Guide:

• Is There A Surgery To Make Your Lips Smaller?
• Are There Non-Surgical Ways To Make Lips Appear Smaller?
• Can Facial Exercises Make Lips Smaller?
• Can You Reverse Lip Filler?
• How Much Does Lip Reduction Surgery Cost?
• What Are the Risks and Recovery of Lip Reduction Surgery?
• How To Find The Right Surgeon For Lip Reduction

Although the popular look these days is fuller, plumper lips, it’s certainly not something everyone wants for themselves. Just as some people are unhappy with their thin lips and gummy smiles, others feel that their lips are too large in proportion to their other facial features and search for ways to make them smaller.

Some people may even consider reducing the size of their lips for reasons other than aesthetics. Certain medical conditions cause drooling, speech impediments, and problems with eating, according to Aedit. Sometimes, reducing the size of the lips can improve these symptoms, which can be life-changing for those affected by these conditions.

According to Healthline, lips can also change with age, and lip reduction can be a great solution to any aging-related changes such as asymmetry.

The beauty standard for lips is highly specific. For example, there is even a “golden ratio” of beauty that defines the most attractive proportions of different facial features, the Victorian Cosmetic Institute says. Lip beauty in modern society, however fluctuates from time to time and varies from place to place.

Is There A Surgery To Make Your Lips Smaller?

Lip reduction surgery is the only permanent way to decrease the volume of your lips. During this procedure, there is a small incision inside the lips. The incision is closed using dissolvable stitches after removing excess skin and tissue. Since the incision is inside the mouth, there is no visible scarring.

During your lip reduction surgery consultation, you must communicate with your doctor about the volume of reduction you’d like to have in your lips so just the right amount of tissue is removed for your goals.

Though surgery can feel daunting, lip reduction is a straightforward procedure performed under local anesthesia, with oral sedation available for added comfort. Most swelling fades within a week, and final results are typically visible within a month.

Benefits of lip reduction surgery include:

• Improves proportion between upper and lower lips
• Removes excess lip tissues and products such as silicone injections to create a more favorable shape and size
• Promotes harmony and dimension with other facial features
• Improves problems with functionality caused by medical conditions
• Increases self-esteem for those uncomfortable with their large lips
• Corrects asymmetries if any parts of the lip have more tissue or product than others

Are There Non-Surgical Ways To Make Lips Appear Smaller?

If you want your lips to appear smaller to be more balanced with the rest of your face but don’t feel comfortable having surgery, there are creative ways doctors and injectors can use fillers to “even out” your features and conceal the size of your lips.

Aesthetic physicians with rich injecting experience and an artistic eye can bring harmony to your facial features by adding volume to other parts of your face, such as your cheeks or chin, so they appear more proportionate to your lips.

Can Facial Exercises Make Lips Smaller?

Contrary to popular myths. There are no proven facial exercises to reduce the natural size of your lips. Any of these home remedies leave results that are practically impossible to see. Your lips have tissues called keratinized external epithelium and non-keratinized or parakeratinized mucous membrane epithelium, much different from fatty tissue that can reduced with exercise.

Other temporary fixes for making the lips appear smaller that people may resort to include using specific colors of lip liner, concealer, and lipstick around the lips, massaging the lips with ice cubes or a cold spoon, and more. These home remedies leave behind short-term effects that are very short-lived and need to be touched up often. If you want to permanently and effectively make your lips smaller, we recommend seeking lip reduction surgery.

Can You Reverse Lip Filler?

If your lip size concerns are due to injections rather than natural lip volume, there are options:

• Hyaluronic Acid (HA) fillers: Can be dissolved with hyaluronidase or left to wear off naturally in 6–12 months.
• Silicone injections: Cannot be dissolved and may require surgical removal. The FDA warns against cosmetic silicone due to risks such as swelling, inflammation, and migration.

While silicone once seemed like a permanent filler option, it carries long-term risks including infection, pain, and even severe complications.

How Much Does Lip Reduction Surgery Cost?

Lip reduction surgery costs vary depending on location and complexity. In New Jersey:

• Single lip (upper or lower): $3,000 – $5,000
• Both lips: $3,000 – $6,000
• Silicone removal cases: $7,000 – $7,500, depending on complexity

If cost is holding you back from achieving your facial harmony goals, it’s good to be aware of the various financing options available with flexible payment plans. Please view the financing options offered at The Kaplan Center for a better understanding of plastic surgery financing plans.

What Are the Risks and Recovery of Lip Reduction Surgery?

Like any surgery, lip reduction carries potential risks. These include infection, bleeding, poor wound healing, or asymmetry if tissue removal is uneven. Choosing an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon helps minimize complications.

Recovery timeline:

• Week 1: Swelling and bruising improve significantly.
• 2–3 weeks: Patients typically feel comfortable in public.
• 1 month: Final results become visible.

Following post-op care instructions — such as avoiding smoking, eating soft foods initially, and keeping the mouth clean — supports smoother healing and optimal results.

How To Find The Right Surgeon For Lip Reduction

Lip reduction surgery may not be a buzzworthy procedure that everyone on social media is talking about. However, it is common practice and has changed the lives of many people uncomfortable with the size of their lips for cosmetic or functional reasons. Research is key. Look for:

• Board certification in plastic or facial plastic surgery
• Experience with lip reduction cases, including silicone removal if needed
• A gallery of before-and-after photos
• A patient-centered approach that addresses both cosmetic and functional goals

Are you interested in lip reduction surgery in New Jersey or New York? Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Gordon Kaplan, renowned in both face and body procedures, has used his aesthetic eye to deliver dream lips to many patients throughout his career. Request a consultation to share your goals and concerns with Dr. Kaplan so he can sculpt your lips into the size and shape you desire.