Reduced lip volume

The lips are made up of two parts: white lips with a cutaneous coating, and pink lips with a mucous coating.

These lips have the same overall histological structure, with supportive connective tissue: this is what gives the lips more or less volume and projection.

The harmony of the face and smile implies a notion of balance and elegance, with a smile full of sensuality.
That's why some women can suffer from lip hypertrophy, which can give them a sometimes duck-faced look.

Dr Santini will carry out a meticulous analysis of the mouth and smile to determine the causes, such as thickness, height or projection defects.

She will be able to offer you a minimally invasive, virtually pain-free solution to restore a beautiful, harmonious smile.

The clinical and artistic examination carried out by Dr Christelle Santini is not only legally required (at least 15 days in advance), but also indispensable for understanding the patient's expectations and choosing the right technique.

This examination is performed on a face at rest, but you may also be asked to smile or pout. It is performed from the front and the side, while checking for other signs that may alter the smile, such as perioral wrinkles.

This moment of exchange should enable you to express all your wishes.

If necessary, Dr Santini will prescribe a pre-operative check-up with the anesthesiologist no later than 48 hours before the operation.

She will also detail her recommendations.

Smoking is not a formal contraindication, but it is recommended to stop one month before surgery, as it has a negative impact on healing.

No medication containing aspirin should be taken in the 10 days prior to surgery, with the agreement of the prescribing physician.

Lip reduction is a minimally invasive surgical procedure, most often performed under local anaesthetic with sedation, on an outpatient basis and with same-day discharge.

The approach is made inside the mouth, which guarantees no scarring.

The procedure involves removing a portion of the lip's mucosa and orbicularis muscle from the inside of the lip, on the mucosal side.

For a harmonious result that does not alter the patient's identity, Dr. Santini takes great care to respect the natural shape of the lip with a spindle-shaped exeresis and delicate cleavage.

She ensures perfect haemostasis before suturing the inner mucosa of the mouth with fine absorbable sutures: the sutures are destroyed spontaneously by day 21 at the latest.

Scars are invisible because they are hidden inside the mouth.

The procedure takes between 30 minutes and 1 hour.

The post-operative period is typically marked by slight swelling of the lips (edema) for 7 to 15 days. Bruising is rare, and very slight pain is relieved by simple analgesics.

There is more of a slight discomfort linked to the presence of the small thread in the mouth.

No social eviction is necessary. It is advisable to avoid ingesting irritating products for the first few days (too hot, too spicy, too acidic, alcohol, etc.). We also recommend applying Vaseline to the lips for 7 days.

Sutures are absorbable in 15 to 20 days. It will therefore not be necessary to remove them. The final result can be assessed once the swelling has completely disappeared, between 1 and 3 months.

Complications of lip reduction surgery are fortunately very rare (hematoma, infection, disunion).

In the vast majority of cases, patients are very satisfied with the result, with a better-defined mouth that is more elegant and refined.

• Return home the same day.
• No scars or sutures to remove.
• Final result at 3 months.

What to do before a reduction in lip volume?

• A plastic surgery consultation with an estimate by Dr. Santini and photography.
• A 15-day cooling-off period is mandatory.
• Consultation with anaesthetist and blood test if necessary.
• Stop smoking at least 1 month before.
• Stop taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs 10 days before a decrease in lip volume.

How is lip-loss surgery performed?

• Vigilant neuroleptanalgesia or local anesthesia most often.
• Painless, scarless incision in the mouth.
• 30 minutes to 1 hour for lip volume reduction.
• Return home the same day.

What are the post-operative consequences of lip volume reduction?

• Discrete operating sequences.
• Follow-up consultation with your plastic surgeon 7 to 10 days after lip volume reduction.
• The threads on the inside of the lip are absorbable.
• 3 weeks off sport
• Plan to take a few days off at most.
• Final results after 1 to 3 months.