Lip Reduction

An upper lip that is proportionally larger than the lower lip or the rest of the face can dominate your appearance. Shrinking your upper lip can help create a more harmonious and balanced appearance.

Upper lip reduction is a procedure in which the upper lip is made narrower. It can also make the upper lip more in proportion to the lower lip, which is useful, for example, if the upper lip is further forward than the lower lip.

Normally, the lower lip is slightly more forward than the upper lip. It is also slightly fuller. When the ratio is such, the lower lip reduction could be a solution for you.

If both lips are large, taking up a dominant position on your face and you feel uncomfortable with that, then reducing the size of both lips could be the solution for you.

A butterfly correction, also known as lip lift or bullhorn lift, shortens the distance between the upper lip and the nose, by removing the skin just under the nose. A butterfly lift surgery is not necessarily a lip reduction. It only reduces the area between the nose and the lip, making the upper lip appear more lifted and actually fuller. So butterfly lift lips are not smaller, but they do bring more balance to your face. It is a popular treatment at Wellness Kliniek and is often done in combination with a facelift or lip fillers.

There can be several reasons to opt for a lip reduction. Possibly you specifically find your upper or lower lip too big, or you suffer from a drooping lower lip. We also see some women and men opting for lip reduction for cultural reasons, as they find their ethnic features too noticeable.

How does expert lip reduction happen?

• Your lips are numbed locally. The plastic surgeon often makes a horizontal incision on the inside of your lip. The scar is thus well hidden, so you hardly notice it.
• Then the plastic surgeon will remove a strip of skin or mucous membrane from the lips. The incision on the inside of your lips is then closed with sutures, which are usually self-dissolving. These sutures also provide support to create and stabilise the new shape of your lips during the healing process.
• After treatment, your lips will be swollen. Cold compresses and painkillers can help. It is important to avoid sports and other physical exertion for several days after treatment.
• After lip treatment, follow your doctor's instructions and schedule a check-up appointment. Read more about aftercare after plastic surgery.

Yes. The result of lip reduction surgery is permanently smaller lips, although the final results will only be visible after the swelling has reduced completely, which may take several weeks.

Every surgical treatment has risks, such as infection, scarring and dissatisfaction with the aesthetic results, so it is important to clearly discuss your expectations with the plastic surgeon. Your surgeon, during the consultation at Wellness Kliniek prior to the procedure, will properly inform you so that you can make an informed decision.

Lip reduction is suitable for anyone who finds his or her lips, or either of them, too big and would like to have them reduced. However, the doctor at Wellness Kliniek will personally determine whether you are eligible for a lip reduction. You will also receive personal advice on this. The minimum age for a lip reduction is 18 years.

To make the lips thinner, the surgeon removes excess tissue on the inside of the lip, so you won't see any scars. A lip reduction procedure takes 45 to 90 minutes. The procedure can be performed under local anaesthetic. You can go home immediately after the lip reduction treatment.

Lip resizing can be done under local anaesthetic (with sedation if necessary). You are awake, just like at the dentist, but do not feel anything else about the procedure. If you find this unpleasant and prefer general anaesthesia, general sleep anaesthesia is also an option. Just let your doctor know during the consultation.

Yes, lip reduction results in permanent changes to the lips. However, the natural ageing process can affect the result over time.

You can go home immediately after the procedure. The stitches do not need to be removed, as they dissolve on their own. For the first 7 to 14 days, your lips will be swollen and you will experience discomfort. Eating and most normal activities will be possible again after two to three weeks, but full recovery and final results will only be visible after about three months.

No, during surgery you will be under (local) anaesthesia so you will not experience any pain. After surgery, however, you may experience some pain and discomfort as the anaesthetic wears off. These symptoms are usually well controlled with painkillers that your doctor may prescribe. It is normal to experience some swelling, bruising and sensitivity in and around your lips during the recovery process. Within 1 to 2 weeks, your lips will start to feel increasingly natural and any swelling, pain or bruising will subside.

As a precaution, we recommend that you avoid contact sports for the first 6 weeks after surgery. Quiet walking or light exercise won't hurt, as long as you avoid contact and pressure.

Who knows, joy may make you want to kiss someone immediately with your beautiful lips. But chances are, you won't feel the need to do so for the first few days because of the swelling. Do you? Then we still advise you to wait a few days so your lip doesn't experience any pressure.

It is best to wait about 10 days before putting on lipstick. Using make-up can increase the risk of infection and interfere with the healing process. Once the incisions have healed and the swelling subsides, you can use make-up again.

If it is up to the doctors at Wellness Kliniek, you will look like an improved version of yourself after lip reduction. A face that is more balanced, just as you would like it to be. So that you go through life with more self-confidence. You definitely still look like yourself, only your lips have become narrower or smaller.

A lip reduction is another word for lip reduction or making the lips narrower. It thus involves reducing the size of excessively large or thick lips, reducing the size of the upper lip and/or lower lip by removing excess lip tissue.

• Advantages lip reduction: Lip reduction is a relatively simple procedure with a short recovery period. Moreover, the procedure carries little risk and you will not see any scars. Some people experience so much more self-confidence after lip narrowing that mentally it can have a great positive impact on quality of life.
• Disadvantages of lip reduction: There are not really any disadvantages to lip reduction, but it is extremely important to be well informed. It is also helpful to know your own character. We think it is important that you think carefully about whether making your lips smaller really suits you.

The doctors at Wellness Kliniek will discuss the advantages and disadvantages with you and always give you honest advice.

Wellness Kliniek employs doctors who specialise in aesthetic procedures and meet the highest standards. We always select an experienced surgeon for the specific treatment. Find out more about the doctors at Wellness Kliniek on our page about surgeons and specialists.

We advise you to always scrutinise the quality of the clinic to make sure you get good, personalised advice. Wellness Kliniek Belgium and Barcelona have been at the top for years when it comes to experience and precision in aesthetic plastic surgery.

Some tips for finding the best clinic or doctor near you:

• Check qualifications: Make sure the doctors and surgeons are qualified and certified in their field.
• Read reviews and testimonials: Look at experiences of others to get a sense of the results and customer satisfaction.
• View before and after photos to see what is possible with plastic surgery for lips.
• Consultation: Schedule an on-site consultation or tele-consultation to discuss treatment options and get a feel for the clinic and your doctor.
• Ask about aftercare and support: A good clinic offers excellent (free) aftercare and is available 24/7 for questions after the procedure.