Will Mouth Widening Surgery Help My Mouth Open Better?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I would like to have the horizontal edges of my lips expanded, aka a commissuroplasty. I have a hard time opening my mouth wide when eating, at the dentist, and smiling.

A: I would agree that the corner to corner width of your mouth is small as it is barely wider than the width of your lateral nostrils. (bialar distance) Mouth widening surgery can make its appearance wider but I have some concerns about whether it would really improve mouth opening as the widening process creates some scar tissue at the mouth corners. A wider looking mouth does not always translate into one that opens more easily or wider.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon