Are Botox injections near nostril the only way to treat gummy smile or can injections across top lip help as well? (Photo)

Precise placement of botox around the mouth is the best treatment for gummy smile.  I suggest you see an expert for a consultation.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Thank you for your question.  Botox injection that helps with the gummy smile is an injection just lateral to your nostril.  An injection across the top of the lip will not drop the upper lip but it will affect the orbicularis oris muscle.  An injection in this muscle will weaken your ability to purse your lips (affect drinking out of a straw).  Make sure you go to a Board certified plastic surgeon for your injections.  Best Wishes

it sounds like you got Botox injections like we use to treat wrinkles.  The first ones you got sound more like the ones to treat a gummy smile.  Did you like the effects of the first treatment?  If so, you can communicate that to future doctors you may see to help get the results you want. 

To treat gummy smile Botox is placed just to the side of each nostril to relax the muscle that is pulling up the lip.  Injections in the upper lip itself are used to treat vertical lip lines like "lipstick lines" and "smoker's lines". They have the unfortunate effect, sometimes, of making it hard to pucker the lip or use a straw. You can still have the appropriate injections performed, however, while you wait for the lip effects to wear off. Good luck!

Thank you for sharing your question and photograph. Unfortunately the injections placed into the upper lip will only serve to soften and vertical wrinkling the occurs as your pucker your lips and will not affect your gummy smile.  Gummy smile injections are near the nostril as they must paralyze the muscle that is helping keep your upper lip elevated.  Hope that this helps.

To treat a gummy smile the injections of botox are places closer to the nostril.  Injections above the lip will not correct a gummy smile.  The feeling you are experiencing with your lips will wear off in about 8-12 weeks.

To correct a gummy smile the injections are done near the nostrils. The injections across the upper lip are sometimes used to address "smoker's lines". Results from Botox are temporary and you should return to your previous look gradually over the next few months.

As a woman I totally understand the importance of well contoured lips and smooth skin!
As a dermatologist, I can tell you that different anatomy in each patient make me decide on whether I combine Botox (how much and exact placement) with deciding to add fillers to balance thin lips that pull up in gummy smiles. Together they two can create a very natural contour and very sexy appearance - if done correctly.
The key is to make sure you communicate what you are trying to achieve and ask specific questions from the doctor as the risks for that treatment.
I do many gummy smiles and they can be successfully treated with Botox/Dysport when performed by expert injectors. Injection of a low dose into precise points on the upper lip to reduce the “gum” showing without affecting any other motion. I have my patients smile several times, and animate their face as they are talking to me during the consultation. Where exactly I place it (and how much product) depends on the anatomy of the patient.
Factors to consider include how thin/thick the upper lip is (and if you use fillers on the upper lip you need to consider balancing the lower lip to avoid the "duck lip" tragedy!). How much the lips are pulled up and how many millimeters of gum are exposed. Any asymmetries during movement or at rest will also have to be taken into account.
I think the key is the consult to show you in the mirror what to expect. In this case Botox/Dysport may lower the upper lip so that you are not be able to show the gum line when you smile.  Because there is some risk of lowering too much, (which could affecting your singing or playing of a wind instrument, for example), using low doses and making sure that you receive precise injections by a highly qualified and certified professional are very important!
Best of luck!

Dear rmm34:By injecting a small dose of Botox in the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi muscles just to the side of the nasal alae, one can relax the muscles that pull the lip up and improve a gummy smile.  Botox can also be injected in the perioral muscles to evert the lips, making your lips appear fuller, and to smooth lip lines, but this would not help gummy show very much if at all.I hope this is helpful!  Dr. Clark

Thanks for your question and photo and it appears that you have two different experiences in trying to treat the same concern.  The first injector was much more correct than the second and so therefore, make sure that you are consulting with a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon as we are the group that best understands the anatomy in the area that needs to be treated and understands the areas which should be injected.  It appears the second injector did not know what exactly to inject, and made things worse from a drinking point of view.  See an expert each and every time you want facial injections.