What can be done to fix this after lip lift removed too much skin and left bad scar? (Photos)

Question

Is there anything that can be done to fix this? I had a lip lift just over 2 years ago. The scarring is deep and has got stitch marks all the way round. I’m very self conscious about it and it’s noticeable even whilst wearing makeup. Since having the procedure done I can’t close my mouth properly and feel like I have too much tooth show when my mouth is at rest. Are there any procedures that can help me? Thank you

Gary Linkov, MD · Answer

I can definitely see the suture marks that you are referring to. As for the skin excision, it looks like a reasonable about is still left behind and this will slowly elongate over time, so I would not worry about that. As for the scar, if you were to get it excised it would create even less philtral length and roll the upper lip out further. Instead, I recommend laser resurfacing with a CO2 laser which can help with the appearance of the scar. 
Gary Linkov, MD
Lip Specialist
Manhattan

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

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

Farhad Rafizadeh, MD · Answer

I am sorry to learn that you are not happy with you lip lift results. Your teeth are positioned low. In these cases, we have a long discussion with the patients about how much to remove so that the mouth can easily close and there is not too much incisor show. In your case you still have a significant amount of upper lip remaining and it will lengthen over time. You can also stretch the upper lip by pulling your lip down using your upper lip muscle. Anyhow it doesn't look exaggerated and it is a matter of adjusting to the new look. There is no easy way to lengthen the upper lip short of a skin graft. Sometimes a frenectomy can lengthen the upper lip, but I would not recommend this without seeing you and your before pictures. As far as your scars cross hatching, I think the sutures were left in too long or may be dissolving sutures were used that stayed too long. I remove my sutures in less than 5 days.The area can be revised to get read of the cross hatching. I just did this kind of revision on a patient that was done elsewhere and it worked out great. She said she might leave a review and picture on my profile soon. Over all I think your results should be compared to the preoperative situation and see how much improvement you see. It would have been good to include before pictures.

What can be done to fix this after lip lift removed too much skin and left bad scar? (Photos)

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What can be done to fix this after lip lift removed too much skin and left bad scar? (Photos)

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Everything you need to know about Lip Lift

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