How Long Does It Take Scars From A Lip Advancement To Fade?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Hello! I found you searching the internet and I find your work great. I just can find information about recovery for lips enlargement for this kind of operation http://exploreplasticsurgery.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/lip-advancement-surgery-indianapolis-dr-barry-eplpey1.jpg .How long does it take for scars not to be visible anymore? Or how long it takes for it to be slightly visible?

A: Other than some moderate lip swelling, there usually is no bruising with lip advancement surgery. Patients report little to no pain as the upper lip will have some temporary numbness. So the recovery is very quick as there are no physical restrictions after surgery. The scars from lip advancements heal very quickly and are minimally visible in 3 to 4 weeks after surgery although that will be somewhat dependent on the patient’s age and the preoperative shape of the lip. (younger patients take a little longer than older patients) Full scar maturation is a process and one should anticipate that the final appearance of the scar is one of months and not weeks. As there will always be a permanent lip scar, one has to have a thin and small lip that justifies that trade-off. One can wear lipstick one week afetr surgery so scar camouflage is easily done through the scar maturation process.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis,Indiana