How can I remove a lip scar? (Photo)

Question

I recently fell on my face and bit through my lip and had to get 9 stiches i honestly know its going to scar even though they said it might not

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

First, I’m really sorry this happened. Looking at your photos, this was not a minor cut — you had a through-and-through lower lip laceration that required 9 stitches, so it is completely understandable that you’re worried about scarring.

The good news is that lips have an excellent blood supply, and they often heal much better than patients expect during the first few weeks. Right now, what I see is a lip that is still in the early healing phase, with:

significant swelling,
crusting/scabbing,
suture marks,
and active inflammation.

At this stage, it is far too early to know what the final scar will look like.

The Most Important Thing Right Now

Your goal should be optimal healing, not scar removal yet.

During the First 1–2 Weeks
Keep the area clean as instructed by the team who repaired it.
Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly (Vaseline/Aquaphor) to keep the wound moist.
Avoid picking at the scabs or crusting, even if they look thick.
Try to minimize excessive stretching of the lower lip (wide yawning, aggressive chewing, pulling the lip down to look at it).

One thing that stands out in the photos is the white, dry scaling around the lip, which is common after trauma and ointment use. Keeping the area moist rather than letting it dry out usually leads to a better cosmetic result.

Will It Definitely Scar?

Honestly, probably yes — but that does not mean it will be very noticeable.

With a deep laceration that crosses the vermilion border (the edge between the red lip and the skin), some degree of scar formation is expected. The key question is how visible it will be after several months of remodeling.

Many lip scars that look dramatic at 1–3 weeks become surprisingly subtle by 3–6 months.

Once the Wound Is Fully Closed

After the stitches are removed and the skin has completely sealed (usually 2–3 weeks, depending on the repair), the treatments that have the best evidence are:

Silicone gel or silicone scar sheets (used consistently for at least 8–12 weeks)
Sun protection on the surrounding skin to prevent darkening
Gentle scar massage once the wound is no longer tender or open
If the Scar Remains Noticeable Later

If after 3–6 months you are left with a raised, thick, uneven, or depressed scar, there are several options that can improve it substantially:

Fractional laser resurfacing
Pulsed dye laser for persistent redness
Microneedling
Steroid injections if the scar becomes thick or hypertrophic
Surgical scar revision if the vermilion border heals unevenly
Looking Specifically at Your Photos

What reassures me is that the edges appear to have been brought together reasonably well, and I do not see an obvious large tissue loss. The lower lip is still very swollen, which can make the alignment look worse than it ultimately will be.

The area I would watch most closely is the central portion of the lower lip where the cut crosses the red lip margin, because that is the part that tends to determine the final cosmetic appearance.

My Honest Advice

Right now, I would focus on healing, moisture, and patience. If this injury happened only recently, I would not judge the final appearance for at least 6–8 weeks, and ideally 3 months.

I know it’s frightening to look in the mirror after a facial injury and feel certain that a permanent scar is inevitable. In my experience, patients with lip injuries that initially look this dramatic are often pleasantly surprised by how much the swelling settles and how much the scar fades over time, especially when the wound is kept moist and allowed to heal without repeated trauma or picking.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Our office has many different treatments for scars depending on the depth of atrophy or hypertrophy. Scars require a combination approach using our HI DEF protocol which uses a combination of lasers, topical scar modulation, and RF treatments to pixelate scars, improve contour, reduce hyperpigmentation, and improve the visibility of the scars so that they are no longer visible in ambient light. Everyone has a unique pattern of scarring and we employ our HIDEF technique to improve texture, color, contour, and topography. We often use a combination of treatments that begin with a careful examination to examine the micro texturing of the acne scars. Atrophic scars and indented  scars can benefit from injectable fillers such as Radiesse, Sculptra, and Restylane with or without subcision to remove tethered scars and atrophic depression. Hyper-redness in scars can be improved with V beam laser, Excel V, BBL, IPL, and Venus RF to improve  the redness and reduce the visibility of deep scars. Fractional Thulium laser and clear & brilliant can also reduce the inflammation and redness of the scar when combined with topical therapy. Fractional lasers such as Fraxel, erbium, and CO2 laser can be combined with radio frequency and also fractional RF to improve textual issues and microtopography. Subcision and TCA cross are also used for deep ice pick scars and narrow valley scars in order to improve the micro texture.  Above all, our combination approach with our clinical nurses and board-certified plastic surgeons can improve the quality of your skin by using at home Melarase creams combined with PRP treatments in our office to improve your skin quality and tone. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with an experienced team of experts in order to reduce your scarring.
 
Finally, hyperpigmentation of scars can be improved with at-home Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads to help reduce active PIH and melanin deposition.

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Jeffrey H. Spiegel, MD · Answer

This injury is very new. But, it doesn't seem to involve the skin/lip junction which is where the majority of lip scarring problems occur.  It is most likely that in 6 months or so you'll feel your lip looks just fine.  If not, we can suggest many ways to improve it. My guess - will be fine.

How can I remove a lip scar? (Photo)

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