New York Cosmetic, Skin & Laser Surgery Center

Gummy Smile Treatment

At New York Cosmetic, Skin & Laser Surgery Center, we have treated more than 100,000 patients. We offer gummy smile treatment in Long Island at our Garden City office using carefully placed Botox injections to reduce excess gum show while preserving a natural, expressive smile.

Gummy Smile Treatment in Long Island

Q: How do I know whether Botox or gum surgery is better for my gummy smile?

The answer depends on why your gums show. Botox for gummy smile is best suited to excess gum display caused mainly by strong upper-lip elevation. Excess gum tissue, tooth position, or upper-jaw anatomy may need periodontal, orthodontic, or surgical treatment instead. We examine your smile movement first and recommend referral when the cause is not primarily muscular.

Q: Can lip filler fix a gummy smile?

Lip filler for gummy smile can help selected patients when a thin or short-looking upper lip contributes to gum exposure. Products such as Juvederm add volume and structural support; they do not relax the upper-lip muscles like Botox. Some patients benefit from filler and Botox together, while others need only one treatment. The choice depends on your lip anatomy and smile movement.

Q: How long does gummy smile Botox last?

Gummy smile Botox generally lasts about three to four months. Your duration can vary based on muscle strength, dose, metabolism, and prior treatment history. The effect fades gradually as normal muscle activity returns. If you want to maintain the result, we reassess your smile before each treatment and adjust the injection pattern when needed.

Q: Is there downtime after gummy smile treatment?

There is usually little to no downtime after gummy smile treatment. Most patients resume normal daily activities immediately. Mild redness, tenderness, swelling, or bruising can occur around an injection point. Results do not appear instantly. You will usually notice the treatment beginning within several days, with the full cosmetic effect developing at about two weeks.

A More Balanced Smile in Minutes

A gummy smile treatment in Garden City, Long Island can help when too much upper gum shows during a full smile. The cause matters. Excessive gingival display may come from an overactive upper lip, a short or thin upper lip, excess gum tissue, tooth position, or the shape of the upper jaw. Many patients like their teeth but feel that their gums become the focus of photographs or conversations. We first identify what is causing the gum show before recommending treatment.

For a muscle-driven gummy smile, Botox for gummy smile temporarily relaxes the small muscles that lift the upper lip. This limits how far the lip rises without adding volume. A lip flip for gummy smile may also help selected patients by allowing slightly more of the upper lip to show. If a thin upper lip contributes to the concern, lip filler may be discussed separately. We examine your lip at rest, while speaking, and during a full smile before choosing injection points and dose.

The treatment itself takes only a few minutes. We cleanse the skin, cool the area, and use a very fine needle to place small injections above the upper lip. Most appointments take about 10 to 15 minutes. There are no incisions, stitches, or surgical recovery. Botox treatment for a gummy smile is an off-label cosmetic use, so careful patient selection and detailed knowledge of facial anatomy are especially relevant around the mouth.

Why Precision Matters for Gummy Smile Botox

Dr. Cameron Rokhsar brings more than 20 years of dermatology and cosmetic surgery experience to gummy smile correction. He is double board-certified in dermatology and micrographic dermatologic surgery and fellowship-trained in laser and dermatologic surgery. He graduated from Harvard College and NYU School of Medicine before completing fellowship training under Dr. Richard Fitzpatrick. Treatment takes place only millimeters from muscles involved in smiling, speaking, drinking, and lip movement, so detailed facial anatomy matters.

The muscles around the upper lip are small and highly expressive. Excess product or poor placement can change the way the lip moves. Dr. Rokhsar is an Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, where he teaches cosmetic dermatology to residents. He has also trained physicians for Allergan, Galderma, and Merz, companies behind major injectable products. His approach is based on watching your facial movement rather than treating every gummy smile with the same injection pattern.

Our evaluation also looks beyond Botox alone. Dr. Rokhsar was involved in developing Fraxel technology and pioneered the non-surgical nose job using injectable filler. That background in facial proportions helps us decide whether muscle relaxation, a lip flip, carefully selected lip filler, or another approach better matches your anatomy. Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, Jeuveau, and Daxxify are available in our practice. Dr. Rokhsar has particular experience using neuromodulators around the upper lip while preserving natural expression.

Good candidates for gummy smile treatment are adults whose excess gum display is mainly related to an upper lip that rises too strongly when smiling. Botox cannot remove excess gum tissue, reposition teeth, or correct significant upper-jaw anatomy. Those causes may require evaluation by a dentist, periodontist, orthodontist, or oral surgeon. Our Garden City office is located at 901 Stewart Avenue and is Quad A accredited for patient safety and quality-of-care standards.

