Would Kenalog injections reduce the size of my lips which have enlarged due to sucking them?

Question

From childhood, I had a habit of sucking my lip, and only recently I stopped doing it. And over time, the lips from this became much larger. If I inject the Kenalog, will it help me to reduce and back the size of my lips? Thanks!

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Kenalog doesn't give predictable results and isn't good for lip reduction. Lips can be reduced with surgery, pdo nova threads and lasers to improve shape. See an expert in facial sculpting for a formal evaluation. Best, Dr. Emer

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

Kenalog can and will kill fat.  However, it is terribly unpredictable.  This is not a safe approach.  Please consider posting photos.  It is possible to reduce the lip size with mucosal surgery.  Caution is advised.

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

Without at least photos, it is really difficult to say whether triamcinolone acetonide (Kenalog) injections would play any role at all in helping to resolve your problem. Kenalog is traditionally used to help shrink and flatten elevated, protuberant scars, such as hypertrophic scars and keloids. If, in fact, the repetitive sucking of your lips led to some form of tissue trauma and scarring, then perhaps intralesional Kenalog may be of value. The adjunctive use of hyaluronidase to help more evenly disperse the Kenalog may be additionally helpful. You would do well to seek consultation with a board certified aesthetic physician. My very best.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question. Unfortunately Kenalog injections are unlikely to help, and may hurt, your lip appearance.  Steroid injections have a number of risks to them and should only be done by specialists.  That said if your lips enlarged from sucking on them they should regress spontaneously if you stop that habit.  If after several months of avoidance any desired decrease in size would have to come as a result of a reduction procedure.  Hope this helps.

Robert M. Tornambe, MD · Answer

ammanueel.  Photos or physical exam would be helpful, but doubtful kenalog injections would work.  If your lips are truly excessively large, then lip reduction surgery is your best option. The procedure is done in the office, under local anesthesia, and it takes about one hour. Recovery is usually one week, as postop, the lips are quite swollen.    Be sure to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon. Good luck!

Gregory Roche, DO · Answer

It is difficult to post an informed answer with out photos. The action of sucking on your lips can cause inflammation or swelling and not scarring, with repeated action maybe scarring could form though.
Kenalog would not be my first thought choice. Kenalog can cause irreparable damage.
I recommend seeing an expert for an educated solution.

Would Kenalog injections reduce the size of my lips which have enlarged due to sucking them?

Answers (6)

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