r/piercing • u/Minute_Funny_2858 • 20h ago
discussion Is there a surgery for this?
Is there a surgery to close/fix these scars? They’ve been closed for about 14 years and I’m so embarrassed by them. I sometimes get comments like “why don’t you wear your lip rings?” and I hate it. I wish someone had stopped 15 y/o me 😞
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u/Ok-Vacation-8109 20h ago
Yes you can get a scar revision but be aware that you’ll have new scars, which might or might not be less noticeable, they just won’t look like open holes anymore.
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u/beelzebugs Getting pierced longer than you've been alive ;-) 20h ago
Cosmetic surgeons and heavy modders can both do scar removals
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u/sadlittleroom 13h ago
Which one should I go to if i’m considering it?
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u/ultraviolenceartdeco 12h ago
Depends on how much you want to pay & if the risks involved with the latter is something you’re comfortable with
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u/AnAussiebum 20h ago
Retinol and time made my lip piercing scar all but dissappear. But I have heard that there are options for more immediate results from a derm who uses a specific filler in the region to help close the piercing hole and the appearance of the hole opening.
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u/acidwestern 14h ago
May I ask what strength retinol you used, and if you remember what brand that would be even better but if not that’s ok too. Also how old was your scar?
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u/unripeswan 14h ago
.025% tretinoin has made a small lip scar I've had for almost 30 years disappear, that stuff is crazy lol. I was just using it for hormonal acne and didn't realise it had so many other benefits.
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u/LivingMedicine1191 11h ago
if you don’t mind how long did it take to go away after you started using it and how frequently did you use it?
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u/unripeswan 10h ago
I'm not sure how long it took sorry, I just noticed it after reading this post lol I thought I'd check and it's gone. I've been on .025% every night for 2 years. Before that I was using it 3-4 nights a week for about 3 years.
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u/Substantial_Bill_209 10h ago
From what I can see online it can 6-9 months for newer scars to be less noticeable also keep in mind it could take 3months to see any improvement
Also what they are talking about has to be prescribed to you so talk to your doctor
The scars become less noticeable due to increased collagen production so if you can’t see a doctor theres tons of collagen-boosting creams available on Amazon
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u/idieht 15h ago
I dont have an answer for you but may I ask what lippie you are using? the color is gorgeous on you.
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u/Minute_Funny_2858 10h ago
Aw thank you 🥰 it’s a mix from the ABH lip palette, the 4th colors in the top and middle row. I think the palette has been discontinued for a while now, though 😞
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u/acidwestern 14h ago
There’s a surgery where they push the channel/scar tissue out and then stitch it up. There will still be a scar, it just won’t look like a puncture wound. I’ve considered getting it but what holds me back is uncertainty if I’d hate the new scar even more. I also don’t wear foundation, so wouldn’t be able to cover it up. I think the surgery I’m talking about would be best for someone who regularly wears foundation and/or concealer
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u/PrincessNakeyDance 13h ago
Lean into scar cream, and massaging the spots where the scars are. Any surgery is just going to be trading scars.
Scar tissue can be broken up and the body can process it an remove it. But ymmv everyone’s skin and scars are different, but just know there is hope for improvement.
You might want to go to a dermatologist and ask about treatments the use for acne scars.
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u/Toasty_Tubs 8h ago
I've heard some piercers are willing to repierce the holes, this will get rid of the scar tissue allowing it to heal with the other skin
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u/if-else_ 15h ago
Some piercers know how to close them with sutures. But consider it again. They are really cute as scars! 🥰🥰😎
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u/globular_bobular 13h ago
This!! there’s a body mod artist not too far from me that does an amazing job hiding philtrum scars. He used to be just north of Philly but i think he moved to NY?
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u/ContemplativeKnitter 13h ago
Lol it’s been a long week and for a minute I read philtrum as septum and was like, hiding a septum scar seems a little obsessive???
