Lip Repositioning Using Scalpel Technique for Management of Excessive Gingival Display Due to Short Upper Lip: A Case Report With One-Year Follow-Up

Excessive gingival display (EGD), commonly referred to as a gummy smile, represents a significant esthetic concern influenced by the interplay of dentogingival, skeletal, and soft tissue factors. Lip repositioning has emerged as a minimally invasive surgical modality aimed at limiting the superior displacement of the upper lip during smiling. This case report describes the management of a 37-year-old female patient presenting with EGD due to a short upper lip, treated using a conventional scalpel-based lip repositioning technique. Preoperative gingival display of 3 mm was reduced to 0 mm immediately postoperatively. At one-month, six-month, and one-year follow-ups, gingival display was 0.5 mm, 1 mm, and 1.2 mm, respectively, indicating minimal relapse and stable outcomes. Healing was uneventful, and patient satisfaction was high. The findings suggest that lip repositioning is a predictable and effective treatment modality in appropriately selected cases of soft tissue-related EGD.