Lip Surgery

While fillers are very effective at adding volume and contour to the lips, surgery may be necessary to reduce abnormal lip size or adjust injured or asymmetrical lips.

What exactly is lip surgery?

Lip surgery is either a reduction or reshaping of the lips. During a lip reduction, Dr. Miller lessens the size of the lips and sculpts them to look harmonious with the rest of the face. Patients usually seek a lip reduction if they’ve had a botched lip augmentation or were born with naturally large lips. Lip reconstruction, however, aims to repair the lips after an injury, significant scarring, skin cancer, or congenital defect, and often require donor tissue from another part of the lips or inner cheeks.

What happens during a lip reduction?

Big lips might detract from your appearance instead of enhancing it. A lip reduction takes about 15-30 minutes and occurs under local anesthesia and sedation. Dr. Miller makes an incision in the inner lip and removes unwanted fat and tissue. The lip is then closed with sutures. Often, a lip reduction occurs with other procedures like a rhinoplasty or a facelift.

What happens during a lip reconstruction?

Lips are a major part of the face; when they are misshapen or deformed, it can be hard to maintain confidence in yourself and your appearance. Lip reconstruction requires an experienced facial surgeon because functional activities like eating and talking are affected as well as the appearance of the lips. Healthy local tissue is often necessary for the procedure, but in cases of extreme damage may be difficult to access.

When performing a lip reconstruction, Dr. Miller uses local anesthesia, and sedation if the scope of correction is significant. The procedure typically occurs in Dr. Miller’s first-rate surgical facilities and lasts no longer than an hour and a half. Since lip reconstruction surgeries vary from person to person, the details differ; Dr. Miller will ascertain the best approach and discuss it with you prior.

Recovery from lip surgery

After a lip surgery, patients can usually return to most activities in a few days, though Dr. Miller recommends taking at least a week off work. Exercise should be avoided for the first few weeks, or until cleared by Dr. Miller. Swelling and soreness are to be expected, and wane after about 7-10 days. Patients should sleep with their head elevated for 2-3 days and maintain a diet of soft foods until the pain subsides. After about 5-7 days, Dr. Miller will remove sutures. Dr. Miller will also create a personalized recovery plan for you, and review it with you thoroughly. Follow-up visits are scheduled so Dr. Miller can ensure that healing is going according to plan.

What results can I expect?

Your lips will have a more natural, symmetrical, and unblemished appearance. Any signs of defects will be minimized as much as possible or removed completely. The lips will be balanced with the rest of the face, accentuating the face instead of distracting from it. Though scarring is common, it will be subtle and likely unnoticeable to all but your closest friends and family.

Before & After Lip Surgery

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Is lip surgery for me?

Do you feel uncomfortable with the way your lips look? If so, a lip surgery could be appropriate for you. Before pursuing a lip surgery, patients should be in good health and non-smokers. They should also have realistic expectations. During the consultation process Dr. Miller will listen to each patient’s goals and assess whether a lip surgery is appropriate for them. Common reasons people pursue lip reconstruction include:

Lip deformity caused by skin cancer
Traumatic injury to the lips
Benign lip growths
Lips are naturally big
Lips are uneven or asymmetrical

Miller is an expert in facial surgery

Double board certified in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, Dr. Miller is highly trained for any procedure that affects the face. He has been one of the top facial plastic surgeons in New York City for more than two decades, and is well-known to colleagues and patients for building excellent rapport with each client who enters his clinic.

When searching for a plastic surgeon, look for a specialist who performs your desired procedure multiple times a week, and who has before and after photos that align with your taste. Remember, it is your surgeon’s responsibility to clearly understand what your needs and goals are, and to help you reach them if they are attainable. Contact Dr. Miller’s office today to schedule your consultation!