A proper smile is rarely a carefully arranged one. If your upper lip rises high and shows more gum than you would like, gummy smile Botox can reduce that upward pull.
The aim is to let you smile fully with less gum showing. It is a small adjustment to how high your lip travels, without changing your teeth or removing gum tissue. You can discuss how much gum you would prefer to show with Dr Alex, whether it bothers you in photographs or every time you catch yourself laughing in the mirror.
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Treatment with Dr Alex, who teaches botulinum toxin techniques to doctors, dentists and nurses and has presented on these treatments at UK and international professional meetings.
Your smile
A small change you notice in a big smile
You might like everything about your smile apart from how much gum appears above your upper teeth.
More gum in photographs
Your top lip rises high
You want to understand the options
At a glance
The details you'll want to know
Treatment focuses on the movement of the upper lip.
What can change?
Smile fully, with less gum showing
You should still be able to smile. The intended change is how high the upper lip travels.
When excessive lip movement is the main cause, treatment can reduce the strip of gum visible above the teeth. Dr Alex looks at your full smile as well as the smaller smile you might use in a photograph.
The amount of reduction depends on your starting anatomy. The goal is an improvement that suits your smile, rather than trying to hide every bit of gum.
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Finding the cause
Is your upper lip doing most of the lifting?
A gummy smile can have more than one cause, so the right treatment starts with looking at the whole smile.
Your preference
You do not have to hide all your gums
Some gum showing is a normal part of many smiles. Treatment is an option if you want to reduce it, with the amount of change agreed at your consultation.
How it works
Reducing how high the upper lip rises
Gummy smile Botox treats muscle movement rather than removing gum tissue.
Botulinum toxin temporarily reduces the activity of selected muscles that lift the upper lip. With less upward pull, the lip can cover more of the gum when you smile.
It does not change your teeth, jaw position or the amount of gum tissue. Those features help determine whether treating the lip movement will give you the result you want.
Your appointment
A consultation with plenty of smiling
Dr Alex needs to see the smile you use in real life, not just a quick pose.
Look at the full smile
Discuss the change you want
Small injections beside the upper lip
Watch the smile settle
Why Dr Alex?
Experience with toxin, attention to your smile
Dr Alex has presented on botulinum toxin at professional meetings in the UK and internationally, as well as teaching doctors, dentists and nurses how to use it. His experience includes explaining how muscle treatment changes facial expression, which is especially relevant when treating a smile.
Here, he considers how far your upper lip travels, how evenly it moves and how your teeth and gums contribute to what you see. You can discuss the amount of gum you would like to show without being steered towards one prescribed kind of smile. If the cause would be better addressed by a dentist, he will explain why.
GMC-registered doctor · 7072776
Full Member of BCAM
International toxin trainer
Aesthetics Awards winner 2021
Safety
What side effects should you know about?
Possible changes to your smile, speech and lip movement are explained at consultation.
Possible side effects
Small injection marks, tenderness and bruising can occur. The upper lip may sit lower than intended, or the two sides may move differently. You may notice changes when smiling, drinking or speaking.
An unwanted effect can take weeks or longer to settle as the toxin wears off. Contact SONÜ if your smile feels difficult to use or you are concerned about the result.
When to get urgent help
Difficulty swallowing or breathing, widespread weakness or symptoms of a severe allergic reaction need urgent medical attention. These reactions are rare.
When to postpone or avoid treatment
Botulinum toxin is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. An active infection near the injection sites needs to resolve first. Tell Dr Alex about previous toxin reactions, muscle or nerve conditions, swallowing difficulties and any medicines you take.
Dr Alex assesses the cause of the gum exposure and your medical history before recommending treatment.
Treatment pricing
Gummy smile treatment costs
Gummy smile Botox is £280. Consultation with Dr Alex is £75.
Your questions
Questions about gummy smile Botox
From how it changes your smile to when dental treatment may be a better option.
Will it stop me smiling properly?
Does Botox work for every gummy smile?
Is it the same as a lip flip?
Will all my gum disappear when I smile?
When should I judge the result?
How long does the treatment last?
Does it involve injections into the gums?
What if my smile is already uneven?
Can I have treatment if I have braces or previous dental work?
Can I go back to work afterwards?
Other options
Different lip treatments do different jobs
A lip flip helps more upper lip show. Lip filler adds volume or definition. If the cause lies mainly with your teeth, gums or jaw, Dr Alex may recommend a dental or orthodontic assessment.
Book a consultation
Show us the smile you would like to change
Visit Dr Alex at SONÜ in Hale, Altrincham to discuss how much gum you would like to show and whether gummy smile treatment could help.
SONÜ Medical Aesthetics
34 Hale Road, Hale, Altrincham, WA14 2EX
Doctor-led treatment in a relaxed, private clinic
Close to Hale station and easy to reach from Altrincham, Manchester and Cheshire