Silicone Removal from the Lips
When the silicone that has been causing lumpiness and distortion is reduced, your lips often feel softer, more comfortable when you smile and speak, and less like something you have to think about every day.
Is this right for you?
Silicone removal from the lips is considered when you have previously had silicone injected into your lips (often liquid silicone or an oil-based filler), and that material is now causing problems: lumpy lips, nodules, distortion, discoloration, pain, or inflammation that keeps coming back. One thing worth saying plainly from the start is that liquid silicone tends to spread through the lip tissue, which makes it very hard to remove completely. A consultation lets your surgeon assess the state of your lips and work with you to set realistic goals for this procedure.
This may be a good fit if
- You have had silicone injected into your lips and now have firm lumps, clumping, distortion, or lumpiness that bothers you when you smile, speak, or eat.
- You have signs of inflammation, recurring swelling, redness, pain, or fluid leaking from the lip area linked to the injected material, and you want to address the cause.
- You understand that the goal is usually to reduce the silicone that is causing problems and improve your symptoms, rather than to remove every trace or return your lips to how they were before the injections.
- You are in stable general health and have no condition that makes wounds slow to heal.
- You have clear, realistic expectations and are prepared for the possibility that more than one procedure may be needed.
This may not be right if
- You want your lips returned to exactly how they were before the silicone was injected; this is usually not achievable because the tissue has changed and the silicone has spread.
- You have an active, uncontrolled infection in your lips; in that case your surgeon may need to bring the inflammation under control first before considering surgery.
- You are pregnant, breastfeeding, or not ready to set aside time for recovery and follow-up.
- You want a specific lip shape promised after removal; no surgery can guarantee that, especially on tissue that has previously had filler injected.
How it works
Everything begins with an examination and a conversation. Your surgeon asks about the earlier injections (if you remember the type of material, when it was done, and where, that is very helpful), feels the tissue to map the lumps and the areas where the silicone has spread, and assesses any inflammation. In some cases, your surgeon may suggest an ultrasound or imaging study to picture where the injected material sits and how far it has spread. From there, your surgeon talks through clearly what this procedure can and cannot do for you in particular.
The procedure is usually carried out under local anesthetic, meaning only the lip area is numbed while you stay awake; for more widespread involvement, your surgeon may use a different form of anesthesia. The incision is usually placed on the inner surface of the lip so the scar sits hidden inside and is not visible from the outside, though its exact position depends on where the silicone has gathered.
Through the incision, your surgeon exposes the tissue holding the silicone, then removes the clumped tissue and takes away the silicone that can be reached. Because liquid silicone usually soaks into the lip tissue and mixes with healthy tissue, your surgeon balances removing as much material as possible against preserving healthy lip tissue, so the lip is not left too thin or distorted further. Once this is done, your surgeon stitches the tissue closed and reshapes the lip as far as is possible.
How long it takes varies widely depending on the amount of silicone and how far it has spread, usually somewhere around 30 to 90 minutes. The incision is usually closed with dissolving stitches or stitches that will be removed after a few days. Before you leave, you are given guidance on caring for the incision, taking your medication, and the signs that should prompt you to call.
Realistic expectations
Silicone removal from the lips aims to reduce the silicone causing lumpiness, distortion, or inflammation, so your lips feel more comfortable and look more balanced as far as is possible. This is a corrective procedure on tissue that has already been treated, so the result depends a great deal on the state of your lips and how much silicone has soaked into the tissue.
What this will not do
- It does not guarantee complete removal of all the silicone, because this material usually spreads and mixes with the lip tissue, which makes full removal very difficult.
- It does not return your lips to exactly the shape they had before you had the silicone injected.
- It does not make both sides of your lips perfectly even, especially when the tissue has changed unevenly because of the injected material.
- It does not replace treatment for an ongoing infection; that needs to be handled separately when required.
Recovery
After silicone removal, your lips are usually swollen and feel tight in the first few days, and they may look uneven until the swelling settles and the tissue heals. Because this is a procedure on tissue that has previously been inflamed or scarred, the amount of swelling and the time it takes to settle can vary quite a lot from one person to the next. The stages below are rough estimates to help you picture the path.
- The first few days
- Your lips are usually swollen, bruised, and tight, sometimes more so than after a routine lip procedure because tissue has been removed. Cool compresses as directed and keeping your head raised when you lie down help reduce swelling. You should eat soft or liquid foods and rinse your mouth gently after eating to keep the incision clean.
- Around 5 to 7 days
- The obvious swelling usually begins to ease. If non-dissolving stitches were used, they are usually removed around this time. Many people consider returning to light, low-activity work around this point, though the lips may still be swollen.
- Around 2 to 4 weeks
- Most of the swelling gradually settles and your lips look more natural in everyday life. Numbness, tightness, or a few firm spots under the lip may linger for a while longer.
