Lip Reduction – Patient 101

A young man in his late teens who was born with a large lower lip and has been teased by his class mates. This has not changed significantly as he has grown. He does not have a vascular malformation or other reason to explain the fullness. He underwent a reduction cheiloplasty ( lip reduction) in the office under local anesthesia. He is shown just before and again, 6 weeks after surgery. The incision is hidden just inside the lip at the junction of the dry and moist lip tissue. Although there is still swelling that will continue to improve over the next 6 months or longer, he is already thrilled to look normal.
Our patient is now shown at 6 months. Swelling is decreased. The scars are hidden inside the lip. There may still be some mild decrease in size over the next year but he is already thrilled to have a normal looking lip.