Would I Benefit From Lip Scar Revision?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I would like to know if I would benefit from a lip scar revision? I had a laceration on my right upper lip that goes from the mid lip to just a hair past the vermilion border. I had 2, absorbing 4-0 sutures put in. And it’s been just a year and the scar seems more pronounced… When I’m not smiling it’s not as bad. But when I talk and smile, it’s definitely noticeable. It’s bumpy and from time to time .i get self conscious when in interacting with people, they tend to stare at scar…The scar is not straight, it has a slight curve. Thank you in advance!

A: Thank you for your inquiry and sending your picture. If the scar is over a year old and is pronounced and bumpy then there is some hypertrophic scar present. This often present as a white scar line that is raised, firm and may offset the vermilion-skin lip border. The only improvement that can be obtained at this point would be an elliptical scar revision pretty much along the line that it lies. Fortunately the scar parallels fairly well the natural vertical lines of the vermilion. This is a simple office procedure done under local anesthesia.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana