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Botox
Can Botox be used to fix my gummy smile?
You are correct in that Botox can be a quick, but temporary, fix to a gummy smile. An injection on each side of your nose with a small number of units can help to relax the muscle that pulls the upper lip, resulting in less lip elevation and subsequently a less gummy smile. Results take about 1-2 weeks to show and typically last 3-4 months. Treatment in this area is considered off-label and I encourage you to find an experienced, board-certified injector to address your specific concerns.
Clinical Context
A gummy smile often results from overactive upper lip muscles near the nose, especially the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi, which lifts the lip higher than usual when smiling. Botox works by temporarily blocking the nerve signals that tell this muscle to contract, so it pulls less strongly and the lip rises less, showing less gum. Because the muscle isn't paralyzed, some natural movement remains. As nerve function returns over time, the effect fades and the smile gradually returns to its original pattern.
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