Some people have larger-than-average lips that overshadow the rest of their face. Lips that are too full can affect speech and even eating and drinking, which can make you extremely self-conscious. If you feel you have too much of a good thing when it comes to lips, lip reduction surgery may be an option for you.
A relatively minor cosmetic procedure, lip reduction (Cheiloplasty) can be done on one or both lips. A lip reduction surgery involves the process of surgically reducing the size of the lip or lips in order to reduce the appearance of abnormally large or protruding lips. This procedure can be performed during the mid to late teens (with parental permission for those under the age of 18) on up.
The results of a lip reduction surgery are permanent, and it can be combined with other facial rejuvenation procedures such as rhinoplasty (link) and chin augmentation (link) for optimum results.
Lip reduction usually involves an intraoral (inside the mouth) incision that runs the length of your lip. Your surgeon will then remove a thin horizontal slice of tissue from the inside of your lip and close the incision with sutures. Both lips can be done during the same procedure.
Although your swelling should resolve within two weeks, the final results may not be seen for approximately three to four months postoperative. Yes, the results of a lip reduction surgery are permanent in nature.
Risks of lip reduction include an allergic reaction to the anesthetic, hematoma (swelling caused by a pooling of blood), seroma (swelling caused by a collection of serum), and numbness in the lip area. Cosmetically, your smile may change and your lips may become asymmetrical. And there's always the possibility of general dissatisfaction with the results.