Do you have a gummy smile? If so, Botox can help.
What is a gummy smile?
A gummy smile is a condition seen in some people when they smile. Normally when you smile your teeth show. This is because you use muscles around the mouth. One of them pulls your upper lip upward towards your nose allowing your teeth to show. This muscle is called LLSAN, which stands for levator labii superioris alaeque nasi. In Latin this means the muscle beside the nose that lifts the upper lip. Some people have a strong LLSAN muscle and in these people the muscle lift the upper lip so high that the gums above the upper lip show when they smile.
What is Botox?
Botox is a purified protein used to treat wrinkles caused by facial expressions such as horizontal forehead wrinkles, frown lines between your eyebrows, and crow’s feet around your eyes. Botox can also be used for other things such as treating a gummy smile. Botox works by relaxing muscles. Botox is a fast, safe, and easy treatment with outstanding results. Dr. Alex uses a painless injection technique for Botox to make it comfortable. You’ll see the results of your Botox treatment in as early as a few days (but it could take up to two weeks to see the full results of your Botox treatment) and most people enjoy the results of their Botox treatment for three to four months.
How does Botox work to treat a gummy smile?
Botox works to treat the gummy smile in the same way that it works to treat wrinkles: by relaxing muscles. In the case of the gummy smile, a small amount of Botox (two to four units per side) is placed under the skin on either side of the nose. When Botox is placed here it relaxes the LLSAN muscle. This is the muscle that lifts your upper lip when you smile. When this muscle is relaxed with Botox it won’t lift your upper lip as much so your gums won’t be visible when you smile. We will take pictures of you smiling before your Botox treatment to monitor your results. Dr. Alex recommends starting with two units of Botox per side and looking at your results two weeks later. If you still can see your gums when you smile, you can receive two more units of Botox per side. Once you know how many units of Botox are required for you, you can simply get that dose the next time.
Botox is an easy and rewarding treatment for people with a gummy smile and can be done when having Botox treatments on other areas of the face, neck, or body.
Dr. Alex has performed over 10,000 cosmetic treatments with many satisfied patients. Contact us to schedule an appointment for a free consultation with Dr. Alex in our Encino, CA office.