Announcement posted by Heart Aesthetics Hobart 12 Sep 2025
A gummy smile is common. When you grin, the upper lip lifts and more gum shows than you'd like. For some people it's a natural lip shape. For others it's strong elevator muscles working hard every time they laugh. Either way, confidence can dip when photos catch more gum than teeth. Hobart's bright winter glare and squinting into river wind can make the lift feel stronger through the day. The good news is you don't need surgery to soften it.
Why gums show more than you want
Several things can sit behind it. The upper lip can be short. Teeth can look small if they haven't fully erupted. Gum tissue can be generous by nature. Most often, the culprits are the muscles that lift the lip. When they fire, the lip pulls high and the pink band above the teeth shows. None of this means anything is wrong. It just means the mechanics of your smile are doing their job a little too well.
A measured lip flip
A small dose of botox muscle relaxant placed at precise points can ease the pull of the lip elevators. You'll still smile. You'll still laugh. The lip simply won't jump as high. This is the "lip flip" used for gummy smile care. It is quick, uses tiny volumes, and aims for millimetres, not big shifts. The change reads as relaxed rather than altered.
What the appointment feels like
Most people describe brief pinpricks and a strange, fleeting pressure. Treatment time is short. You can walk out and get on with your day. Redness in the skin fades within minutes. Makeup can wait until tomorrow. The effect starts to show by the end of the week and settles fully by two. Expect results to hold for a season or so. Many Hobart clients time sessions around school terms, end-of-year events and wedding photos.
Why light doses matter
The muscle group that lifts the lip is involved in smiling, eating and speech. That is why dosing is conservative and placement is careful. You want the lip to lower slightly when you smile, not lose its movement. The aim is softness, not a fixed upper lip. If you have a deep habit of raising the lip on one side, your plan may be asymmetric to keep your expression even.
When filler helps and when it doesn't
Some people benefit from a small line of hyaluronic acid filler along the lip border for structure and moisture. This can help the lip hold shape as the elevator muscles ease. It is not about bulk. It is about support and hydration so light bounces evenly and the edge of the lip looks smooth. If your teeth are short or your gum line sits high by anatomy, filler alone won't solve the smile. It can still play a supporting role in a combined plan.
Reading results in real life
You'll notice fewer photos where the gums take centre stage. Lipstick sits better. The edge of the lip looks more defined in sunlight, even at the waterfront in a southerly. Friends will say you look relaxed rather than asking what changed. That is the sign the dose and placement were right for your face.
Safety, side effects and sensible aftercare
Any injectable carries risk, which is why a qualified clinician should assess you first. Temporary redness, tiny bruises and mild tenderness at the points are the norm. Avoid rubbing the area, hot yoga, saunas and vigorous exercise that day. Keep upright for a few hours. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a neuromuscular condition, this treatment is not for now. If your lip ever feels too heavy or speech sounds different, contact your practitioner. Adjustments are possible once the two-week mark passes.
Who is a good candidate in Hobart
You are likely a candidate if your lip lifts high when you laugh, your teeth are a normal size, and your gums show more than three to four millimetres at full smile. You should want a natural change measured in millimetres, not a new mouth. If you have marked eyelid hooding or significant dental causes behind your gummy smile, a joint plan with your dentist, periodontist or surgeon may be better. Good clinics in Hobart will tell you when a different path suits.

FAQs: Gummy Smile Treatment in Hobart
How do I know if my gummy smile is from muscle activity or dental anatomy?
Watch what happens when you gently lower your top lip with a finger while smiling. If less gum shows and the teeth still look a normal height, muscle lift is likely the driver. If the teeth look short or the gum line sits high even with the lip lowered, a dental cause may be present. In Hobart, a joint check with a cosmetic injector and your dentist or periodontist gives a clear plan.
Will a lip flip make eating or speaking hard?
The goal is a light reduction in lift, not a stiff upper lip. With correct dosing, lip function stays natural for speech and meals. Tough foods may feel different for a few days, then settle. If anything feels off after two weeks, book a review so your plan can be adjusted next time.
How long does a non-surgical gummy smile treatment last and when should I book in Hobart?
Most people see results hold for about three to four months. Many locals time refreshers ahead of spring events, end-of-year photos or wedding season. Winter in Tasmania can dry lips, so keep balms handy to help the result read cleanly through colder months.
Can I combine a lip flip with lip filler for hydration without adding size?
Yes. A small line of hyaluronic acid along the border can add structure and moisture without volume. This pairs well with a light neuromodulator dose to ease lift. Your clinician will map both on your face so the smile looks balanced in natural Hobart light.
Who should avoid gummy smile injectables?
People who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have certain neuromuscular conditions should wait. Anyone with active skin infection near the upper lip should delay until it clears. If your gummy smile is mainly from short teeth or a high gum line, a dental pathway may suit you better, with injectables added only if muscle lift also plays a role.
What aftercare helps results last in Tasmania's climate?
Keep upright for a few hours, skip hot classes and saunas that day, and avoid rubbing the area. Use SPF lip balm on bright river days and a simple hydrating balm at night when heaters are on. Small habits like these protect the lip surface so your non-surgical smile correction looks even through a Hobart week.
Setting expectations through the seasons
Tasmania's climate can dry the lips and pull attention to the area. Wind off the Derwent, wood heaters in winter and summer UV all matter. Keep balms with SPF handy, drink water across the day and treat lips as skin that needs care, not just colour. A hydrated surface helps a lip flip read cleanly in daylight.
Choosing to soften a gummy smile is about ease in photos and ease in daily life. You still look like yourself, only your grin no longer jumps higher than you want. When you're walking past Salamanca on a bright morning or laughing through dinner on a cold night, the lip sits where you prefer and the focus shifts back to your eyes. Small choices like this are often the ones that restore comfort quickest, especially in a city where weather asks a lot of the face.