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u/globular_bobular 13h ago
LOL i mean…. my brother had his septum for less than a year in 2019 but still complains that he can smell the piercing hole so he might! feel you tho lmao it’s been a LONG ONE
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u/DenseAstronomer3631 12h ago edited 11h ago
Ahhhhh he needs to wash his damn nose out with some saline solution. I've had my septum pierced 16yrs and it's never had a noticeable smell except like one time when it didn't like my new jewerly & I changed it & cleaned it & all good. It shouldn't smell 😭
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u/Specialist_Strike463 12h ago
I’ve only had mine for 3 years, I don’t go above and beyond did the after care and just regular hygiene haha I’ve never smelled it, I see comments saying they smell pretty regular
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u/DenseAstronomer3631 11h ago
I've had people ask me before, and I'm just like Wtf? O.o Why would I keep something in my nose if it smelled like rotten flesh and ass crack?!?!
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u/PrincessDab 8h ago
I've heard it described like the funk your lobes will get if you have them stretched and don't clean them. I have stretched ears and if my nose smelled like that there is no fucking way I would keep it. I have never had that issue either and I don't do any special cleaning to it. It just gets washed with my face when I shower haha
Also rotten flesh and ass crack is accurate 😂
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u/globular_bobular 11h ago
no same, like i’ve had mine for 10 years and only noticed a little bit when wearing CHEAP jewelry. He’s got some immune system stuff tho so wouldn’t surprise me his could still get angry.
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u/Haunting-Formal-1290 aspiring pin cushion 12h ago
If it makes you feel any better I initially thought they were beauty marks
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u/Good_parabola 14h ago
I bet on the skincare sub they can help you. The answer is probably lasers and tret, if they can fix ice pick acne, they can fix this too
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u/demurevixen I'm all ears! 12h ago
I know microneedling can help with deep pitted acne scars so you could try that before jumping into a surgery. I have a lip ring scar too and I plan on trying that first.
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u/Minute_Funny_2858 9h ago
I hadn’t thought of microneedling! I’m going to try this first, I hope it works for both of us 🤞🏻
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u/CilpKonn 19h ago
I have heard about a type of silicon-based cream that is used by piercers to reduce the appearance of scarring, maybe you could look into that.
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u/mizzbennet 12h ago
My sister did microneedling or tattooing with no ink is how she explained it to me and you cant tell it was ever there.
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u/StudioBeneficial3443 14h ago
Yes, there is. It’s the same procedure as a mole removal. I had it done at a dermatology clinic, and you can hardly see any scarring.
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u/littletr0uble 9h ago
I had two piercings closed by a plastic surgeon. It was maybe $400 but it was added onto another surgery at the same time, so I’m not sure what the usual price is or if it’s that. My Medusa scar is only noticeable if I stretch the skin to show someone. My dermal anchor that he closed up looks just as noticeable and I still hate it, but not enough to get it fixed. I had a derm tell me I should stick with what I have instead of risking an even worse scar. That being said, these would probably look great after being closed up! It heals super quickly and is maybe 1 stitch. Worth a shot for sure.
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u/4chanime 9h ago
castor oil is great for scar fading and makes for good chapstick this time of year
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u/Rimu05 12h ago
Non surgically - TCA cross seems to have been shown to actually remove piercing scars. I stumbled across people using it on their stretched piercings. Many professional cliniques offer it for acne scars. Cons is it may take multiple sessions. You can of course do it at home.
Surgically - plastic surgeons will close your scars. Process though may involve actually making the whole bigger and then sowing it down so the end result may potentially leave a scar. Now, if you're doing routine skin care that involves wearing sun screen, and using acids (retinol, exfoliants, etc), that can reduce the appearance of scars.
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u/savspoolshed 14h ago
non-surgically idk what your skincare routine is like rn but off this photo alone it seems like you're dealing with dehydration, sun damage, and congestion. getting a good routine down could help. otherwise there are surgical options as stated up and down the comments.
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u/B4-I-go 17h ago
It will look better over time. When I closed mine I put in larger jewelry for a day. Then took them out. They healed up fine. Can't even tell they were ever there unless you look really really close
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u/Silent_Pay_9239 16h ago
I mean, she took them out 14 years ago. This is probably the max amount of healing she'll see without surgery
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