How Prominent Are The Scars From Mouth Widening Surgery?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in a mouth widening surgery procedure.I have a VERY small mouth. It is of equal width of my nose (my nose is thin). I have read your concerns about post surgery scarring with this procedure and I think that for me personally, the benefits tremendously outweigh the risks. But I guess that’s for you to decide. I just have a couple of questions though first. How prominent are the scars? And can they be removed through either permanent makeup or steroid injections? I read that you said this procedure is easy. Please contact me when you can because your one of the only surgeons who is qualified enough to perform this. Thanks!!

A: A mouth widening surgery procedure (opening commissuroplasty) is a limited procedure and not difficult to undergo given that the corners of the mouth are small in size. The fine line scars are placed at the junction of the skin and vermilion around the corners of the mouth. Should the scars heal unfavorably, they will not be effectively treated by steroid injections or makeup, they will require re-excision and closure. (surgical scar revision) You should not think of scars being ‘removed’, they can be reduced but never completely removed. You are correct in your assumption that one’s mouth width (corner to corner) should exceed the width of the lateral ala when vertical lines are dropped down past the mouth. By ideal proportion standards, the width of the mouth should be 1.618 that of the width of the nose.