AboutAlan M. Engler, MD, FACS Expertise Dr. Engler has answered over 2300 plastic surgery questions for Allexperts. His expertise is in cosmetic plastic surgery including breast surgery (breast enlargement with implants, breast reduction, breast lifts), liposuction, eyelid surgery, tummy tucks, facelifts etc.
Dr. Engler has been listed as one New York`s Top Doctors, and as "One of the World's Most Famous Aesthetic Surgeons" (Aesthetic Surgery, TASCHEN Books, Angelika Taschen, Editor). He is the author of 4 books, including "BodySculpture" (a best-selling plastic surgery book on breast surgery, liposuction and tummy tucks), "EyeScapes" (Plastic Surgery of the Eyelids), "Restylane," and "The Slim Book of Liposuction."
Dr. Engler has two US Patents for surgical instruments that he's designed, and has appeared on numerous television shows, including The Tyra Banks Show, The Ricki Lake Show (four times), and the Dr. Keith Ablow Show. Videos of his appearances are available on YouTube (SEARCH FOR "DR. ENGLER"). His website is www.bodysculpture.com.
Experience Dr. Alan Engler is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York and the author of BodySculpture - Plastic Surgery of the Body for Men and Women (ISBN 0966382749) one of the top-selling plastic surgery books on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, etc.
Organizations belong to ASAPS (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery); ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons); ACS (American College of Surgeons); Clinical Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York
Question I had a lip lift augmentation 2 years ago...to be more specific on what I had, it involved an incision along the border of the upper lip. Once the incision is made the doctor removes a tiny strip of skin where the upper and lower lip meets. The lip is then pulled taut and stitched into it's new position. It's kinda like a face lift where the lip is pulled up. (I had the bottom lip done too.) I have no implants, injectables or fillers.
My problem is that my scars on my lips feel very hard, tight, firm and obviously very uncomfortable for me. I also have nerve sensations....(burning/tingling sensations and sensitive to hot and cold temperatures.) My lips obviously move a lot which constantly pulls on the scar and is very uncomfortable. I think I might have very sensitive scar tissue...it's definetely a scar issue/ problem. Do you know of any solutions that can make my lips soft and to get rid of the sensitivity..... (I have tried all sorts of massaging scar creams to massage the scar but they do not help.) I have suffered 2 years from this and don't know what to do. Is there any surgery or non-surgery to help with softening the scars?? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! Thank You.
Answer Hi Marcia,
There's more about plastic surgery at www.bodysculpture.com.
I'm sorry for the problems you're having. The lips are notoriously sensitive regions of the body which is, of course, a double-edged sword. Surgery in this area can result in more dysesthesias (uncomfortable sensations) than comparable surgery in other areas.
Massaging is certainly the first line approach to painful scars but it sounds like you've already done that.
The next things to try would be the following: ultrasound treatment (which is used more typically for scar tissue on the extremities). This may be a little unwieldy (ie, it's not the simplest area, depending on exactly where the scars are how big the probe is). Another option is intralesional steroid injections; ie, injecting a little bit of steroid (such as triamcinolone) directly into the scar. This, obviously, is not the most comfortable procedure to undergo, but it may provide some relief.
Other than that I'm not sure what else to say, but I hope that this helps, and good luck,
