Lip Reduction: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Individuals who feel that they have exceptionally large lips can undergo lip reduction surgery. Some people may feel that their large lips are making them feel ugly. A lip reduction surgery may help them to deal with the problem and also aid in recovering their lost self-esteem. Macrocheilia is a condition when a person has lips larger than the normal size. A lip reduction surgery helps to correct this anomaly by making the upper and lower lip harmonious to each other and also balances them with the other features of the face.

Thus lip reduction surgery is not always done for cosmetic purposes. A person suffering from macrocheilia may have impaired oral function and the inadequate seal between the upper and the lower lip may cause drooling and other complications. This condition can affect the speech pattern and functionality and cause a person to lose self-confidence. Macrocheilia can happen due to a number of different reasons. The reasons can be general thickening of the tissues, dentofacial deformities, hemangiomas, glandular hypertrophy and inflammatory or lymphedematous infiltration.

An important factor for a successful lip reduction surgery is the choice of the surgeon who will perform it. A person who wants to undergo this surgery should consult a surgeon who has prior experience of performing such surgeries and also has good credentials.

Cheiloplasty or lip reduction surgery is a cosmetic surgical procedure that helps to treat unusually big, fat or protruding lips. This is generally achieved by reducing the size of one or both the lips and then creating an artificial angle or tip with the help of a healthy tissue taken from a different part of the body.

Local or general anesthesia is generally used for lip reduction surgery. Sometimes, oral sedation may also be used. The procedure is generally an outpatient procedure and can be performed at a surgeon’s clinic or at the hospital. This procedure is generally completed within an hour or so but it may require more time if other procedures are being performed at the same time.

The treatment involves the making of an horizontal incision on the inside of the lip. Excess fat and tissue is then removed from the lip. This helps to reduce the size of the lip. It can be done on both the upper and lower lip to balance out the features of the face and, hence, to improve the appearance of the patient. Then the surgeon uses stitches to close the incision. This treatment has benefitted people all the world and has helped them get the look they want.

A person who has large lips that are impeding their oral functions is eligible for treatment. A person who has problems with his/her speech and suffers from other complications due to the presence of a large lip is eligible. Furthermore, people can also go for this treatment if they want to improve their appearance or if they have had a bad lip augmentation procedure.

Any person who is not in good health and who smokes cigarettes regularly is not eligible for this treatment. A surgeon will carefully assess a patient and check his medical records before deciding whether he/she is eligible for the treatment or not. A person who harbors unrealistic expectations from this procedure is not eligible.

The side-effects of lip reduction surgery are pain, bruising, swelling and redness in the area of the treatment. A person may also suffer from an infection or an allergic reaction to the anesthesia that was used during the treatment. Other risks associated with this surgery are asymmetry of the lips, numbness and presence of excess of scar tissue and lumps in the lips.

A person is generally prescribed painkillers to deal with the pain. A person is supposed to deal with the swelling and bruising that arises after a lip surgery. A person may have difficulty in eating and should avoid foods that are rich in acid content like oranges and tomatoes. A person who has undergone the surgery may be advised by the surgeon to rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash throughout the day. This will help to prevent infection.

Lip reduction surgery is generally done on an out-patient basis and allows the patient to return home on the day of the surgery itself. The stitches are removed after a week or so. People can return to work within a week or so. The best results of the surgery are usually visible two-three months after surgery.

The cost of lip reduction surgery varies between Rs 60000 and Rs 200000 in India.

The results of a lip reduction surgery are generally permanent. It helps a person with big lips to feel and look better and also to overcome any oral complications. However, lips may become too thin in some cases. A patient may have to undergo lip augmentation in such cases.

A person can make use of lip reduction exercises to reduce lip size naturally. Drinking plenty of water to keep the system hydrated and avoiding lip gloss can help women with big lips to make their lips appear smaller. Some natural herbs also help to decrease the size of lips.