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How can Botox® and Restylane Kysse® help with a gummy smile?

B Well Med Spa | Plano, TX

Learn how a gummy smile can be treated with a combination of neurotoxins and filler for a very subtle, natural end result.

Treated with 4 units of Botox and 0.5mL of Restylane Kysse

What is a gummy smile?

If you notice that when you smile, your upper lip curls under to exposure your gums, you may have what is known as a "gummy smile." Technically defined, a gummy smile is when smiling reveals more than 3mm of the upper gums.


The smile is a key component to the overall balance of your face, making it an area of concern for many patients. Fortunately, there is a non-invasive and affordable way to correct it with no downtime!


How is it treated?

The three muscles which control the lifting of the upper lip are the levator labii superioris (LLS), the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi (LLSAN), and the zygomaticus minor (Zm). These all converge at one point on each side of the face called the Yonsei point. To relax these muscles, we inject a small amount of botulinum toxin (2-4 units per side). This prevents that over-pulling of the upper lip. This a great alternative to surgical correction and has been shown to be safer, faster, and just as effective as procedures such as gingivoplasty [1]


Depending on the patient's goals, we can also add a small amount of filler (such as Restylane® Kysse) to add additional fullness and volume.




How long does it last?

You can expect to notice results starting 2-10 days after treatment, with the full effect settling in by day 14. The results of Botox typically last around 3 months but for some patients can last as long as 6 months [1]. This just depends on how fast your body metabolizes the compound and varies from person to person.


Is this the same as a "lip flip?"

Here at B Well Med Spa, we actually don't do lip flips. Why? We weight every treatment with a risk and benefit analysis to decide what we feel is in the best interest of our patients! With a lip flip, injectors will place Botox right at the border of the upper lip. While this does relax the muscle and "flip" the top lip out to give a fuller appearance, we find that the risk of side effects is too great. Many patients will experience more of a feeling of paralysis preventing them from being able to do everyday tasks such as drinking from a straw. Injecting at the Yonsei point instead (what we do here) still relaxes the upper lip without as big of a risk for these kinds of side effects!

Am I a good candidate?

If you have a "gummy smile" and it is something hindering your confidence, you are a great candidate for this treatment! The only contraindications to being treated with botulinum are pregnancy; lactation; hypersensitivity (allergy) to botulinum toxin itself; lactose and albumin; muscle and neurodegenerative diseases (myasthenia gravis and Charcot's disease), and concurrent use of aminoglycoside antibiotic that enhances the action of the toxin [2].


Schedule a consultation with us at B Well Med Spa to learn more!

Sources

1. Pedron, I. G., & Mangano, A. (2018). Gummy Smile Correction Using Botulinum Toxin With Respective Gingival Surgery. Journal of dentistry (Shiraz, Iran), 19(3), 248–252.

2. Jaspers GW, Pijpe J, Jansma J. The use of botulinum toxin type A in cosmetic facial procedures. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2011;40: 127–133.

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