Gummy Smile Treatment in Surat

A gummy smile is when more than about three millimetres of gum shows above the upper teeth when you smile. A few units of Botox into the muscles that lift the upper lip reduce how far the lip travels, so less gum is exposed. At Elegance Clinic in Surat the treatment takes about 5 minutes, shows at 3 to 7 days and lasts 3 to 4 months.

What Causes a Gummy Smile?

A gummy smile, known medically as excessive gingival display, has more than one cause and the right treatment depends on which one you have.

• Hyperactive lip elevator muscles. The levator labii superioris alaeque nasi and its neighbours pull the upper lip up too far. This is the most common cause and the one Botox treats well.
• A short upper lip. The lip simply does not have enough length to cover the gum. Botox helps a little, filler can help more.
• Altered passive eruption. The gum sits low over the teeth. This is a dental problem corrected by a dentist.
• Vertical maxillary excess. The upper jaw is long. This is a skeletal issue and only surgery changes it.

At your consultation Dr. Ashutosh Shah will watch your smile carefully and tell you which of these applies. If Botox is not the answer for your anatomy, you will be told that directly rather than sold a treatment that will disappoint you.

How Botox Treats a Gummy Smile

Botox is a purified botulinum toxin type A. One to two units are placed on each side into the Yonsei point, where the lip elevator muscles converge beside the nose. Relaxing them slightly shortens the upward travel of the lip, so the smile still reaches full width but exposes two to four millimetres less gum.

The dose here is deliberately tiny. This is one of the areas where a unit or two in either direction changes the outcome, which is why it should be treated by a doctor who understands the muscle anatomy of the midface.

The Treatment, Step by Step

1. Assessment of your smile at rest, in a social smile and in a full laugh, with the gum display measured.
2. The cause identified and the plan explained, including whether Botox alone is right for you.
3. Numbing cream for comfort.
4. One small injection on each side beside the nose, taking about 5 minutes.
5. Review at two weeks so the dose can be fine tuned.

Results, Downtime and How Long It Lasts

There is no downtime. The effect starts at 3 to 7 days and settles by two weeks. Results last 3 to 4 months, and the interval often lengthens with repeat treatment.

For 24 hours afterwards avoid rubbing the area, heavy exercise, saunas and facial massage.

Risks and Who Should Not Have It

The commonest unwanted effect is a smile that feels slightly less wide or a temporary asymmetry, which happens when the dose is too high or placed unevenly. It is temporary. It is also the main reason this area is treated conservatively at the first sitting, with a review rather than a large first dose.

Treatment is postponed or avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding, active infection at the injection site, certain neuromuscular disorders, and known allergy to a component of the product.

Gummy Smile Treatment Cost in Surat

Because only a few units are needed, this is one of the least expensive areas to treat. A price is quoted after your face to face assessment, before anything is injected, and EMI options are available.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much gum showing counts as a gummy smile?

More than about three millimetres of gum visible above the upper teeth during a full smile is generally considered excessive gingival display.

How many units of Botox does a gummy smile need?

Usually one to two units per side. It is a very small dose in a precise location.

Will my smile look strange?

Not at a correct dose. The aim is a smile that reaches the same width while showing less gum. Over treating is what causes a flat or uneven smile, and that is why the dose is kept conservative and reviewed.

Can filler be used instead?

Filler placed in the upper lip can help when the lip is short, by adding a little length and volume. It is often combined with Botox. See upper lip treatment with fillers.

Is it permanent?

No. It lasts 3 to 4 months and is repeated. Only dental or surgical correction changes a gummy smile permanently, and only when the cause is dental or skeletal.

Is Botox for a gummy smile safe, and who should avoid it?

The commonest unwanted effect is a smile that feels slightly less wide, or a temporary asymmetry, which happens when the dose is too high or placed unevenly. It is temporary, and it is why this area is treated conservatively at the first sitting with a review rather than a large first dose. Treatment is postponed or avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding, active infection at the injection site, certain neuromuscular disorders, and known allergy to a component of the product.

How much does gummy smile treatment cost in Surat?

Because only a few units are needed, a gummy smile is one of the least expensive areas to treat. Elegance Clinic quotes a price after your face to face assessment, before anything is injected, and EMI options are available.

Book a Gummy Smile Consultation in Surat

Gummy smile Botox at Elegance Clinic is performed by Dr. Ashutosh Shah, M.B.B.S., M.S., M.Ch., D.N.B., a board certified plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon with over 22 years of surgical experience, at our Adajan clinic in Surat. Book an appointment or browse all Botox treatments in Surat.