Those who have gotten plastic surgery know how life-changing procedures can be—but even noninvasive treatments like Botox can deliver fairly miraculous results. The muscle movement–restricting neurotoxin can treat everything from excessive sweating and jaw clenching to tech-neck wrinkles and body contouring. One of the most popular procedures of the moment is the lip flip, but as it turns out, that’s not the only way Botox can enhance your smile.
There’s a surprising number of options to treat a range of concerns around the mouth, all of which use just a few units. Because neurotoxins kick in quickly, you don’t have to wait long to see the results—and even better, they can last up to six months. Here, we outline five ways to upgrade a grin with neurotoxin injections.
You want: poutier lips, without filler
As mentioned, one of the most well-known ways that these injections can enhance a smile is via a Botox lip flip. Here’s how it works: “Very small amounts, approximately two to four units, are injected precisely through the vermilion border of the upper lip,” explains Dr. Jamé Heskett, a physician in New York City. The muscle being treated here is the orbicularis oris, which “normally pulls down on the upper lip—similar to when you make “mmmm” sounds,” adds NYC-based board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Shafer.
By treating this muscle very superficially, the top of the lip relaxes and “flips” upward to create a very natural-looking pouty effect. “It can also shorten the distance between the bottom of the nose and the border of the lips, which lengthens as we age,” says Dr. Heskett. Depending on your unique anatomy, this can provide a look similar to that of a surgical lip lift; think of this temporary treatment as a great “test run” before committing to something permanent.
If you’re looking to add a little oomph to your results, you can always pair a lip flip with filler, for added fullness. Just be sure to see a skilled provider for your lip flip—you don’t want to risk having the Botox injection go too deeply into your orbicularis oris and overly restrict its movement. “This muscle is important for eating, speaking, and kissing,” says Dr. Heskett. “No one wants full, sexy lips that can’t kiss!”
You want: a more toothy, less gummy smile
Many muscles are activated when making a smile, but a few in particular can cause an off-kilter gumline-to-teeth ratio. (In case you’re curious, it’s defined by about four or more millimeters of the gumline that is visible when smiling.) Namely, the levator labii superioris and the zygomaticus muscles—which run from the cheekbone or zygomatic bone, hence the name, to the corners of the mouth. According to Dr. Shafer, these muscles pull up on the lip. “When patients smile, the extra pull upward results in gingival show, or gummy smile,” he says. “[Botox] relaxes the muscles and thus decreases the upward pull.”
For this treatment, the injection site is typically what’s referred to as the Yonsei point, where these muscles intersect. If you look at yourself in the mirror, you can find it by drawing a straight line about three centimeters up from the corner of your mouth, one centimeter away from the edge of your nostril.
You want: a more friendly face at rest
If people ask you what’s wrong when you’re perfectly happy or you have what is commonly known as “resting bitch face,” you could be a candidate for this treatment. “Some patients have a frown at rest, from hyperactivity of the depressor anguli oris [DAO] muscles of the lower face,” says Dr. Shafer. This muscle runs from the corners of your mouth to the sides of your lower chin, and over time, clenching your teeth and scowling can strengthen the muscle, resulting in a perma-frown.
By treating the tops of the DAO, it will cause the corners of your mouth to release upward. “The end result is more neutral or smiling-oriented corners of the mouth,” says Dr. Shafer. Again, see an experienced injector for this neurotoxin treatment, because a careful, light touch is key. “[Otherwise,] it can result in a Cheshire Cat smile—always too lifted up—and can affect the overall control of the mouth,” Dr. Heskett says.
You want: smoothed-out smoker’s lines
Though these small vertical lines are often created by chronic smoking, you’ll also see them form after years of sipping through straws and even kissing. The muscle responsible is the aforementioned orbicularis oris, which encircles your entire mouth to help you purse your lips. “By placing very small amounts of Botox at the vermilion border, very superficially, in strategic spots, you can relax the muscle where the lines are being formed, diminishing those wrinkles over time,” says Dr. Heskett. This goes for both the upper and lower lips.
To get the best results, especially if your lines are quite deep, your provider may suggest pairing your neurotoxin injections with a bit of lip filler. If filler’s not your thing, you can also try other wrinkle-smoothing treatments, like laser skin resurfacing or deeper chemical peels, to further fade away the lines. After a few rounds of combination therapy, you may be able to maintain your results with just neurotoxin.
You want: a less pebbly chin when you grin
There are a lot of ways to refer to this concern—cobblestone chin, orange peel chin, pitted chin—but it’s caused by the mentalis muscle, the muscle in your chin that allows you to raise your lower lip (go ahead and sulk at yourself in the mirror to see it in action). “When overactive, this muscle can create dimpling in the chin, which can become permanent over time,” says Dr. Heskett. This bumpy texture can leave the chin looking heavily textured and uneven, detracting from your beautiful smile. Injecting a small amount of neurotoxin into either side of the muscle will stop it from overly contracting, smoothing away that pebbled effect for a more youthful grin.
