Gummy Smile Botox in London
Reduce how much gum shows when you smile, without surgery.
Gummy smile Botox is a non-surgical treatment that relaxes the muscle which pulls the upper lip up too far, so less gum shows when you smile. At the West Hampstead clinic it takes about 10 minutes, the effect appears over 3 to 14 days, and it typically lasts 3 to 4 months. It works best where the cause is a strong lip muscle rather than excess gum or jaw structure. Your fee is confirmed at consultation, once your treatment plan is agreed.
Showing a band of gum when you smile is common and completely normal, but if it makes you cover your mouth or hold back a full smile, a small treatment can help. Gummy smile Botox is one of the simplest fixes when the cause is a lip muscle that lifts too high, and it keeps your smile natural rather than changing it.
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GMC
Registered Doctor
MRCS
Royal College of Surgeons
Every treatment
ABOUT BOTOX FOR GUMMY SMILE CORRECTION
What is a gummy smile?
A gummy smile is when a noticeable strip of gum shows above the teeth as you smile. There is no medical problem with it; people seek treatment because of how it makes them feel rather than for any health reason. The amount of gum that shows is influenced by how high your lip rises, how much gum tissue you have, the length of your teeth and the structure of your upper jaw.
The treatment that helps depends on the cause. Where the lip itself lifts too far, relaxing the muscle with anti-wrinkle injections is the simplest and least invasive option. Where the cause is mainly excess gum tissue or jaw structure, a dental or surgical approach is more appropriate, and Dr Chiké will tell you which applies to you.
WHY DO I HAVE A GUMMY SMILE
What causes a gummy smile?
A gummy smile usually comes from one cause or a mix of several:
- An overactive lip muscle. The muscle that raises the upper lip pulls it higher than average, exposing more gum. This is the cause that responds best to Botox.
- Excess or prominent gum tissue. Some people naturally show more gum, which is better addressed by a dentist.
- Jaw or tooth structure. A shorter upper jaw, or short-looking teeth, can make gums appear more prominent.
- Genetics. Inherited lip and jaw shape plays a large part.
Identifying the cause is the whole point of the assessment, because it decides whether Botox is the right answer or whether you would be better served elsewhere.
ABOUT GUMMY SMILE TREATMENT
How the treatment works
Treatment starts by watching how your lip moves as you smile. Dr Chiké identifies the muscle pulling the lip up too far, usually where the nose meets the lip, and places one or two very small injections to relax it. As the muscle eases, the lip does not rise as high, so less gum shows while your smile still looks like yours.
The dose is deliberately small. Too much, or the wrong placement, can flatten the smile or make the lip look stiff, so precision matters more than quantity here. The appointment takes about 10 minutes, and most people find the injections almost painless because the needle is so fine.
“A gummy smile correction is one of the most satisfying small treatments I do, but it is unforgiving of heavy hands. One or two units in exactly the right spot softens the lift. A unit too many and the smile looks flat. Restraint is everything”
Dr Chiké Emeagi, MRCS, GMC 4418489
HONEST COMPARISON
How it compares to other options
The right treatment depends on what is driving the gum show: muscle, gum tissue or structure.
| Treatment | Best For | How long it lasts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Gummy Smile Botox |
An overactive lip muscle |
Around 3-4 months |
Non-surgical, quick, fully reversible over time |
|
Gum contouring (dental) |
Excess or uneven gum tissue |
Permanent |
A dental procedure, not offered here |
|
Lip repositioning surgery |
Severe cases or structural causes |
Long-term |
Surgical, more downtime, referral route |
For most people whose gummy smile is muscle-driven, Botox is the obvious first step because it is quick, low-risk and reversible. If your case is structural, Dr Chiké will be honest that another route will serve you better.
RESULTS
Results and what to expect
The effect is not immediate. You will usually notice less gum show from day 3 to 5, with the full result by around day 14. The aim is a balanced smile that shows less gum while still moving and looking natural, not a stiff or fixed upper lip.
Results typically last 3 to 4 months. As with anti-wrinkle treatment elsewhere, repeat treatments can train the muscle over time, so some people find they need top-ups slightly less often. Longevity depends on how strong the muscle is and your metabolism, and Dr Chiké will give you a realistic estimate.
It is worth being clear about the limits. Botox helps a muscle-driven gummy smile. If a large part of your gum show is from gum tissue or jaw structure, the improvement from Botox alone will be partial, and that is discussed honestly before you decide.
Gummy Smile Botox
Single session. Photographed at 4 weeks post treatment.
Gummy Smile Botox
Single session. Photographed 4 weeks post treatment.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Recovery, downtime and aftercare
There is no real downtime. Most people return to their day straight away. Mild swelling, a little redness or tenderness around the upper lip can occur and settles quickly.
