{"id":21530,"date":"2021-12-15T11:44:31","date_gmt":"2021-12-15T19:44:31","guid":{"rendered":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/?p=21530"},"modified":"2023-10-11T14:57:47","modified_gmt":"2023-10-11T21:57:47","slug":"ways-botox-can-improve-smile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/ways-botox-can-improve-smile","title":{"rendered":"5 Ways Botox Can Treat Common Smile Concerns\u2014from Smoker\u2019s Lines to Gummy Grins"},"content":{"rendered":"

Those who have gotten plastic surgery know how life-changing procedures can be—but even noninvasive treatments like Botox<\/a> can deliver fairly miraculous results. The muscle movement–restricting neurotoxin can treat everything from excessive sweating<\/a> and jaw clenching<\/a> to tech-neck wrinkles<\/a> and body contouring<\/a>. One of the most popular procedures of the moment is the lip flip<\/a>, but as it turns out, that’s not the only way Botox can enhance your smile.<\/p>

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.<\/p>

You want: poutier lips, without filler<\/h2>

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>, 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<\/a>.<\/p>

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<\/a>; think of this temporary treatment as a great “test run” before committing to something permanent.<\/p>

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!”<\/p>

Interested in Botox?<\/small><\/div>Find Doctors Near You<\/a><\/div>

You want: a more toothy, less gummy smile<\/h2>

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.” <\/p>

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.<\/p>

\n