American Society of Plastic Surgeons
For Medical Professionals
 
Phuong Nguyen
4 years ago
Answered

Dog bite chunk off lip

My sister got bit by a dog and a chunk of her lip was bitten off. The lip has healed but there’s a lot of scar tissue build up so the lip looks like there’s a bump on it. What can we do? We went to a plastic surgeon a month after it happened and they did the laser treatment but the scar tissues are still there.

Procedure: Skin rejuvenation and resurfacing
Location: Aurora, CO

Replies 4

Troy Pittman
ASPS Surgeon
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My suggestion is that she have a scar revision on her lip. That thick scar tissue can be removed and the lip repaired in a meticulous fashion.

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Francis Collini
ASPS Surgeon

I agree, a scar revision is the treatment of choice. Lasers are ineffective in these situations.

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Rahul Vemula
ASPS Surgeon
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Thanks for your question. At times, do bites leave worse scars than other types of injuries. If it is within a year of the date of injury you may be able to do steroid injections to soften this up. If that doesn't work I think you would benefit from a revision surgery. Depending on how big the area is; it may be able to be done in the office.

Best wishes!

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Nelson Castillo

Depending on the amount of time it has been since the injury, I would advocate conservative options such as scar massage, but if it has been 6+ months, a scar revision may be required.

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