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Lip Reduction

Lip Reduction in San Diego

Full, plump lips are often considered a desirable trait, but some individuals find their abnormally large lip size interrupts the balance of their facial features. When lips are larger than average, this can interfere with eating and speaking as well as attract unwanted attention, causing patients to be self-conscious. Despite your reason for seeking lip reduction, our board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. John Hilinski, is experienced at performing a variety of lip procedures and can help you address your concern of overly large lips.

If you wish to reduce the size of your upper and/or lower lips, Dr. Hilinski will meet with you to discuss your desired outcome, and based on this information, he will create a custom treatment plan that best aligns with your aesthetic goals. Should you wish to undergo any additional procedures, these may be able to be performed at the same time as your lip reduction.

Benefits of Lip Reduction Surgery

A lip reduction can be performed to address a number of concerns, including thick lips caused by genetics, revision of a previous lip augmentation, correction of a congenital defect, or excess tissue following the recovery from an injury.1

For people who believe their upper or lower lip is overly-large or protrusive, lip reduction surgery can have many benefits, including:

  • Improved facial harmony
  • Correction of asymmetry
  • Functional benefits, including eliminating speech issues or drooling

Who is a Candidate for Lip Reduction?

The best candidates for a lip reduction are those who are in generally good health, have realistic expectations of their outcome, and wish to decrease their lip size. The procedure can address a protruding upper lip as well as lower lip, depending on your unique needs.

When you meet with Dr. Hilinski for your initial consultation, he will go over your medical history and what you hope to achieve with surgery to create a personalized plan for your surgery.

Lip Reduction: What to Expect

Preparing for Lip Reduction
Before your lip reduction procedure, you will attend a detailed consultation with Dr. Hilinski. During this meeting, he will explain everything you need to know about the procedure and the recovery process. You will also be given detailed guidelines on how best to prepare for your lip reduction surgery.

The Lip Reduction Procedure
The specifics of your lip reduction surgery will vary depending on the unique reason for undergoing the procedure and complexity of your case. However, most lip reductions are performed under local anesthesia and can be completed within one to two hours. Dr. Hilinski will place the incision inside the mouth, which allows any post-operative scarring to be easily concealed. Once the incision is made, he will carefully remove the appropriate amount of tissue from within the lip to create the desired new lip contour. To conclude the surgery, Dr. Hilinski will place sutures to close the incision.

Recovery After Lip Reduction
For the first couple weeks, you will experience some swelling and a feeling of tightness, but these should gradually decrease with time. Icing your lips for the first few days can help keep swelling and soreness under control. Bruising is also a common occurrence as your lips continue to heal. Any pain or discomfort you feel can often be managed with oral pain medication, as well as keeping your head elevated and getting adequate rest. Most patients can return to work two to three days after their surgery.

During the beginning of the recovery period, you will need to consume soft foods to minimize the risk of irritating the incision inside the mouth. About seven to ten days after surgery, your sutures will be removed, at which time most of the swelling should have faded, revealing your new lip appearance.

Planning Your Lip Reduction Procedure


Average Cost: $3,500
Average Procedure Time: 1 hours
Average Recovery Time: 7 days
Post-Op Consultation: 2 months

*Procedure pricing and results with Dr. Hilinski may vary. Your personalized treatment plan and pricing will be determined at your consultation appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lip Reduction

Will I have a scar after lip reduction?
No. Dr. Hilinski will make any incisions inside the lips, so there will be no visible scars after your lip reduction procedure.

Is lip reduction safe?
Any surgical procedure carries some risk of complications or side effects, but especially when performed by an experienced surgeon like Dr. Hilinski, the risks of lip reduction are low. While rare, complications of lip reduction surgery may include:

  • Infection
  • Swelling
  • Changes in lip sensation
  • Issues with lip function, such as improper lip closure, changes in lip expression, or changes in speech2

Contact Dr. Hilinski in San Diego

Want to learn more about lip reduction surgery? Contact our office to schedule your one-on-one consultation with our experienced facial plastic surgeon to get started.


1Botti G, Botti C, Cella A. A simple surgical remedy for iatrogenic excessively thick lips. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2002 Oct;110(5):1329-34; discussion 1335-6. doi: 10.1097/01.PRS.0000026498.97540.96. PMID: 12360078. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12360078/. Accessed April 8, 2021.
2StatPearls Publishing. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Lips. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507900/. Accessed April 8, 2021.

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