Gummy Smile Treatment Before and After

* Results May Vary.

How Long Does Gummy Smile Treatment Last?

Most patients begin noticing a change within several days after gummy smile Botox, with the full effect developing at about two weeks. The upper lip should still move naturally, but it does not rise as far during a full smile. As less gum becomes visible, the relationship between the upper lip, teeth, and gumline can look more balanced. The goal is not to change your smile into someone else’s. We want the improvement to look believable both at rest and in motion.

Botox results commonly last about three to four months, although duration varies with dose, muscle strength, metabolism, and individual response. Other neuromodulators may have somewhat different timelines. When the effect gradually wears off, normal muscle activity returns and the upper lip begins lifting higher again. Patients who like their result can return for maintenance treatment. We reassess movement at each visit rather than automatically repeating the same dose.

Some patients also ask about lip filler for gummy smile or Juvederm for gummy smile. Filler works differently from Botox. It adds volume and support rather than relaxing the muscles that lift the lip. It can be useful when a thin or short-looking upper lip contributes to the overall appearance, but it is not the right answer for every gummy smile. When appropriate, a small amount of filler can be planned alone or with neuromodulator treatment after we examine your lips, teeth, gums, and smile movement.

Gummy Smile Treatment Downtime or Side Effects

There is little to no downtime after non-surgical gummy smile treatment in Long Island. Most patients return to work, errands, meals, and normal social plans the same day. Small injection marks or mild redness can appear briefly around the upper lip. Bruising is less common but can occur with any injection. The short appointment and limited recovery are major reasons patients choose Botox when excessive lip movement is the main cause of their gummy smile.

Temporary side effects may include redness, tenderness, swelling, bruising, or a feeling of tightness as the neuromodulator begins working. Because the upper lip plays a role in smiling, speaking, drinking, and forming certain sounds, overly strong treatment can temporarily affect normal lip movement. Careful dosing is particularly relevant in this area. We discuss these risks before treatment and choose the dose based on your anatomy and the strength of your upper-lip muscles.

After treatment, avoid rubbing or pressing firmly on the injected area for the rest of the day. We may also recommend avoiding strenuous exercise for the first several hours. Follow the instructions provided at your appointment because recommendations can vary with the product and injection pattern used. The effect develops gradually rather than immediately. We typically judge the final result at about two weeks, once the neuromodulator has reached its full effect.

Long Island Gummy Smile Treatment FAQs

How do I know whether Botox or gum surgery is better for my gummy smile?

The answer depends on why your gums show. Botox for gummy smile is best suited to excess gum display caused mainly by strong upper-lip elevation. Excess gum tissue, tooth position, or upper-jaw anatomy may need periodontal, orthodontic, or surgical treatment instead. We examine your smile movement first and recommend referral when the cause is not primarily muscular.

Can lip filler fix a gummy smile?

Lip filler for gummy smile can help selected patients when a thin or short-looking upper lip contributes to gum exposure. Products such as Juvederm add volume and structural support; they do not relax the upper-lip muscles like Botox. Some patients benefit from filler and Botox together, while others need only one treatment. The choice depends on your lip anatomy and smile movement.

How long does gummy smile Botox last?

Gummy smile Botox generally lasts about three to four months. Your duration can vary based on muscle strength, dose, metabolism, and prior treatment history. The effect fades gradually as normal muscle activity returns. If you want to maintain the result, we reassess your smile before each treatment and adjust the injection pattern when needed.

Will gummy smile Botox affect the way I smile or speak?

Properly dosed treatment is intended to reduce excessive upper-lip elevation while keeping your smile expressive. Because these muscles also participate in speaking and drinking, too much neuromodulator can temporarily change lip movement. Dr. Rokhsar evaluates your smile in motion and uses conservative placement around the mouth rather than treating every patient with the same dose.

Is there downtime after gummy smile treatment?

There is usually little to no downtime after gummy smile treatment. Most patients resume normal daily activities immediately. Mild redness, tenderness, swelling, or bruising can occur around an injection point. Results do not appear instantly. You will usually notice the treatment beginning within several days, with the full cosmetic effect developing at about two weeks.

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Common Body Areas We Treat

From your face to your feet, we offer precise, physician-performed treatments for every area of your body. Whether you’re targeting wrinkles, scars, unwanted hair, or skin concerns, Dr. Rokhsar and our team provide customized care to achieve natural, lasting results.