Braces themselves don't actually change the size of your lips, but they can appear to change their size and shape.
The perceived change in lip size with braces is due to the added bulk of the brackets and wires on your teeth. Here's a breakdown of why this happens:
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Increased Protrusion: The brackets and wires push your lips slightly forward. Because your lips are now resting further out than before, they can look fuller or larger.
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Reduced Lip Relaxation: Without braces, your lips naturally rest against your teeth. Braces prevent this natural resting position, forcing your lips to stretch a bit more to close. This can create the illusion of increased size.
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Adaptation Over Time: Your facial muscles will adapt to the braces over time. The initial change in lip position might be more noticeable at first, but as your muscles adjust, the appearance might become less dramatic.
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Post-Braces Adjustment: Once the braces are removed, your lips will return to their normal resting position, and the perceived increase in size will disappear. In fact, some people might even feel their lips look "smaller" initially after braces removal, as they adjust to the feeling of their lips resting naturally against their teeth again.
In summary: While braces don't physically enlarge your lips, their presence can alter their resting position and create the appearance of fuller lips. This effect is temporary and will resolve once the braces are removed.
