Will my mucocele removal surgery leave a noticeable scar? (Photos)

Question

3 weeks ago I got my mucocele removed. I had inside stitches but no outside stitches. The wound still swollen. I want to know if the scar will fade and what can i do to minimize scarring as it is a new wound. Please i am scared that my lip will stay like this.

Misbah Khan MD, FAAD, FACMS · Answer

its a good question for the surgeon who operated on the lip in the first place. please follow up with them. usually when i do lip surgeries the scars are placed on the inside and within 3 weeks the swelling is all gone and the function is also fully restored. you can look at some of the pics on my RealSelf dashboard and my instagram feed. its technique dependent. the results and the recovery time depends on the techniques utilized.

Greg Bran, MD, PhD · Answer

The inside of our mouth (including lips) is covered with mucosa. Mucosa and Skin heal very differently. When you have a deep cut into your skin (i.e. when it is bleeding) the deeper skin layers become activated and they create reparative tissue, also known as scar tissue. Mucosa, however, doe not produce such kind of scar tissue. All this has to do with the activity  of some growth factors, most importantly the activity of TGF beta 1,2, or 3. Without going into too many details... if you only had an incision on the inside, you should not end up with a visible scar. Initial swelling in the area can be significantly reduced by gentle massaging.
Kind regards,
Greg Bran MD PhD
Double board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon

Will my mucocele removal surgery leave a noticeable scar? (Photos)

Answers (2)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Lip Surgery

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

Will my mucocele removal surgery leave a noticeable scar? (Photos)

Answers (2)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Lip Surgery

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