For the first 24 hours:
- Stay upright for about four hours and do not lie flat.
- Do not rub or massage the upper lip area.
- Avoid intense exercise, saunas and steam rooms.
- Avoid alcohol, which can add to any bruising.
You may notice your smile feels slightly different for the first week as the muscle relaxes; this settles as the result evens out. You will leave with written aftercare and the offer of a review to check the result.
IS THIS FOR ME?
Am I a suitable candidate for Gummy Smile Botox?
Gummy smile Botox suits most healthy adults whose gum show is driven by a strong lip muscle. A consultation is essential, because the cause has to be assessed before treatment, and getting that right is what separates a natural result from a flat one.
Treatment is not carried out during pregnancy or breastfeeding, if you have a neuromuscular condition such as myasthenia gravis, or if you take certain interacting antibiotics. If your gum show is mainly structural, Dr Chiké will explain why a dental or surgical opinion is the better path.
PRICING
Gummy Smile Botox Pricing
| advanced & targeted | price |
|---|---|
|
Gummy Smile |
£150 |
Every price includes the consultation, and your plan is agreed before anything begins. You can see the full price list online. Your fee is confirmed at consultation, once your treatment plan is agreed.
WHY US
Why choose Hampstead Aesthetics
Around the mouth, small differences in placement change the whole result, so who treats you matters. Dr Chiké Emeagi is Medical Director of Hampstead Aesthetics, a doctor on the GMC register (number 4418489) and a member of the Royal College of Surgeons. A working knowledge of the muscles around the mouth is what keeps the smile natural rather than stiff.
Every treatment is carried out by Dr Chiké in person, from assessment to review. The clinic uses established CE-marked toxins and keeps emergency protocols on site as routine. It is on West End Lane in West Hampstead, NW6, a short walk from West Hampstead station and easy to reach from Swiss Cottage, Camden, St John’s Wood, Primrose Hill and across North London.
PATIENT REVIEWS
What patients say
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WHO IS YOUR PRACTITIONER
Medical Governance & Practitioner Verification
Dr Chike Emeagi - GMC Registration No. 4418489
Dr Chike Emeagi — GMC Registration No. 4418489
Every gummy smile treatment at Hampstead Aesthetics is prescribed and injected by Dr Chike Emeagi, a fully registered doctor whose licence to practise is publicly verifiable.
MRCS — Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
MRCGP — Member of the Royal College of General Practitioners
MSc Aesthetic Medicine — postgraduate master's degree in aesthetic clinical practice
GMC licensed — full licence to practise, verifiable on the public medical register
You are encouraged to verify Dr Chike's registration yourself on the GMC's public medical register before booking. Any doctor practising without a valid GMC licence is doing so illegally.
CHOOSING YOUR PRACTITIONER
Why Doctor-Led matters
Botulinum toxin is a Prescription Only Medicine under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012. It cannot lawfully be supplied or administered without a prescription written by an independent prescriber who has assessed you face to face. At Hampstead Aesthetics Dr Chike both prescribes and injects every treatment himself. There is no remote prescribing, and no delegation to a non-medical injector.
A gummy smile is corrected by placing very small doses into the levator muscles of the upper lip. The distance between a lifted lip and a heavy, lopsided or drooping smile is a couple of units and a few millimetres. There is no template for this area — the correction depends on which of the lip elevators is dominant in your face, which is something that has to be assessed while you smile.
Emergency Safety Protocols
Toxin is a safe medicine in trained hands, and the honest risk here is a poor aesthetic result rather than a medical emergency. The clinic is nonetheless equipped for the rare event:
- Anaphylaxis kit and full adrenaline protocol held on site and in date
- Prescribing records — every vial is logged against your notes with batch and expiry
- ACE Group certified — Dr Chike holds emergency complication management certification
- Direct same-day contact — you leave with a number that reaches the clinic, and you are seen within hours if something changes
- Written 999 escalation procedure for emergency transfer to hospital
- Full medical indemnity covering every treatment performed at this clinic
Consent, Privacy & your rights
Before anything is prescribed you will have a face-to-face consultation covering your medical history, current medicines, and contraindications including pregnancy, breastfeeding and neuromuscular conditions such as myasthenia gravis. You will be told plainly that the most common unwanted outcome here is a temporarily heavy or asymmetric upper lip, that it is dose-related, and that it wears off. Nothing is injected until you have given informed, documented consent, and you may stop at any point.
If you have a concern about your treatment, raise it directly with Dr Chike first. Most things are resolved at the clinic within the same week. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you may raise a concern about the doctor with the General Medical Council, which regulates every doctor practising in the UK. Suspected side effects from a prescription medicine can also be reported directly to the MHRA through the Yellow Card scheme, by you or by us.
