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Aesthetic Medicine · For Him

Gummy smile in men — a discreet correction of the smile line

Gummy smile can now be corrected without a scalpel. One session at the salon, a few minutes, zero downtime. The result is discreet: you leave with the same smile, just without the visible gum line.

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If you've spent years avoiding an open smile in photos, or you tend to hold the camera slightly lower during calls, you know what this is about. Gummy smile is when smiling reveals a clear band of gum above the teeth. There's nothing anatomically wrong here. It comes down to the strength of the muscle that lifts the upper lip, and the length of the lip itself. The issue is that this muscle works too hard, or the lip is too short to cover the gum during a full smile. A few years ago, surgery was the only option. Today, botulinum toxin — precisely injected at one point — is enough. The muscle slows down, the lip drops by a few millimetres, and the gums stop showing. Below, we cover exactly how it works, what it looks like, and what to expect.

What causes gummy smile

The mechanism is simple. When you smile, the levator labii superioris — one of the facial expression muscles — lifts your upper lip. In most people, the lip covers the gums almost completely. But if the muscle is overactive, or the lip's anatomy doesn't provide enough "overlap", a full smile reveals a visible band of gum. Gummy smile is diagnosed when this band exceeds 2–3 mm. Four millimetres or more is a clear effect — one people start to notice, and one you start thinking about mid-conversation.

There can be several causes: overactive facial muscles, a short upper lip, vertical overdevelopment of the upper jaw, or a combination of these factors. In men, the dominant cause is muscle overactivity — and this is exactly the cause that responds best to botulinum toxin treatment, with no surgical intervention required.

How the correction works — the mechanics of the treatment

The treatment involves injecting a small dose of botulinum toxin around the levator labii superioris muscle — on both sides, symmetrically. The toxin partially blocks the nerve signal to the muscle: the muscle doesn't stop working, but it loses some strength. As a result, it lifts the lip less forcefully and less high during a smile. The effect is a few millimetres of difference in the position of the upper lip — enough for the gums to stop showing.

This matters: the smile stays. This isn't about blocking the muscle to create an expressionless mask. It's about subtly limiting the upward range of motion. After the treatment, you smile just as naturally as before — your gums simply don't take centre stage.

  1. 01

    step

    Medical consultation — we assess your anatomy, muscle strength and expected result. The doctor marks the exact injection points.

  2. 02

    step

    Treatment — a few injections with a fine needle on both sides of the upper lip. The whole thing takes minutes.

  3. 03

    step

    First days — no visible changes yet. The toxin starts working gradually, over 3–5 days.

  4. 04

    step

    Full results — visible after around 10–14 days. This is the moment for a follow-up and any fine-tuning of symmetry.

  5. 05

    step

    Maintenance — the effect lasts a few months and fades on its own, with no permanent changes.

Who this works best for

The treatment gives the best results when the cause of gummy smile is overactivity of the levator labii muscle — the most common cause in men. The doctor assesses this at the first visit, simply by observing the strength and range of motion during a smile. If the lip lifts too high during a full smile, Botox limits that range.

Optimal indication

predictable results

  • overactive levator labii superioris muscle
  • gummy smile of 3–8 mm
  • lip anatomy without extreme shortness

Borderline indication

consultation decides

  • very short upper lip (incomplete correction)
  • vertical overdevelopment of the jaw (may require orthodontic treatment)
  • significant facial asymmetry requiring a staged approach

What it looks like in practice — zero downtime, discreet result

The biggest worry is usually the same: that someone will notice. The answer is clear — no one will notice, because there's nothing to notice. A few injections with a fine needle around the lip, possibly some mild redness for a few minutes after the treatment, and you walk out as normal. No bruising, no swelling, no "frozen Joker smile". The result builds up over the first 1–2 weeks — all people around you see is that you've started avoiding photos a little less.

For the first 24 hours: skip intense exercise, saunas and alcohol — increased circulation can disperse the product and encourage bruising. Otherwise, you go straight back to your normal day. No liquid diet, no dressings, no week off at home.

The effect is temporary — it lasts a few months and gradually fades. The muscle returns to its previous activity, and the lip returns to its previous range of motion. If the result suits you, the treatment can be repeated. If you decide it's not for you, nothing permanent has been done.

Gummy smile and facial aesthetics — the wider picture

Gummy smile rarely exists in isolation. In men who come in for a smile-line correction, the doctor often notices other elements worth discussing: overactive frown lines, brow asymmetry, or tension in the masseter caused by bruxism. This isn't a lead-in to a forced "treatment package" — but a good doctor looks at the face as a whole and tells you what they see.

Correcting a gummy smile is one of several precise botulinum toxin treatments available for men — each one targets a specific muscle, and each has a different effect. Botox in the masseter relaxes tension from bruxism. Botox in the forehead reduces a tired expression. Botox in the upper lip limits gummy smile. This isn't "anti-ageing" — it's the regulation of specific mechanisms.