Gummy Smile Botox: The Muscle Anatomy Explained (Video)

In this short, Lily Zelaya, RN — an aesthetic nurse injector at Express Med Spa — breaks down the anatomy behind a gummy smile. She explains the single muscle that lifts the upper lip, why an overactive version of it can expose more of the upper gums when you smile, and how a few units of Botox placed near the sides of the nose may gently relax it for a softer, more balanced result.

Read the full guide: What Causes a Gummy Smile? →

Video Transcript

Let’s break down the anatomy behind a gummy smile in under a minute. The main muscle responsible for a gummy smile is called the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi — fun fact, it’s actually the longest muscle name in the human body.

This muscle runs alongside your nose. It originates at the maxilla near the corner of the eye, then travels down and attaches into the upper lip.

The muscle’s job is to lift the upper lip when you smile, and also help flare the nostrils — kind of looking like this.

If this muscle is especially strong or overactive, it can lift the upper lip higher than desired, exposing more of the upper gums.

By strategically placing a few units of Botox near the lateral sides of the nostrils, we can gently relax this muscle. That will reduce how high the upper lip lifts when you smile, creating a softer, more balanced smile while still looking completely natural.

It’s a small treatment, but understanding the anatomy is what makes all the difference.

Read the full guide on what causes a gummy smile →