- Around a few months
- The lip tissue gradually softens, the scar inside the mouth fades, and the lip shape settles to show a result closer to the final one. On tissue that has previously had silicone injected, this process sometimes needs more time.
Risks & safety
As with any surgery, silicone removal from the lips carries risks you should know before you decide, and some risks relate specifically to operating on tissue that has previously had filler injected. Most are uncommon and can be managed, but you should know about them so you can weigh your choice and recognize them early if they appear. Your surgeon will talk through what applies to your particular situation.
- Not all the silicone can be removed, because the material usually spreads through the tissue; what remains may keep causing lumps or inflammation later and sometimes needs a further procedure.
- Swelling, bruising, and tightness in the lips that last longer than after many other lip procedures, because tissue has been removed.
- Uneven lips, lips that are thinner, dented in places, or a lip shape that differs from what you wanted, because the tissue has been changed unevenly by the injected material.
- Changes in sensation in the lips, such as numbness or reduced feeling, usually temporary but occasionally longer-lasting.
- Infection of the incision, or a flare of inflammation in the area where silicone remains.
- Scarring inside the lip that does not heal as hoped, firm scar tissue at the treated area, or mild tightening and pulling.
- Risks linked to the form of anesthesia used, assessed separately before the procedure.
How we do it
At The Gioi Dep, a silicone removal from the lips begins with a careful examination and a plan. The surgeons feel the tissue to map the lumps and the areas where the silicone has spread, assess any inflammation, and when needed may suggest an imaging study to picture how far the injected material has spread before any procedure. The surgeons tell you plainly that the goal is usually to reduce the part causing problems and improve your symptoms, not to promise complete removal.
Because this is corrective surgery on sensitive tissue, the surgeons balance removing as much silicone as possible against preserving healthy lip tissue, so the lip is not left too thin or distorted further. You are given clear guidance on caring for the incision, eating, taking your medication, and attending follow-up, along with how to reach the team if anything seems wrong.
Frequently asked questions
Can silicone removal from the lips take it all out completely?
Usually not. Liquid silicone tends to soak into and spread through the lip tissue, mixing with healthy tissue, so it is very hard to remove fully. The realistic goal is usually to reduce the part causing lumpiness, inflammation, or distortion so your lips feel more comfortable and look more balanced. Your surgeon will talk this through honestly with you before the procedure.
Does the procedure hurt a lot?
During the procedure, your lips are numbed, so you usually do not feel pain. Afterward, your lips may be swollen and tight for the first few days, sometimes more than after a routine lip procedure because tissue has been removed; this discomfort usually responds to oral pain relief taken as your surgeon directs.
Will it leave a visible scar?
Where possible, the incision is placed on the inner surface of the lip so the scar sits hidden inside and is not visible from the outside. The position depends on where the silicone has gathered, so your surgeon will explain the details during your consultation. Scars inside the mouth usually fade over time.
How much time off work will I need?
Many people consider returning to light, low-activity work after about a week, once the obvious swelling has begun to ease, though the lips may still be swollen. The right time for you depends on how your recovery goes and the nature of your work. This is a rough estimate, not a fixed number.
Will my lips look natural after the removal?
The goal is for your lips to feel softer, less lumpy, and more balanced with your face as far as is possible. Because this is a procedure on tissue that has previously had silicone injected, the result depends a great deal on the state of your lips, and they may not be fully even. Results differ from person to person, and no one can promise a specific lip shape.
Can it still be done if I do not remember the type of material that was injected?
A consultation is still possible. If you remember the type of material, the timing, or where it was injected, that is very helpful, but if not, your surgeon will rely on the examination and, when needed, an imaging study to assess things. Share everything you can remember during your consultation.
My lips are swollen and inflamed right now; can it be removed straight away?
If your lips have an active infection or inflammation that is not yet controlled, your surgeon may need to treat that and bring it under control first before considering surgery, to lower the risk and help the wound heal better. The specific plan will be discussed based on your situation.
Will I need more than one procedure?
Possibly. Because silicone usually spreads, a single procedure cannot always remove all of the part causing problems, and sometimes one or more further procedures are needed to address what remains or to refine the lip shape. Your surgeon will talk through this possibility with you from the start.
Can I have my lips filled again after the removal?
This depends on the state of your lip tissue once it has healed and needs to be assessed by your surgeon individually. Some people consider ways to improve the lips later, but the timing and method depend on how settled the tissue has become. Talk about this wish during your consultation so you can plan accordingly.
Am I too old to have this done?
What matters more than your age is your general health and your ability to heal. During your consultation, your surgeon will look at your health and the state of your lip tissue to work out with you whether this approach suits you. Please share your full medical history.
The next step
The next step is a conversation - book a consultation.
The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.