Many people drastically overestimate the cost of plastic surgery. Though you'll almost certainly pay in the thousands for a plastic-surgery procedure, it is very rare to have a five-digit-price tag attached to your plastic-surgery bill. Lip reduction is one of the less expensive plastic-surgery procedures because it is performed on a small area of the body and requires a relatively short-time investment by the surgeon and medical staff.
Significance
Lip-reduction surgery is a permanent procedure; the main objective of the surgery is to lessen the size of a patient's lips. If desired, the lips may also be reshaped into a more attractive shape than the current. Patients may opt to undergo surgery on both lips or simply choose to alter the larger of the two. Due to the fact that lip reduction is classified as a cosmetic procedure, it is not covered by insurance companies.
Cost
Lip-reduction surgery typically costs anywhere from $2,000-to-$4,000. However, the national average is reported to be about $3,000. Don't look for bargain-basement prices when choosing a plastic surgeon, for the ones who charge much less are often uncertified, inexperienced and will perform a botched-up job.
Considerations
According to plasticsurgery.org, when choosing a plastic surgeon, you should choose a surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He or she should operate only in accredited medical centers and have at least three years of plastic-surgery experience.
Time Frame
The lip-reduction surgery itself usually lasts between one-to-two hours. Because lip reduction is an outpatient procedure, you'll have to take time off from work and possibly make arrangements for accommodations at a hotel if your procedure will be performed out of state. Recovery time is relatively short; you can expect to be back at work within three-to-seven days of the procedure.
Warning
As with all invasive plastic-surgery procedures, there is an element of risk with lip-reduction surgery. The most common side effects of lip-reduction procedures are numbness, swelling and restricted chewing and speech. When compared with other plastic-surgery procedures, these side effects are trivial. Typically, side effects will dissipate within seven days of surgery.
