Mouth Widening Surgery

Q: Dr. Eppley,I’m interested in doing a mouth widening surgery combined with a chin implant.

I was just wondering what can I expect from getting a mouth widening surgery, in terms of post surgery scars. Will the visibility of the scars be like this?

http://exploreplasticsurgery.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Subnasal-Lip-Lift-and-Mouth-Widening-Procedure-immediate-result-front-view-Dr-Barry-Eppley-Indianapolis.jpg

Will they be isolated to the corners of the both or below the nose as well ala above. Also, will the scars always remain as prominent as in the picture above? or will they gradually dissipate (not to become invisible but barely visible)? If the prominence of the scars do reduce over time, why are there so many doctors (on real self) against doing this surgery for cosmetic purposes?

Thanks for taking your time to answer my questions.

A: In regards to mouth widening surgery scars, the picture you have linked is an immediate right after surgery result. (and it also includes a concurrent subnasal lip lift which has nothing to do with the mouth widening)  While it is very important to be aware of the risk of hypertrophic scars that may require a revision with any corner of the mouth procedure (lifts, narrowing or widening), my experience has been that there is a low rate of adverse scarring for the mouth widening procedure. As to your question about other surgeon’s comments about the mouth widening procedure, I can not speak for their experience in performing it. Such comments matter if they are qualified opinions…meaning have they really performed the procedure and personally seen actual outcomes.

Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana