What would be the best option to remove visible piercing holes from my face? (Photo)

Question

I had my lips pierced at 16. I am now 22 and regretting it very much. The holes were only used for about a year or 2 after they were pierced. However, they grew quite large and are very large and visible on my face now. I made an appointment with a plastic surgeon recently and walked out being extremely dissapointed and discouraged from going through with any procedure to close them. I am on here with the hopes of getting a second opinion and maybe some recommendations.

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

I have had success in closing piercing holes using TCA CROSS, which has proven in over two decades of use to be safe for use in all skin types and engenders little to no significant post-treatment downtime. I have been using this procedure for twenty-three years already. Surgery has downtime and risks for the development of stretch marks and tram-track stitch scars. Make sure that you consult an experienced board certified cosmetic dermatologist. Best of luck.

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

Corey S. Maas, MD · Answer

Small excision of scars following lip lines (pursing lines) while assuring there is no lining tissue (mucosa) left trapped below the skin surface can be performed in office.

Akshay Sanan, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello Amanda2901,
Thanks for your question and uploading your photo. I am sorry you had a negative experience. Based on your photo and seeing the areas of lip piercings, I believe it is possible to close the piercings. This involves removing the skin down to the muscle and inside your lip (the entire piercing tract), followed by a multi-layered closure. I recommend a consultation before undergoing any procedure. I hope this helps.
All the best,Dr. Sanan, MDAkshay Sanan, MD Facial Plastic SurgeryLos Angeles, CA

What would be the best option to remove visible piercing holes from my face? (Photo)

Answers (4)