Lip lift scar at 6 months post-op, will it improve from here? (Photos)

Question

Feeling self cautious about my lip lift scar. This is about 6 months post op. Will it improve from here? Would you recommend laser or revision? Is the white line permanent? :(

Jonathan Cabin, MD · Answer

Hi there, Thank you for sharing your concerns and photos. I'm sorry you're feeling self-conscious about your scar. In general, scars mature for up to a year, so the texture and color will likely continue to get better. Based on your photos - in addition to the white line - there seems to be some areas of raised (hypertrophic) scarring, and other areas of redness. In my experience, redness can be improved with lasers - such as PDL or vascular laser - and any thickening can be improved with micro-needling and/or injections of diluted steroid or 5FU. It also appears from the photo that the scar may be positioned a bit lower than the natural sub-nasal crease, an area commonly used to hide lip lift incisions/scars. In the case that the scar is misplaced too low, and in patients similar to you that have come to me from elsewhere, a small revision to place the incision higher up is required. Hope this helps and best of luck! - Dr. Cabin

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Plastic surgery scars require attention after surgery so that they remain cosmetically-appealing and barely noticeable. In our office, we use a protocol for scars that minimizes their activity in the 6-8 weeks after surgery. If you have late plastic surgery scars, you may also require laser and RF therapy to help reduce the longterm effects of the scarring. Keloids, hypertrophic scars, widened scars, red scars, and hyperpigmented scars all require scar modulation with topical creams followed by lasers and RF therapy. Topical skincare should be directed to a specific need, whether for pigmentation or hypertrophy and our office can guide you through the process to obtain the correct Plato’s Scar cream or Melarase cream for hypertrophy and discoloration. In terms of lasers, we would employ the vbeam laser for redness, Venus Viva RF, PRP microneedling, chemical peels, and Morpheus 8, fractional erbium, or fractional co2. All of these have their individual benefits. Most of all, we recommend you visit a solid plastic surgeon who understands surgical scar revision, laser therapy, and RF therapy for scars. 
 
Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Steven Curti, MD · Answer

It takes around a year for scars to completely mature. Until that time the scar can change. From what I can see in the pictures, there is still some redness and a raised component to the scar that may continue to improve. I would speak to your surgeon about scar management but if you are not currently using silicon gel or patches and good sun protection I would start there. Beyond those, dermabrasion or lasers all have some efficacy with camouflaging scars.

Dallas Buchanan, MD · Answer

Thank you for your pictures and questions. There is no such thing as "scarless" surgery and all surgeries leave scars. In a best case scenario, the resulting scar is a thin, white-line scar that is easily disguised or covered, which is exactly what your scar appears to be. Now all scars take at least a full year to completely settle, but it looks like you are in a very good position to have a good resultant scar. If you have concerns, you would be best to contact your operating surgeon and discuss your concerns with him or her. 
Best of luck!
Dallas Buchanan, MD
VIVIFY plastic surgery
Tampa, FL

David M. Kowalczyk, MD, MBA, FACS · Answer

Hi there! Thanks for the photos. At 6 months, there's still time for the scar to improve. Scars mature of 6-12 months. In the meantime, Biocorneum is a product which can help smooth and heal scars. It may be worthwhile to determine if you're a candidate for something like targeted CO2 laser or IPL to help with the appearance. Many of those interventions can be started while the scar is still maturing. Hope this helps!

Lip lift scar at 6 months post-op, will it improve from here? (Photos)

Answers (5)

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