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What Are The Side Effects of Botox for Gummy Smile?

People develop excessive gingival display when their upper lip lifts too far above their teeth, exposing their upper gums and giving them an unflattering appearance. Although a gummy smile isn’t dangerous, it might make you feel highly self-conscious, and possibly impact your social interactions. While surgical alternatives can be beneficial, many people are simply not ready for such treatment. Fortunately, Botox can be administered to improve the appearance of gummy smiles.

But what are the side effects of a botox procedure for excessive gingival display? The injection area may show some mild swelling, tenderness, and bruising as a result of the procedure. Treatment of other areas can cause more serious side effects, such as double vision, drooping lips, difficulties breathing or swallowing, changes in voice, or difficulty pronouncing certain words. To ensure a worry-free Botox treatment, go to a trusted clinic with a reliable team of providers. 

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The Side Effects of Botox for Gummy Smile Treatment

Every treatment has some level of risk. Before any treatment is decided upon, all risks and problems will be discussed with you during your consultation. Botulinum toxin injection procedures for excessive gingival exposure should only be delivered by a trained healthcare expert. The following are some of the possible side effects of botulinum toxin injections:

Minor Side Effects

An experienced medical professional should pay close attention to dosage, technique precision, and puncture sites during the treatment. Despite being a straightforward and safe procedure, botulinum toxin injections can cause minor side effects such as: 

  • Discomfort at the injection site
  • Bruising
  • Eyelid drooping or brow drooping
  • Inflammation and redness at the site of injection
  • Upper lip lengthening
  • Asymmetric smile
  • Nausea

Side effects are uncommon, usually occur after a few days of treatment, and are considered to be transitory, disappearing on their own within weeks. Your healthcare professional will provide you aftercare instructions to help you reduce risk and recover quickly from any potential adverse effects.

Serious Side Effects

Botox can migrate from the targeted muscle to other parts of your body, which might cause dangerous side effects. If you start experiencing the following symptoms, seek medical help immediately:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Speaking problems
  • Overall muscle weakness
  • Vision disturbances

Botox Treatment for Gummy Smile: Who Are the Right Candidates?

Patients with excessive gingival exposure benefit from Botox because their upper lip muscles curl upward when they smile. It also works effectively for people who have a higher-than-average upper lip elevator muscles. Essentially, these people have hypermobility in their lips that move dramatically and reveal the excessive display of their gum line.

Some individuals have an excessive gingival display for different reasons. Botox injections may not be the best method for smile enhancement for some patients. For excessive gingival exposure caused by abnormalities in teeth growth, medications, or the anatomy of your jaw, to cite a few examples, it may not make a significant improvement.

To make sure this is the right treatment for you, your practitioner will conduct a thorough medical history and analyze your needs and expectations. Botulinum toxin for cosmetic and aesthetic purposes is only available with a prescription. This means you must meet with a professional prescriber in person to determine whether you are a candidate for treatment.

How Can You Tell If Botox is Right for Your Gummy Smile?

Botulinum toxin injections may be a good option if you’re not sure about going under the knife or want a more temporary solution to see whether you’re happy before undergoing surgery. The following are reasons to consider Botox for gummy smiles:

  • Immediate results. After 3 to 4 days following the aesthetic procedure, the effects of gummy smile treatment will be clearly visible.
  • To prevent discomfort. Botox is a generally painless procedure with no downtime. Following therapy, you will be able to resume your normal activities in a few days.
  • A natural look. The professionals know exactly how much Botox to use for an excessive gingival display treatment to ensure the most effective results.
  • A cost-effective procedure. Botox injections are less expensive than surgery.
  • A unique and natural smile. Botox can last up to three months. If you like the results, you can come back 2 to 3 times a year to preserve your smile. Similarly, you can customize your smile by adjusting the number of units that is administered during each session.

What Results Can You Expect from Gummy Smile Botox Treatment?

A very fine needle is utilized, and the procedure for hyperactive lip muscles is often painless and well-tolerated without anesthetic. Ice can help worried individuals relax by numbing their skin and minimizing the chance of bruising.

The effects aren’t instantaneous. You should wait 2 or 3 days after receiving Botox injections to see results. The upper lip elevation will gradually diminish, and the final result will be apparent 14 days after treatment. However, because each patient is unique, you may get more or less benefits from your treatment. The metabolism, strength of the target muscles, and daily activities of an individual may affect the effectiveness and longevity of botulinum toxin injections.

