How to improve gummy smile and thin lips? (Photo)

Hello, gatitaca! Thank you for your question. A gummy smile can be troubling for many patients. It is necessary to see someone in action- talking, expressing, smiling, etc- in order to determine the right course of action to adjust a gummy smile- botox, filler, or both. However, from these pictures it appears as though your top lip volume is good, and when you smile it curls under leaving you with less red lip (& more gums) showing. For this, a botox lip flip would be the simplest thing to try- it only takes 2-5 units and will allow the lip to relax and avoid curling under. It also does not last too long due to the mobility of the mouth area, so if you decide you don't like the look or feel it will fade in 4-8 weeks (for most). There is also a muscle called the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi that can contribute to a gummy smile and can be targeted with botox as well. Best of luck in your search! Genie Alexander RN BSN, for Dr. Anna Petropoulos MD FRCS, Center for Classic Beauty, Boston and Danvers, MA.

Happily, there are couple of simple solutions for your problem that can even be done in one treatment session. In the hands of an experienced injector, Botox can be used to treat the gummy smile and an appropriate HA filler, properly injected by an experienced, board certified cosmetic dermatologist injector can improve lip volume, projection and definition of the vermilion borders. Treatment for both should not take more than about thirty minutes with immediate results from the filler and results seen in one to seven days usually following the Botox. Hope this helps and best of luck.