Face | Ethnic Lip Reduction

What is Ethnic Lip Reduction?

Ethnic lip reduction is a surgical procedure that decreases the overall size and prominence of your lips. Besides reducing the volume, this treatment also smoothens the lip contours and surface anomalies, such as uneven lip lines. Ethnic lip reduction is unique because it focuses on correcting genetically-inherited disproportionate lips. However, the intention isn’t to enforce Eurocentric ideals of beauty—we ensure greater proportionality while maintaining the unique markers of your identity.

African-American Lip Reduction

Lip reduction is particularly popular amongst African-American individuals with overly large lips. It’s worth emphasizing that having large lips isn’t an issue, but disproportionately large lips can cause numerous aesthetic and functional problems. Patients with overly large lips often experience chapped lips due to overexposure, and they bite their lips while speaking or eating. African-American lip reduction aims to reduce your lips size without white-washing them.

Candidates for Ethnic Lip Reduction

You’re a suitable candidate for ethnic lip reduction if the shape and size of your lips cause any cosmetic or functional concerns. Generally speaking, you’re a suitable candidate if you:

• Have overly-large or disproportionately-sized lips
• Are self-conscious about the appearance of your lips
• Often have chapped lips because they’re highly exposed
• Can’t help biting your lips while talking or eating
• Have trouble pronouncing words clearly because of your lip size
• Have structural anomalies or lumpiness on your lips
• Have deformed lips because of silicone injections or other procedures
• Want to ensure optimal facial harmony and proportionality

Ethnic Lip Reduction Consultation

If you’re considering an ethnic lip reduction, please schedule a private consultation with Dr. Rahban at his state-of-the-art surgical center. The initial assessment and consultation usually take an hour or more—we don’t rush through the consultation because you should have all the information you need to make an informed decision. During the consultation, Dr. Rahban will discuss your cosmetic goals, perform a thorough examination of your lips, give you his recommendations, and answer all your questions.

Ethnic Lip Reduction Surgery

Dr. Rahban will mark the treatment areas to be corrected and reduced. The anesthesiologist will deliver local anesthesia to ensure you’re completely comfortable—you can also ask for a deeper anesthetic or sedation if you’re anxious. The entire surgery lasts for an hour or two, performed on either or both lips, depending on your cosmetic needs and goals. However, in most cases, ethnic lip reduction is only necessary on the lower lip.

Dr. Rahban makes small incisions on the insides of the lips to avoid visible scars—the incisions are strategically placed to ensure optimal results. He removes a wedge of the excess mucosa tissue and closes the incisions with permanent sutures. Instead of using dissolvable stitches that leave faint marks on your lips, Dr. Rahban uses traditional stitches that ensure perfect healing. The stitches will be removed during your follow-up appointment in 5 days.

Recovery

Ethnic lip reduction is a safe procedure with minimal downtime. You might experience some pain, discomfort, and swelling for a few days, but these side-effects are manageable with ice packs and prescription medications. You can resume work and normal activities in a week, but you should avoid strenuous physical activities for several weeks. You should also sleep in an elevated position for the first two weeks to prevent swelling. Dr. Rahban will provide detailed post-treatment guidelines.

Why Choose Dr. Rady Rahban?

Dr. Rady Rahban is a world-renowned board-certified cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon specializing in lip reduction techniques. He’s committed to providing natural results that address your unique concerns and goals to ensure you’re happy with the results. His curated treatment plans have a perfect success rate, as evidenced by his stunning portfolio of before-and-afters. If you’re considering a lip reduction for cosmetic or functional reasons, please schedule a private consultation with Dr. Rahban to discuss your options.