Farnoosh, can you comment on the possibility of relapse following the surgery?
Like treatment of any other disease or condition, making the correct diagnosis is the first and most important factor in determining the right treatment plan. If the cause of gummy smile is excessive developmental growth of midface and is due to skeletal problem, orthognatic (Jaw) surgery (cutting the jaw bone to realign it) is needed to correct the problem, especially when it is associated with excessive over-jet, or over-bite. Naturally, the lip lowering procedure may not achieve a satisfactory result and the chance of relapse does exist. It also depends on genetically determined hyperactivity of the muscles or the strength of the elevating muscles responsible for lifting the lip (hypermobile lip), which may be even more active on one side causing asymmetry of the lip (one side lip is higher and showing more gum tissue).
Farnoosh, can you comment on the possibility of relapse following the surgery?