How can I remove the five year old scar on my lip? (Photo)

Hello! My name is Jessica, I am a physician assistant, and one of the providers at Aesthetic Skin - Winnetka & Chicago. This is a great question. I recommend CO2 resurfacing laser as one of the most effective options for improving the appearance of a five-year-old lip scar. Mature scars can be difficult to erase completely, but CO2 laser resurfacing helps smooth texture irregularities, blend the scar into the surrounding skin, and stimulate collagen remodeling for a more natural look over time. Depending on the scar type, some people combine CO2 with other treatments—like microneedling, steroid injections, or filler for indented scars—to get the best result. I hope this helps and best of luck!

Thank you for sharing your photo and your concern. I completely understand how a scar on the lip can feel very noticeable and bothersome, especially when it’s raised and darker than the surrounding skin.

For a scar that’s several years old, there are a few approaches that can help improve both its color and texture:

Laser treatments: Certain lasers can help flatten raised scars and reduce pigmentation, making the scar blend more naturally with your surrounding skin.

Injectable treatments: In some cases, small amounts of steroid injections can soften raised scars.

Topical treatments: Prescription creams or silicone gels can sometimes help lighten and smooth scars, though older scars respond more slowly.

Minor procedural revision: If the scar is particularly prominent, a small in-office procedure can reshape or excise the scar for a smoother appearance.

It’s important to keep in mind that while these treatments can significantly improve a scar’s appearance, complete erasure is rarely possible—but we can often make it much less noticeable.

Healing and improvement are gradual, so patience is key, but there are effective options to make the scar much more subtle.

Scars on the lip can pose an aesthetic and functional challenge for patients. From the photo, it appears that it is confined within the pink part of the lip, which makes this problem easier to camouflage with a scar revision. I would recommend removing the raised, dark area with a small excision and realigning the edges using a strong, tension free closure.