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Are There Side Effects of Medical Aesthetic Applications? Safe Beauty Guide
08/01/2026Highlights
- A gummy smile is a condition in which the gums are clearly visible when smiling.
- The cause is usually overactivity of the muscles that lift the upper lip.
- Botox balances the smile by softening the movement of these muscles.
- The article explains how it is combined with lip fillers and how long the results last.
Gummy Smile Treatment with Botox: Free Your Smile
Laughter is the most natural, sincere and powerful means of communication. However, many people feel the need to cover their mouth with their hands when laughing or smiling. This is usually not because of the condition of the teeth, but because the gums (gingiva) are excessively visible during smiling, beyond aesthetic limits.
Gummy Smile Treatment with Botox
It is called “Gingival Display” in the medical literature Gummy Smile (This condition, known as "gingival smile", can seriously damage a person's self-confidence. While in the past, painful gum cuts (gingivectomy) or complex jaw surgeries were required to solve this problem, today the magic wand of medical aesthetics Botox, can solve this problem in minutes. As Dr. Melis Ulger, Istanbul, Kadikoy‘In this comprehensive guide, I will explain how we treat this condition, which disrupts smile aesthetics, without using a scalpel, only with millimetric touches to the right muscles and how we give our patients their free smile back.
What is a Gummy Smile? Is it an Aesthetic Defect?
In an ideal smile, the upper lip should be just above or at most 1-2 millimeters above the gingival margin where the teeth meet. If your upper lip is pulled too far over your teeth when you smile and more than 3-4 millimeters of gum tissue is visible, this is called a “Gummy Smile”. This situation causes the teeth to be perceived shorter than they are, the facial proportions to be distorted and the aesthetic balance of the smile to be lost. This condition, which is more common in women than men, is actually not a health problem, but an anatomical variation; however, it plays an important role in aesthetic perception.
Why Does It Occur? Anatomical Factors Disturbing Smile Aesthetics
In order to properly plan the treatment of Gummy Smile, it is necessary to understand the source of the problem. There are usually three main reasons behind this condition:
Hyperactive Muscles Excessive Mobility of the Upper Lip
En yaygın neden (%80 oranında), üst dudağı yukarı kaldıran kasların (özellikle Levator Labii Superioris Alaeque Nasi - LLSAN muscle) is working too strongly and actively. Even if you want to smile slightly, these “hyperactive” muscles pull the lip up too high and too fast like a curtain. This group is the main target of Botox treatment.
Short Upper Lip and Gingival Structure
In some people, the upper lip tissue is structurally short. Even if the muscles function normally, the lip is not enough to cover the gums. In addition, in cases where the teeth have not fully erupted (passive eruption), the gums are more visible because the tooth length remains short.
Jawbone Development (Skeletal Causes)
Overgrowth of the upper jaw bone (maxilla) in the vertical direction (Vertical Maxillary Excess) causes the gums and teeth to be positioned lower. In this case, Botox alone may not be sufficient and orthodontic or surgical support may be required.
How Does Gummy Smile Treatment with Botox Work?
Non-surgical Gummy Smile treatment Botox, works on the principle of “muscle modulation”. In other words, it does not paralyze the muscle, it only smooths the excessive contraction force.
Defining the Target Muscle Correctly: LLSAN Muscle
The LLSAN muscle, which is located right next to the wings of the nose and hangs the lip up, is the key point of treatment. When very low doses of Botox are injected into this muscle (usually 2-4 units on each side), the contractile strength of the muscle weakens. As a result, when you smile, the muscle cannot pull the lip up as much as before. The lip remains at an ideal level, at or just above the gum line.
Big Change with Two Small Touches
The procedure is completed with an injection in two strategic points, called the “Yonsei Point”, usually next to the wings of the nose. The injection in the right spot only reduces the visibility of the gums while maintaining the natural symmetry of the smile. The person's speech, eating and drinking or facial expressions (surprise, sadness, etc.) are not affected by this procedure.
