Lip Reduction

Lip Reduction

Description
The lips are unique facial features, which receive special attention. During social engagement, our eyes are drawn disproportionately to one's lips as they are to one's eyes. Lips figure prominently in speech and communication and often receive makeup to accentuate their appearance.

Lip Reduction is undertaken to diminish the size of the upper and/or lower lips, often to de-emphasize prominent lips or to impart a more aesthetically pleasing lip proportion or balance with surrounding facial features.

A natural appearance to the lips is integral to a favorable result. Size, shape, symmetry, proportion and balance must all be factored in to the doctor's plan and approach. Simply 'plumping' the lips is not sufficient to acheive the results desired by most women. Evaluation and treatment by a facial specialist like Dr. Pearson can maximize your chances for a superior result. Dr. Pearson's lip enhancement patients appreciate his gentle touch, painless technique, artistic sensibility and eye for detail.

Patient displayed underwent lip reduction with Dr. James Pearson
Select photos to see additional views.

The Aging Process
During the normal aging process, the lips change in size and shape. The red portion of the lip (vermillion) decreases in height and the skin-covered portion of the upper lip (cutaneous lip) elongates. Volume is lost from the red lip as well as from portions of the cutaneous lip responsible for lip contour including the white-red border of the lip (the "white roll") and the portion of the cutaneous lip below the nose which comprises the so-called "Cupid's bow" and adjacent "philtral columns". The cutanaous (skin-bearing) portions of the upper and lower lips also develop vertical lines from both age-related skin changes and the repeated action of the underlying muscles over many years. Together, these changes impart a less youthful appearance to the lip and mouth.

Candidates for Lip Reduction
You may be a candidate for lip reduction if your lip appearance is characterized by prominance or disproportion which contribute to an unsatisfactory appearance of the lips.

Complementary Procedures
Resurfacing of the skin surrounding the mouth can help to improve the vertical lines which appear on the cutaneous portion of the upper and lower lips.

Recovery after Lip Reduction

Following surgical procedures, most people experience only mild soreness, and temporary swelling and bruising improve over a couple of days. After procedure swelling improves by 72 hours and mostly resolves after about a week. You may resume most non-exertional activities the next day in many cases.

Most people choose to wait about a week prior to returning to work.