gummy smile Botox if my gummy smile is severe?
Gummy smile Botox is most effective for patients whose gummy smile is caused primarily by hyperactive upper lip elevator muscles. For patients with very severe gummy smiles caused by structural jaw or dental factors, a combination approach or referral to an orthodontist or maxillofacial specialist may be more appropriate. Our physician will assess this honestly during your consultation.
Can gummy smile Botox be combined with lip fillers?
Yes — and for many patients, this combination delivers the most comprehensive and refined correction. Lip filler adds volume and length to the upper lip, providing additional gum coverage and enhancing the overall shape of the smile — working in harmony with the muscle-relaxing effect of the Botox.
How soon can I wear lipstick or makeup after gummy smile Botox?
We recommend avoiding applying makeup or lipstick directly to the injection sites for at least 4 hours following treatment to allow the injection points to close fully. After this period, normal makeup use can resume.