Your clinical records are held under UK GDPR for the retention period required of medical records, stored on an access-controlled clinical system, and never sold or shared for marketing. You can request a copy at any time. If you are unhappy with how your information has been handled you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Your consultation, your treatment and your review are carried out by the same doctor. There are no hand-offs. Reviewed August 2026. Dr Chike Emeagi — GMC No. 4418489.
FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does gummy smile Botox cost in London?
The price includes your consultation, and the exact figure is agreed before anything begins, so there are no surprises. Your fee is confirmed at consultation, once your treatment plan is agreed.
Does gummy smile Botox hurt?
Most people find it almost painless. Only one or two small injections are placed with an ultra-fine needle, near where the nose meets the upper lip, and the treatment takes about 10 minutes. Any discomfort is brief, and there is no lingering soreness afterwards.
How long does gummy smile Botox last?
Results typically last 3 to 4 months. With repeat treatment some people find the muscle gradually relaxes more easily, so top-ups can become a little less frequent over time. How long it lasts for you depends on your muscle strength and metabolism, and Dr Chiké will give you a personal estimate.
Will my smile look unnatural or stiff?
Not when it is dosed carefully. A stiff or flat smile comes from too much product or poor placement. Dr Chiké uses a small, precise dose to soften the lift while keeping your smile mobile and natural. The aim is less gum show, not a frozen lip.
How soon will I see results?
You will usually notice less gum show from day 3 to 5, with the full effect by around day 14. Your smile may feel slightly different in the first week as the muscle relaxes, which settles as the result evens out. A review can be arranged to check it.
Is gummy smile Botox safe?
Yes, in trained medical hands. It uses the same well-established medicine as other anti-wrinkle treatment, placed in a small, specific area. The main thing that keeps it safe and natural is accurate placement, which is why Dr Chiké, a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, treats this area himself. It should only be carried out by a qualified medical injector.
What causes a gummy smile in the first place?
It usually comes from an overactive lip muscle that lifts the upper lip too high, though excess gum tissue, jaw structure and genetics can all contribute. Botox helps the muscle-driven type. At your consultation Dr Chiké works out the main cause for you, which decides whether Botox is the right treatment.
Can Botox fix every gummy smile?
No, and it is important to be honest about that. Botox works well where a strong lip muscle is the cause. Where the gum show is mainly from excess gum tissue or a short upper jaw, the improvement will be partial and a dental or surgical route may suit you better. This is assessed before you commit.
What are the side effects?
Side effects are usually mild and short-lived: a little swelling, redness or tenderness around the upper lip for a day or two. Because the area is small, side effects are limited. Heavy-handed treatment can temporarily affect the smile, which is exactly why a conservative dose is used.
How many injections will I need?
Usually just one or two small injections near the base of the nose, where the lift muscle sits. The number depends on how strong the muscle is and how symmetrical your smile is. Dr Chiké uses the smallest effective dose and can review and fine-tune if one side needs a touch more.
How do I prepare for my appointment?
Avoid alcohol, aspirin and anti-inflammatory medication for about 24 hours beforehand to reduce bruising, and arrive with clean skin where possible. If you take regular medication, mention it at your consultation. The treatment is quick, so no other preparation is needed.
Who cannot have gummy smile Botox?
Treatment is not carried out during pregnancy or breastfeeding, if you have a neuromuscular condition such as myasthenia gravis, or if you take certain interacting antibiotics. If your gum show is mainly structural rather than muscular, Dr Chiké will advise a different route honestly.
TRUSTED BRANDS
Clinically validated products we use
We work exclusively with clinically validated, CE-marked brands across every treatment we offer, from the Sofwave ultrasound platform itself to the injectables, biostimulators and medical skincare our patients use at home. Every product is sourced from authorised UK distributors, so you get predictable outcomes, genuine ingredients and full regulatory traceability on everything that touches your skin.
Arrange your Sofwave consultation
If a gummy smile makes you hold back when you smile, a consultation is the place to start. Dr Chiké will assess what is causing the gum show, explain honestly whether Botox is the right answer or whether another route would serve you better, and agree a plan with no pressure. If you have searched for gummy smile treatment near me, the West Hampstead clinic welcomes patients from across North London. You can arrange a consultation online or call the clinic on 0203 196 7222.
VISIT US
Our London Clinic
- Hampstead Aesthetics West Hampstead, London NW6
- Call us 020 3196 7222
- WhatsApp 07869 730 159
- Email: info@hampsteadaesthetics.com
- Opening hours: Mon–Fri 9am–7pm, Sat 10am–5pm, Sunday closed