Do lip lifts leave bad scarring?

Question

My upper lip is quite long. I was considering a lip lift but worry scarring will be bad. I am caucasian so should scar ok but do not want permanent marks. Is this a risk?

Ricardo L. Rodriguez, MD · Answer

Any time there is an incision, that incision will leave a scar. So undesirable scarring is always a risk. And it is generally a concern for anyone considering any type of plastic surgery.During a lip lift, I typically make an incision at the base of the nose, in the natural ridge between lip skin and nasal skin.Be sure to discuss your concerns, including the resulting scar, with a board certified plastic surgeon who has extensive experience performing lip lifts.Look closely at before and after photos during your lip lift consult and ask the doctor to point out the scar area if you're unable to tell for sure on your own where the incision was made for that patient.Best wishes!

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

Good day! If you are concerned about the scars, there are available incision treatments as you heal to provide the best result possible. There are laser treatments, microneedling, and topical creams, to name a few. Find a board-certified plastic surgeon and do not hesitate to ask post operative options for best results. Best of luck! #RealSelf100

Corey S. Maas, MD · Answer

In my experience, lip lifts heal extremely well
and, if performed properly, should end up as an unnoticeable line at the base
of the nose. Fillers are often inappropriately used in isolation to increase
the vertical height of the red lip. It is important to understand that volume
enhancement not only increases the vertical height of the red lip but also
increases lip volume circumferentially. Attempts to significantly increase
vertical lip height with fillers alone project the lip proportionally in the anterior
plane and result in the now often seen ‘‘duck lip.’’ The lip lift is a simple
and excellent surgical option that can be done under local anesthesia for
improving the red:white lip ratio with or without the use of injectable
fillers. The subnasal lip lift provides a predictable increase in the vertical
height of the red lip, preserves the delicate anatomy at the lip border, and
improves the red:white lip ratio in a predictable fashion.. In order to
determine if this procedure is best for you, a proper physical exam is
necessary. good luck!

J. Brad Turner, MD · Answer

Thank you for your questions.Your concerns are valid.  The scar from a lip lift is however hidden very well in the shadows of the nose.  Scars in Caucasian can at times be nearly imperceptible with careful attention to technique and post op care.  The improvement in the shape and show of the upper lip to others around you will be much more perceptible than the faint scar that only you and your surgeon would notice.Best of luck

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

Having done a lot of subnasal lip lifts I would say that the scarring is quite good. But the key to good scarring in this area is to follow the natural curvatures of the lip-nose junction (don't make a straight line) and do not have too much skin removed. (never more than 1/3 to 1/4 of the total philtral length distance.

Do lip lifts leave bad scarring?

Answers (5)

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