Treatment Process: A New Smile in 10 Minutes
Kadikoy‘Gummy Smile Botox is one of the fastest and most comfortable procedures in our clinic in Istanbul, Turkey.
- Preparation: The application area is cleaned and anesthetic cream is applied if necessary (most of the time it is not necessary because the procedure takes seconds).
- Implementation: Thin-tipped needles are used to inject into the designated muscle points. The patient feels only a slight mosquito bite.
- The post: No bleeding, bruising or swelling is expected. The patient can return to social life immediately.
Is There Pain and Healing Process?
No, Gummy Smile Botox is a “lunch break” procedure. Unlike surgical methods such as gum cutting (gingivectomy), there are no stitches, bleeding or downtime.
When is the effect seen?
The biological effect of Botox starts within 3-4 days, as in other areas. It becomes evident on the 7th day and Day 14 (week 2) the final result settles. During this time, you will notice that your smile is gradually changing and that your lip now covers your gums.
Gummy Smile Botox and Lip Filler Combination
Sometimes it's not just muscle hyperactivity that's the problem; an upper lip that is too thin and lacks volume can also cause gums to show. In this case, in addition to Gummy Smile Botox Lip Fillers application gives excellent results. When the lip is given a slight volume and eversion with filling, the lip tissue covers the gum better. This combined treatment is called “Smile Design”.
Permanence and Repeatability of Treatment
The area around the lips is the most active area of the face due to activities such as speaking and eating. Therefore, the lifespan of Botox in this area may be slightly shorter than in the forehead or between the eyebrows. Usually the effect 3 to 5 months between the time the effect wears off. When the effect starts to wear off, the lip slowly starts to lift up again. Since muscle memory weakens with regular applications, the duration of permanence may increase over time.
Possible Side Effects and Cautions
Gummy Smile botox is extremely safe in experienced hands. However, applications to the wrong spot or overdose;
- Excessive drooping of the upper lip (no teeth visible at all),
- Smile asymmetry,
- Restricted mouth movements (such as not being able to use a straw) can lead to problems.
Therefore, it must be applied by a physician who has a good command of anatomy.
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Smile Design and Aesthetic Approach in our Clinic in Kadikoy
Kadikoy‘At our clinic in Istanbul, we do not see Gummy Smile treatment as just a botox procedure. We analyze your smile dynamics, measure your muscle strength and look at your tooth-lip harmony. Our aim is not to make you “unable to smile”; on the contrary, it is to ensure that you can smile with confidence, without hesitation and in your most natural state. The positive change that a small touch creates in facial expression is priceless.
Contact Now for a Holistic Approach to Your Health
As Dr. Melis Ülger Clinic, we prioritize reliability and natural results in medical aesthetic applications. We help you achieve a more vibrant, balanced and healthy appearance by tailoring the methods used specifically to your needs. For a comfortable and safe experience contact us.
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Botox Treatment
You can have this procedure done at Dr. Melis Ülger’s office in Kadıköy Caddebostan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a gummy smile?
In an ideal smile, the upper lip sits no more than 1–2 mm above the gum line. If more than 3–4 millimeters of gum tissue is visible when smiling, this is called a "gummy smile." The term used in the medical literature is "gingival display.".
What is the most common cause?
Yaklaşık %80 oranında üst dudağı yukarı kaldıran kasların, özellikle LLSAN kasının, gereğinden fazla güçlü ve aktif çalışmasıdır. Botoks tedavisinin ana hedefi bu kas grubudur.
Could there be any other cause besides a muscle issue?
Yes. In some people, the upper lip tissue is structurally short, and even if the muscles function normally, it is not long enough to cover the gums. In cases of passive eruption, where the teeth have not fully erupted, the gums also appear more prominent.
Is this a health issue?
According to the article, no; it is an anatomical variation and is more common in women than in men. However, because it plays a significant role in aesthetic perception, it can affect a person’s self-confidence.
How was it treated in the past?
In the past, procedures such as gum surgery (gingivectomy) or jaw surgery were required to resolve this issue. Botox addresses this problem without surgery through millimeter-precise injections into the correct muscles.
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