After 2 to 3 weeks, you may be asked to return to your medical professional for a follow-up consultation to check the treatment’s success and evaluate whether any adjustments are required. Depending on the outcomes you want, you may need several injections.

How Often Should Botox Be Administered to Treat A Gummy Smile?

If you want to maintain your new look, you will need to return for follow-up sessions. These checkups can help you increase the successful management and longevity of your results. When treating excessive gingival display with Botox, most providers will require you to return for a follow-up session after 3 to 6 months. The more treatments you get, the more effective and long-lasting your benefits will be.

Alternative Treatments for Excessive Gingival Display

Botox is an effective treatment for excessive gingival display, triggered by hyperactive facial muscles on the lips. Injections of Botox have few adverse effects and require little downtime, but the results of this conservative approach usually only last 3 to 4 months. If you’re seeking for a more long-term option, here are some alternative treatments for gummy smiles:

Upper Lip Mucosal Resection

An upper lip mucosal resection is a procedure that involves removing and suturing the upper lip elevator muscles and gingival mucosa to minimize excessive upper lip raising. This procedure is beneficial for individuals that have a wide oral vestibule with a large gap between their upper lip and gum.

Because the mucous membrane is removed and sutured rather than injected with Botox, inflammation and internal bleeding occur. Severe swelling and internal bleeding subside after about a week, downtime is required. But note that this procedure is an effective long-term treatment for excessive gingival display.

Gum Contouring

Gum contouring is a procedure that removes extra gum tissue. This procedure, also known as crown lengthening, can enhance the appearance of gummy smiles and uneven gum lines. If you require less than 2 mm of gum removed, this is the best treatment for you. 

This procedure is frequently used in conjunction with veneers to achieve a beautiful result. The entire treatment is quick and painless, taking no more than 90 minutes. The doctor shapes your gums using a laser, raising the gumline and exposing more teeth. 

Orthodontics

Orthodontic treatment improves the alignment and placement of the teeth. It’s a good option for people who have excessive gingival display attributed to misalignment. The result isn’t achieved immediately after the procedure, unlike botulinum injection and osteotomy. 

Because the position of the teeth is corrected over a substantial amount of time using a wire or mouthpiece. Individuals who are seeking the benefit immediately after the procedure may be disappointed.

Surgical Gum Lift

Laser gum contouring may not be the ideal solution for you if you require more than a few millimeters of gum removed. A surgical gum lift is recommended in this scenario. To reshape your smile, you’ll need to remove bone and gum tissue.

A surgical gum lift is accomplished by using a scalpel to make an incision in the gum tissue. In order to give the gums the proper form and size, the surgeon will remove or transplant bone and gum tissue as needed. A surgical gum lift typically takes 3 to 4 months to heal, but with results that last a lifetime, it’s a little price to pay.

Gummy Smile: When to Consider Botox Procedures

There are a wide range of options available nowadays to assist individuals in improving their experiences by restoring their desired appearance and reclaiming their confidence. Botox is a non-invasive procedure for treating excessive gingival display. Scalpels or stitches are not involved in a botox procedure. It’s an ideal choice for patients who prefer not to undergo surgical procedures or a long recovery process. 

Botox treatments require no recovery time, so you can resume your normal activities immediately afterward. Additionally, Botox may be a more cost-effective choice than surgery, depending on the number of sessions. Before deciding on any cosmetic procedure, seek medical advice about your goals and what you can achieve with today’s procedures.

Book a Consultation and Learn More About Botox Treatments at aNu Aesthetics

Facial botox treatment performed at a clinic

When undergoing Botox procedures, you should expect temporary side effects including swelling, bruising, and mild pain, which will go away in a few days after treatment. You should choose a licensed practitioner to perform the treatment to ensure a safe Botox experience.

aNu Aesthetic is a leading aesthetics and wellness facility with board-certified doctors and highly-qualified professionals. We are dedicated to giving only the highest-quality cosmetic treatments that ensure your safety while assisting you in achieving your ideal appearance. For a consultation with one of our doctors, feel free to contact us now.

Say Goodbye To Your Wrinkles and Fine Lines

With just a few simple injections, our providers can erase your wrinkles and fine lines in no time with Botox. Call us today to book your appointment.

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