Big lips can sometimes cause functional problems like drooling and detract from physical attractiveness. Various techniques can help enhance both function and appearance, thereby improving the quality of life for individuals with overly large lips. While some cosmetic applications and facial exercises may provide temporary solutions, surgery offers a more effective, permanent fix.
Overview
Having big lips can be a blessing for some and a curse for others. Pouty, plump lips are generally favored as markers of beauty and are desired by both sexes in nearly all cultures. However, overly large lips can detract from physical appearance and cause oral function problems for some people.
Some individuals with thin lips wish to increase the volume of their lips to enhance facial balance. Fortunately, there are surgical and nonsurgical procedures and techniques to create fuller lips, which often boost self-image, self-confidence, and social interaction.
Conversely, some individuals with big lips seek to reduce their volume because their mouths dominate their facial appearance, making other features less noticeable. Others have medical needs for lip reduction, such as cases of improper mouth sealing due to an overly large upper lip, bottom lip, or both.
This article explores the most popular lip treatment options for people who feel their lips are too large, either genetically or due to fillers. Both surgical and non-surgical options will be discussed.
The Specifics
Treatment for Big Lips
Large, beautiful lips can bring a striking and pleasing balance to the face. However, when lips are too large, various functional challenges can arise, including labial incontinence, problems eating and drinking, speech impediments, and drooling.
The technical term for overly large lips is “macrocheilia.” When large lips are caused by dentofacial deformity, the condition is called pseudomacrocheilia. A dentofacial deformity is an imbalance in the position, size, shape, or orientation of the bones that comprise the upper and lower jaws.
The primary cause of true macrocheilia is often dentofacial deformity (pseudomacrocheilia) in the jaw and cheek regions, not the genetic formation of the lips per se. It is crucial to rule out dentofacial deformities as contributing factors to macrocheilia because if these abnormalities are not recognized, lip reduction may worsen the cosmetic deformity by overly reducing lip size and exposing the underlying issue.
Therefore, it is essential to work with a plastic surgeon who understands the nuances between true macrocheilia and pseudomacrocheilia when seeking advice about large lip reduction.
Macrocheilia can also result from:
- Hemangiomas (extra blood vessels that cause red nodules under the skin)
- Hypertrophy in the salivary or other glands
- Generalized tissue thickening in the body
- Inflammation or infection
- Physical trauma
There are few medical options for correcting big lips. Medscape reports, “Medical therapy has limited usefulness in treating prominent lips but can help alleviate the underlying cause or associated anomalies. Steroid therapy, antibiotics, salazosulfapyridine, and radiation have shown limited success.”
However, there are surgical options that are effective for well-suited candidates. The technical term for a lip reduction procedure is “cheiloplasty.”
Lip Reduction Cheiloplasty
Lip reduction cheiloplasty is a surgical procedure that removes some of the tissue from the lips. It is most often performed selectively at the patient’s request due to aesthetic concerns. In many cases, this surgery also restores proper labial function in individuals whose lips do not form a tight seal when closed, which can cause poor speech, drooling, and other unwanted challenges.
Benefits of full lip reduction surgery include:
- Corrects genetic labial deformities
- No visible scarring on the outside of the mouth
- Minimal downtime needed after the procedure
- Produces permanent results in one treatment for most patients
- Brings balance to the overall face by correcting the lower and upper lips
- Quick outpatient procedure that usually does not require general anesthesia
Dissolving Lip Fillers
Some individuals with thin lips desire voluptuous smiles similar to those of celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Angelina Jolie. There are various procedures to add volume and fullness to the mouth. Popular options include lip implants, lip augmentation with fat transfer, and lip augmentation with autologen or SMAS implants.
Injecting the lips with synthetic dermal fillers is also a popular option for adding volume to thin lips. Common lip filler substances include Voluma®, Juvederm®, Restylane®, and Collagen.
However, some people who have fillers placed in their lips may be unsatisfied with the results or wish to reverse them over time. Recently, Kylie Jenner sparked social media buzz when she announced she had her lip fillers removed. This process is more accurately described as “dissolving” rather than “removing.”
Most common lip injection fillers used today are synthetic compounds with a hyaluronic acid base. While hyaluronic acid-based lip injections typically dissolve on their own within 6-12 months, some individuals may want to reverse their effects sooner. A doctor can inject hyaluronidase enzymes to speed up the breakdown of the fillers, returning the lips to their previous state within 3-4 days.
Home Remedies for Big Lips: Makeup and Exercises
For those who want to reduce the size of their lips without surgery, makeup can create a temporary illusion of smaller lips. Some also perform facial exercises that may help reduce fat volume in the lips.
Makeup Tricks for Reducing Big Lips
Professional makeup artists use several techniques to create better-proportioned lips:
- Applying foundation over the border of the lips to alter their natural shape
- Highlighting the eyes, nose, and other features to draw attention away from the lips
- Choosing soft, light lipstick colors to blend the lips with the surrounding skin
- Avoiding dark-colored lip liners that accentuate the shape of the mouth
- Steering clear of lip gloss, which adds the appearance of more volume
Facial Exercises for Making Large Lips Look Smaller
Many people turn to facial yoga exercises to enhance the appearance of large lips by toning the muscles, reducing fat volume, stimulating collagen production, and maintaining overall facial health.
Examples of facial exercises include:
- Inflating the cheeks with air and holding the breath for 30 seconds or as long as possible
- Filling one side of the mouth with air and holding it for 30 seconds, then switching to the other side
- Stretching the lips tightly, exposing the teeth, and holding the position for 30 seconds while breathing through the nose
Using makeup tricks and facial exercises can be somewhat helpful but may not be sufficient for those with very large lips or functional problems like drooling. Severe cases may require plastic surgery for correction.
Conclusion
Overly prominent lips can detract from the overall balance of the face and cause functional issues such as difficulty keeping the mouth closed, speaking clearly, and preventing drooling. Fortunately, various corrective procedures and techniques are available to address these concerns.
Many individuals can use makeup to create the illusion of smaller lips and facial exercises to tone muscles and reduce fat stores. However, these home remedies often provide only marginal results and do not permanently alter the lips’ appearance.
For those with excessively large lips that significantly impact their appearance and function, plastic surgery offers effective solutions. Consulting with a plastic surgeon or a specialist in facial aesthetics can help determine the best options for enhancing lip appearance and function.
