Gummy smile botox relaxes the muscles that pull the upper lip upward, chiefly the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi beside the nose, so the lip rises less and shows less gum when you smile. ENTER Plastic Surgery lists it as one area, and with Korean toxin it is ₩110,000 + VAT.
Why gums show when you smile, and which cause Botox treats
A smile that shows a wide band of gum above the upper teeth is called a gummy smile. It has several possible causes, and botulinum toxin acts on just one of them: lip muscles that lift the upper lip higher than average.
| Cause | How it shows | Role of Botox |
|---|---|---|
| Strong lip-lifting muscles | Gum appears mainly with a full smile | Suited: the injection targets them |
| Short upper lip | Some gum shows even at rest | Partial at most |
| Long upper jaw | Long lower face, gum visible at rest | Not suited: needs a jaw assessment |
| Gum covering the teeth | Teeth look short and square | Not suited: needs a dental assessment |
A mirror check helps before you travel. Look with your lips relaxed, then with a full smile. If the gum appears mainly with the full smile, muscle is the likely driver. If gum already shows at rest, or the front teeth look short, a dentist's opinion comes first, since toxin cannot change bone or gum tissue.
Where gummy smile Botox is injected
The muscles that raise the upper lip run from the cheekbone and the side of the nose down into the lip. The point most linked with gummy smile treatment sits in the groove beside each nostril, where several of these muscles meet. A small amount of toxin there weakens the upward pull, while the muscles that close the lips and shape words keep working.
Gum that shows more on one side can be treated with unequal amounts. Because the point lies close to other muscles of expression around the mouth, spread beyond the target can make a smile look flat or the upper lip feel long and heavy until the toxin wears off. A meta-analysis of toxin treatment for facial rejuvenation, covering 16 studies and 42,405 patients, found adverse events more frequent than with placebo, mostly mild to moderate (Jia, 2016); it did not single out the gummy smile area.
The price list carries gummy smile as its own line in all three tiers, Korean toxin, Xeomin and Botox by Allergan, separate from the forehead and other wrinkle areas.
The gummy smile Botox appointment and repeat timing
Smile check
You smile fully and then relax, so the gum show on each side can be seen.
Injecting
The session takes 10–15 minutes and no anesthesia is used; each point feels like a quick pinch.
The first hours
You keep upright for 3–4 hours, wash your face gently that day and wait until the next day for makeup.
The following days
Bruising, swelling, small bumps or stinging can appear for 2–3 days and settle by themselves.
Repeat sessions
Botox at the clinic is repeated at 3–6 month intervals.
The clinic's guidance gives no separate holding time for the gummy smile, so the results of this area are judged on your own smile: when gum starts to show again on a full smile, the effect is wearing off. Flying is fine four hours after the injections, which keeps the treatment compatible with a short stay.
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Immunogenicity to Botulinum Toxin Type A: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis Across Therapeutic IndicationsAesthetic Surgery Journal · 2021 · Rahman E et al. · doi:10.1093/asj/sjab058
A 2021 meta-analysis of 43 studies and 8,833 patients found neutralizing antibodies to botulinum toxin type A in 1.8% of patients, rising with longer treatment; it covered medical as well as cosmetic uses.
- Adverse Events of Botulinum Toxin Type A in Facial Rejuvenation: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisAesthetic Plastic Surgery · 2016 · Jia Z et al. · doi:10.1007/s00266-016-0682-1
A 2016 meta-analysis of 16 studies and 42,405 patients treated for facial rejuvenation found adverse events more frequent than with placebo, mostly mild to moderate, including headache and eyelid symptoms.
FAQ
Gummy smile Botox questions
Does gummy smile Botox change how I talk?
Speech is generally unaffected, because the toxin goes into the muscles that lift the upper lip while the muscles that close the lips and form words keep working. In some people the upper lip feels a little stiff, or the smile looks flatter, until the toxin wears off.
How much is gummy smile Botox in Seoul?
At ENTER Plastic Surgery it is priced as one area, in three tiers: Korean toxin, Xeomin and Botox by Allergan. The Korean toxin price is shown at the top of this page, and every tier is listed before VAT, which adds 10% at payment.
Can Botox fix a gummy smile caused by the jaw?
No. When the upper jaw is long, or the gums cover part of the teeth, gum shows even with the lips relaxed, and relaxing a lip muscle cannot change bone or gum tissue. A dentist or a jaw specialist is the right first opinion in that situation.
How often is gummy smile Botox repeated?
Botox at the clinic is repeated at three- to six-month intervals, and there is no separate figure for the gummy smile. Plan the next session for when gum begins to show again on a full smile, and keep sessions at least as far apart as the clinic advises.
What if my smile looks uneven after the injections?
A slightly uneven lift can happen when the two sides respond differently, and it eases as the toxin wears off. Send the clinic a photo of your smile by WhatsApp so the difference can be assessed and taken into account at the next session.
Is anesthesia used for gummy smile Botox?
No anesthesia is used for Botox at ENTER Plastic Surgery. The injections beside each nostril feel like brief, sharp pinches, and the whole session takes 10 to 15 minutes, so it fits easily into a short visit to Seoul.
Google reviews
Reviews on Google Maps
Great experience! Dr. is very sweet and kind. He listened to what I wanted to fix and correct. He explained everything very well. Wasn’t pushy and didn’t try to sell anything extra. This isn’t a clinic that comes out on instagram, which I…
Jennifer LyuA month agoI came to Enter Plastic Surgery on a friend’s recommendation for under-eye fat repositioning. I was pretty nervous going in, but the doctor took the time to explain what would work for my under-eyes, what the procedure involved, and what…
Michael2 months agoThe staff are incredibly friendly, and the consultation was very thorough. I was very worried since it was my first procedure, but the director explained the aftercare in detail, so I felt completely confident trusting them!!
ROOHEUI SHIN (RHS)2 months ago · Translated by Google