Over 6 months post lip lift - What can I do to minimize scarring? (photos)

Question

I had a lip lift procedure in April 2022. I do not believe enough stitches were put in place to hold the skin together which resulted in my skin parting. Panicking I tried all I could to fix the scar immediately, but was told to wait 6 months for the scar to heal. It has now been over 6 months and I am in desperate need of help. This scar is causing me depression. I have used silicone sheets consistently and the scar doesn’t improve. Please help

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

At least from the photos provided, there appears to be a hypertrophic (elevated) scar in the very center. This can usually be easily flattened with an intralesional injection of an anti-inflammatory agent, such as triamcinolone in the appropriate concentration and amount. I have found silicone gels, sheeting, etc. to be generally ineffective and have not recommended these approaches for many years already. You would be wise to consult with a board certified cosmetic dermatologist. Going forward it would be well to keep in mind that the ideal window of time for treating any young scar is between week eight and week twelve following surgery (or whatever the cause) since treating a "mature scar" (older than three months) is much more difficult and is likely to be less successful in general. It is for this reason that it is not preferable to wait six months or a year before treating. Once the scar is flattened, if it remains hypopigmented, professionally performed microneedling accompanied by the application of prescription pigment promoting topicals, such as tyrosine and lanatoprost, may be used to improve the pigmentation and to better blend the color and texture of the treated scar with that of the surrounding skin. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

At this stage you can still hope that scar will improve; it takes 12-15 months in your age group for scar to completely mature. Injection of Kenalog or laser treatment should be considered as well. Good luck.

Over 6 months post lip lift - What can I do to minimize scarring? (photos)

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Everything you need to know about Lip Lift

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Over 6 months post lip lift - What can I do to minimize scarring? (photos)

Answers (2)

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Everything you need to know about Lip Lift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.