The recovery time varies for every patient as every patient is different. The average time taken for lips to completely heal following lip reduction surgery is 7 to 10 days. During this time, the patients may need to take leave from their work.
The swelling resolves within a couple of days but the lips may appear slightly larger than before for 1-2 months. Swelling, numbness, and tightness may last for some weeks to months. The incision site may appear irregular for a few days. The improvement in the lips' appearance continues for up to 4 months after the surgery.