Dog bite lip scar revision (photo)

I'm so sorry that happened to you. I have sewn up quite a few faces due to dog bites throughout my career.
In general, the red lip heals very well, so that site that appears whitish, like an ulcer, will likely heal imperceptibly with time.
As for the laceration portion, my concern is that the scar is depressed (dented down). There is some surrounding swelling currently accentuating this, but I feel strongly that it will heal with a depression.
My recommendation would be to see a well-regarded facial plastic or plastic surgeon near you for an early correction. They will open the area, freshen the edges, and do a nice, everted closure of the wound to minimize the chance of it healing with a depression.

The other option is to allow for maturation over the next year and then consider a revision at that point. My concern with this approach is that you have to "live with it" until then and then have another healing period where it will be a step back before a step forward.
Additionally, you may find it VERY challenging to get insurance coverage for it at that point.
As you're likely aware, insurance companies can be a nightmare when it comes to coverage, and they often consider delayed scar revision purely cosmetic in nature. Your, and your surgeon's, arguments will likely be more easily made at this time versus a year later.

Our office has many different treatments for scars depending on the depth of atrophy or hypertrophy. Scars require a combination approach using our HI DEF protocol which uses a combination of lasers, topical scar modulation, and RF treatments to pixelate scars, improve contour, reduce hyperpigmentation, and improve the visibility of the scars so that they are no longer visible in ambient light. Everyone has a unique pattern of scarring and we employ our HIDEF technique to improve texture, color, contour, and topography. We often use a combination of treatments that begin with a careful examination to examine the micro texturing of the acne scars. Atrophic scars and indented scars can benefit from injectable fillers such as Radiesse, Sculptra, and Restylane with or without subcision to remove tethered scars and atrophic depression. Hyper-redness in scars can be improved with V beam laser, Excel V, BBL, IPL, and Venus RF to improve the redness and reduce the visibility of deep scars. Fractional Thulium laser and clear & brilliant can also reduce the inflammation and redness of the scar when combined with topical therapy. Fractional lasers such as Fraxel, erbium, and CO2 laser can be combined with radio frequency and also fractional RF to improve textual issues and microtopography. Subcision and TCA cross are also used for deep ice pick scars and narrow valley scars in order to improve the micro texture. Above all, our combination approach with our clinical nurses and board-certified plastic surgeons can improve the quality of your skin by using at home Melarase creams combined with PRP treatments in our office to improve your skin quality and tone. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with an experienced team of experts in order to reduce your scarring.


Finally, hyperpigmentation of scars can be improved with at-home Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads to help reduce active PIH and melanin deposition.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Thank you for your inquiry! A scar revision to the lip would be an option. We would love to meet with you to discuss your options. Schedule a consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon to help you reach your goals.