Laser Will Not Likely Be Helpful

D.J. Verret, MD answers: How soon for laser resurfacing after dog bite?

I suffered a dog bite on my upper lip 6 weeks ago. The wound was stitched by a plastic surgeon the day of the injury, but I'm now left with a curved, slightly indented scar extending from just below my nose down to the pink part of my upper lip. I understand I'll have to wait upwards of a year for any surgical scar revision, but I'm wondering if getting laser resurfacing at this time would be helpful to reduce the indentation. If so, what type of laser might be helpful? I have dark skin and tan very easily. Thanks!


D.J. Verret, MD
1 month ago

Laser treatments will generally not help depressed scars. While a complete evaluation is necessary because other factors may be playing into the appearance of a depressed scar, for a depressed scar, I would not wait. In most cases, waiting will not improve a depressed scar. In some cases though, the depression is actually an optical illusion because there is an elevation along the edges which may improve over time. Talk with your plastic surgeon.

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