Gummy Smile Treatment Korea: Which Fix for Which Cause, Cost and Recovery
If you are looking up gummy smile treatment Korea options, you have probably started smiling with your lips closed. In photos, you notice gum first and teeth second.
You may also carry a few quieter worries. Will it look fake? Will it hurt? And how many trips to Seoul will it take?
The honest answer starts with one question: what makes the gum show? Each cause has its own treatment, fee and recovery. Here is how they match up.
A note from Dr. Kim
I know how tiring it is to hold your upper lip down in every photo.
“Minimal intervention, maximum beauty.” That line guides our gum treatments just as it guides Blanche no-prep veneers.
Gummy smile treatment Korea: start with the cause
“Gummy smile” describes what people see, not one diagnosis. Usually one of three things is behind it, and many people have a mix.
- The upper lip lifts high when you smile, so more gum comes into view.
- Gum covers part of the tooth, so the teeth look short and the gum looks wide.
- The jaw position lets more gum show.
Think of a window blind. If the cord pulls the blind up too far, you adjust the cord. If the blind hangs over the glass, you trim the blind. If the window frame itself sits in the wrong place, that is a building job.
At Blanche, all of our dentists can perform the three treatments below. First, though, we match the treatment to the cause.
When the lip lifts high: botulinum toxin injection
If the lip muscle pulls your lip up too far, a botulinum toxin injection can relax it. Many people know it by its common name, Botox.
We use 8 units. The fee is KRW 200,000, and repeat sessions cost the same.
Does the injection hurt?
We don’t use numbing cream. Instead, we cool the area with ice before the injection.
Recovery and how long it lasts
Afterwards, there is one restriction: avoid heat exposure, such as saunas and hot baths. That is the only aftercare rule we give.
The effect appears in about 3 weeks and lasts about 4–6 months. So you will likely see the change after you fly home. Because it wears off, it is a gentle way to see how a lower lip line looks on you.
Lip repositioning (vestibuloplasty): the surgical option
Vestibuloplasty, also called lip repositioning, is a surgical option for a lip that lifts high. It takes about 30 minutes, and the fee is KRW 1,000,000.
Stitches come out after 2 weeks. So plan your stay, or a return visit, around that date.
If you are nervous about surgery
Sedation is possible. It costs KRW 400,000 per session, charged separately from the surgery.
What if the lip moves back?
Sometimes the result relapses. If that happens, we wait for healing to settle before considering a second surgery. We would rather wait than rush.
When gum covers the tooth: laser gum contouring
Gingivoplasty, or gum contouring, reshapes the gum line with a laser. It reveals more of the tooth you already have, so teeth look longer rather than simply bigger.
The fee is KRW 100,000 per tooth.
Why we avoid reshaping bone
Some gum contouring also reshapes the bone underneath. We avoid that whenever possible, because bone reshaping cannot be undone. In short, we remove only what we can justify.
Gum contouring and veneers on the same trip
If you also want veneers, they can be placed right after gum contouring, even as one-day veneers. Our Signature PLATINUM tier (KRW 1,500,000 per tooth, VAT excluded) includes gum contouring. There is no limit on the number of teeth.
Our post on veneers for gummy smile explains what porcelain can change here, and what it cannot.
When the jaw is the cause
If your gummy smile comes from jaw position, injections and gum work cannot move the jaw. So our orthodontic specialist assesses it first.
If jaw surgery is needed, we refer you to a hospital that performs it. We would rather tell you early than offer a treatment that cannot reach the cause. That is also why we ask for a face photo, not only a smile photo.
“Is my gummy smile from my lip, my gums, or my jaw?”
Send us just two photos: one of your face straight on, and one smiling. We’ll tell you which cause looks most likely and which treatment we would consider first.
Gummy smile treatment Korea on a short trip: cost and recovery
| Cause | Treatment | Fee | Recovery notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lip lifts high | Botulinum toxin injection, 8 units | KRW 200,000; repeat sessions the same | Ice, no numbing cream; avoid saunas and hot baths; works in about 3 weeks |
| Lip lifts high | Vestibuloplasty (lip repositioning) | KRW 1,000,000; sedation extra | About 30 minutes; stitches out after 2 weeks |
| Gum covers part of the tooth | Laser gingivoplasty (gum contouring) | KRW 100,000 per tooth; included in Signature PLATINUM | Veneers can follow right away |
| Jaw position | Assessment by our orthodontic specialist | Explained at consultation | Referral to a hospital for jaw surgery if needed |
Planning your trip
For gummy smile treatment Korea trips, the injection and laser gum contouring fit a short stay. Vestibuloplasty is different, so build your dates around the 2-week stitch removal.
We are a 30-second walk from Nonhyeon Station Exit 4 in Gangnam, about an hour from Incheon Airport. If veneers are part of your plan, we recommend one follow-up check, so allow 2–3 days. Our guide to how many days a veneers trip takes can help.
For the full one-day program — technology, pricing, and booking — see our One-Day Veneers page.
An actual case treated at Blanche Dental Clinic. Results vary with each patient’s dental condition.
Frequently asked questions
Gummy smile treatment Korea: how much does it cost?
At Blanche, a botulinum toxin injection is KRW 200,000 and vestibuloplasty is KRW 1,000,000. Laser gum contouring is KRW 100,000 per tooth. Sedation for surgery is KRW 400,000 per session, charged separately.
Will gummy smile treatment look fake?
The aim is to show more of the tooth you already have, or to lower how high the lip lifts. We avoid reshaping bone whenever possible, because it cannot be undone.
How many trips will I need?
The injection takes effect in about 3 weeks, and laser gum contouring can be followed right away by veneers. For vestibuloplasty, stitches come out after 2 weeks, so plan your dates around that.
Side effects and individual differences
Temporary sensitivity, a foreign-body feeling, or mild gum swelling can occur. Results and longevity vary with each person’s teeth and habits.
When I teach dentists, I remind them that the gums frame every smile we design. Treat the real cause, gently and in the right order, and the smile still works twenty years from now.
How your first consultation works
1. We listen to your concerns and the smile you want.
2. Based on your exam, we explain every available option.
3. We give itemized costs and timelines. You are welcome to decide later, at home.
We repeat every explanation at least four times, and no decision depends on one person’s judgment alone.
Consultation — Message us on WhatsApp with two smile photos, or check our pricing. Same pricing for Korean and international patients.