A noticeable gap between your upper lip and teeth can make your smile reveal more pink tissue than you want. This is referred to as a gummy smile.
While a gummy smile is often primarily an aesthetic concern, excessive gum exposure can affect how you feel about your smile. Lip repositioning surgery changes how high your upper lip lifts when you laugh or talk.
Before scheduling this quick treatment, you should learn how the process works and what to expect during healing.
1. Targets Lip Elevation
Excessive gum exposure happens for a few reasons. Some people have small teeth, while others have an overdeveloped upper jawbone. However, many individuals simply have hyperactive muscles in their upper lip.
When those muscles pull too hard, the upper lip retracts far above the teeth. Lip repositioning fixes this specific issue.
The procedure limits how high your lip can travel upward. If jaw bone length causes your gummy smile, your periodontist might recommend different or additional treatments. Knowing the exact root cause of your smile dynamics helps you pick the right fix.
2. The Process Is Quick
Many people expect oral surgery to take hours in a hospital setting. Lip repositioning works differently. A periodontist performs this outpatient procedure in an office setting. First, the specialist numbs the inside of your top lip with local anesthesia.
After this, a thin strip of tissue is taken from the inner layer of the gums. The tissue removal allows the doctor to anchor your lips closer to the teeth with the help of sutures.
The entire procedure takes about 30 to 45 minutes. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, using local anesthesia or IV sedation, depending on the approach recommended for you.
3. Healing Requires Short Downtime
Recovery moves fast compared to major jaw surgeries. You can return to work or school within a couple of days, though you will notice mild swelling and slight tightness under your top lip.
- Apply ice packs to your upper lip during the first 48 hours to minimize swelling.
- Stick to soft, cool foods like yogurt, smoothies, and scrambled eggs for a few days.
- Don’t smile widely, laugh hard or stretch your mouth while the stitches heal.
- Instead of brushing over the surgical site, rinse with the prescribed antimicrobial mouthwash.
Most stitches dissolve on their own within one to two weeks, letting your lip settle into its permanent height naturally.
4. Scars Remain Hidden
A common worry involves visible marks on the face. Fortunately, this technique leaves zero external scars.
Because the doctor makes every incision inside your mouth on the inner wall of your lip, nobody sees any suture lines. Once the tissue heals, the skin looks completely normal from the outside. Your smile simply reveals a balanced proportion of teeth and gums without any sign of surgical intervention.
5. Results Are Designed to Be Long-Lasting
Injectable muscle relaxers temporarily reduce lip movement, but those injections wear off every few months. Lip repositioning offers a lasting outcome.
Once the tissue heals in its new lower position, your upper lip stays anchored. You enjoy a well-balanced smile for years without needing repeat visits for maintenance or touch-ups.
Transform Your Smile
Fixing a gummy smile isn’t about complex jaw changes or temporary fixes. Lip repositioning offers a simple permanent solution with minimal downtime.
If you want a balanced, confident smile, call Perio Health Professionals today to schedule a personal consultation with our experienced dental team.
