Will Mouth Widening Surgery Make My Mouth Open Wider?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am looking for a lateral commisuroplasty to widen my mouth. After upper and lower direct lip lifts the scars fused at the corners of my mouth making the opening extremely small. It is challenging to eat, smile, talk, etc. I would really like to correct this and have a nice wide smile again that allows me to take a big bite when needed!

A: Mouth corner scar contracture is a very different problem than traditional mouth widening in both goals and in the surgical technique to treat it. Scar contracture represents a tissue deficiency problem that will only get worse if a V-Y advancement mouth widening technique is used. Rather the mouth corners need to be released and opened and new tissue added through an internal rotational flap of mucosa.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon