A gummy smile is usually muscular: the muscles that lift the upper lip do it too enthusiastically and expose several millimetres of gum. When that is the cause, a very small dose fixes it. When it is not, nothing injected will.
First: is it actually muscular?
This matters more than anything else on this page, because three different things produce the same appearance and only one of them responds to toxin.
- Hyperactive lip elevators. The upper lip travels too far up when you smile. This is the one toxin treats, and it treats it well.
- Altered passive eruption. The gum covers more of the tooth than it should. A dental problem, corrected by a periodontist, not by injections.
- Vertical maxillary excess. The upper jaw is long. A skeletal issue, and in significant cases an orthognathic one.
Mixed pictures are common. Toxin will improve the muscular component of a mixed case and leave the rest, which is worth knowing before rather than being disappointed after.
Dose, and why precision matters here
2 to 4 units per side, into the region where the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi converges with the neighbouring elevators, at the side of the nose.
This is the narrowest margin in facial injecting. One unit too many, or a placement a few millimetres off, and the upper lip lengthens unevenly or the smile flattens on one side. The result is a visibly asymmetric smile for two to three months, and there is no way to speed that up.
For that reason the sensible approach is to start at the bottom of the range and add at the day-14 review if needed, rather than aim for the full correction in one go. The review is included in the price precisely so that this approach costs nothing extra.
What it costs
| Gummy smile | Price | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| 2–4 units per side | $72,000 – $144,000 COP | USD 22 – 45 |
| Per unit of Botox® | $18,000 COP | USD 5.60 |
One of the smallest doses in the face, so one of the least expensive treatments on the list.
Consultation is free and the 15-day review is included. The full rate for every area is on the price page.
How long it lasts
Three to four months, in line with other facial areas, though the very small dose means some people see it fade slightly sooner.
It combines well with a lip flip, which lengthens the visible upper lip a little and works on the same appearance from the other direction. Between them the total dose is still under ten units, which makes this one of the cheapest meaningful changes available.
Frequently asked questions
Medical references
The clinical claims on this page rest on public, verifiable sources. They are cited so you can check them, not as an endorsement of this practice by those organisations.
- Aesthetic Surgery Journal (2025) — systematic review of HIFU in skin tightening and body contouring
- Lasers in Medical Science (2020) — systematic review and meta-analysis of HIFU safety and efficacy for face and neck
- American Academy of Dermatology — wrinkles and treatment options
- INVIMA — medical device registration in Colombia
Book a free consultation
We check first whether your gummy smile is muscular at all. Often it is not.
Message us on WhatsApp+57 316 042 2194 · El Poblado, Medellín · English spoken
About who signs this content
Dr. Olga González — physician trained in Aesthetic Medicine (Universidad de San Martín), Health Coach in Nutrition, Longevity and Biohacking. She practises at Dra. Juventud, El Poblado, Medellín, where she applies botulinum toxin (Botox® by Allergan and Dysport® by Ipsen) and treats skin laxity with Ultraformer MPT. Consultations are available in English.
Content last reviewed: September 1, 2026. This text is informational and does not replace an in-person medical assessment.