Why Scars from Philtrum Reduction Surgery Are Something East Asians Must Know About

Philtrum Reduction Surgery Scars,

Why East Asians Must Know About Them

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This is Globie Plastic Surgery Clinic.

Philtrum Reduction Surgery Scars

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The most important thing in plastic surgery is adhering to the fundamentals. Plastic surgery should be planned with the patient's lifetime in mind. Both the process and the results of plastic surgery must be safe. Globie always puts its patients first.
Consultation is an important step that leads to surgery. To help you be satisfied with your surgical results, we promise personalized consultations with medical professionals who have extensive clinical experience.
Postoperative care can also be considered an extension of surgery. To help our patients recover quickly, we provide personalized care programs.

When searching for philtrum reduction surgery,

you will inevitably come across one particular word at some point.

That word is “scars.”

You may be interested in the effects of surgery,

but what if a scar remains?

Many people put off making a consultation inquiry

again and again because of this one concern.

In fact, this concern is not simply unfounded anxiety.

Because East Asian skin tends to scar

differently from Western skin,

there are clear reasons to carefully consider

the choice of surgical technique from the outset.

In this post, we will explain why

scar-related concerns are more important for East Asians,

as well as ways to shorten the philtrum while minimizing

scar concerns and how to care for the area after surgery.

If you take just three minutes to read this,

you will have criteria you should check before surgery.

Why Is East Asian Skin More Vulnerable to Scarring?

Philtrum Reduction Surgery Scars

There is one question that comes up frequently in the consultation room.

“If an incision is made under the nose, will the scar be very noticeable?”

To answer this question properly, we must first

explain the differences between East Asian and Western skin.

It is not simply a matter of “being more sensitive.”

The way the skin heals after injury itself

is different.

When the skin is injured, the body

produces collagen to fill in the affected area.

This is how scars form.

In Western people, collagen production often

stops at a moderate level,

so scars tend to blend naturally into the skin.

In contrast, East Asians tend to produce

excessive amounts of collagen,

which means they are relatively more likely to develop

hypertrophic scars that appear red, raised, or thickened.

Therefore, applying a surgical technique designed

according to Western standards directly to East Asians

may cause problems.

In the consultation room, we occasionally meet people

who underwent surgery involving a direct incision

in the skin beneath the nose without understanding this difference,

only to find that although their philtrum was shortened,

the scar became an even greater source of concern.

Their results are not necessarily poor,

but they are dissatisfied because of a single scar.

That is why we first consider ways to reduce

the burden of scarring based on East Asian characteristics.

At Globie, we use an approach in which the incision is made

inside the nostrils and extended to the alar area when necessary.

This often places the scar in a location that is

barely visible from the outside,

while also allowing for an effect through a combined approach

of removing excess skin and lifting the underlying tissue inward.

However, if the skin has lost too much elasticity,

or if the incision must inevitably be wider due to the structure of the philtrum,

we may explain this honestly and advise against surgery.

When we determine that the concerns about potential complications

outweigh the expected changes,

Globie’s principle is to take a more cautious approach.

Postoperative Scars: Care Determines the Outcome

Philtrum Reduction Surgery Scars

Once the surgical technique has been selected carefully,

the remaining variable is the recovery process.

Even if the incision has been well concealed,

insufficient aftercare can cause the scar to remain

darker than expected.

“The surgery went well,

but how should I care for the scar now?”

This question is much more important than many people realize.

First, let us discuss pain.

Because anesthesia is administered during surgery,

there is generally little pain during the procedure itself.

However, from the evening of the day of surgery,

after the anesthesia wears off,

you may feel a heavy, pulling sensation

in the surgical area.

This is usually manageable with the prescribed medication,

and naturally subsides around one week after surgery.

If the pain continues even after taking the prescribed medication,

it is safest to follow the clinic’s instructions

and receive any additional care that may be needed.

A small amount of bleeding from inside the nose

may occur during the first one or two days after surgery.

The most common mistake people make at this time

is trying to clean inside the nose with a cotton swab.

This can actually cause inflammation,

so lightly wiping away any blood with gauze

is sufficient.

You must absolutely avoid picking or rubbing your nose.

Swelling is usually at its worst on the third day after surgery

and begins to subside afterward.

During this period, bending your head down or keeping your face pointed downward

may worsen the swelling,

so it is best to remain seated or standing upright.

We also recommend sleeping with your head

on a pillow higher than usual.

Even a small change in posture can significantly affect the speed of recovery.

The often-overlooked factor in scar care

is ultraviolet light.

The surgical area is particularly sensitive to ultraviolet rays

and can develop hyperpigmentation easily.

Some people do not realize this until the scar becomes darker

and later regret not taking precautions.

For approximately two months after surgery,

take care to prevent the nose area from being excessively exposed to sunlight,

and be sure to apply sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher when going outdoors.

Philtrum Reduction Surgery Scars

If there is an incision on the outer area,

regularly applying scar ointment may also aid recovery.

The sutures are removed on the seventh day after surgery,

and makeup can be applied starting the following day.

Avoid blowing your nose or sniffing for two weeks

after the sutures are removed,

and be sure to avoid alcohol and smoking for one month after surgery,

as they can slow wound healing and increase the risk of inflammation.

Although philtrum reduction surgery may appear to be a minor procedure,

both the choice of surgical technique and subsequent care

require careful consideration because the incision is made in an area where scarring can occur.

Providing an honest explanation of the potential for complications

and the recovery process

is the first principle Globie follows during consultations.

“Is this surgery suitable for the structure of my philtrum?”

“Is my case one in which improvement is possible while reducing concerns about scarring?”

Before experiencing trial and error due to inaccurate information,

we recommend receiving an accurate diagnosis first.

*Plastic surgery may cause side effects such as bleeding, inflammation, infection, or scarring depending on the individual, so caution is required.

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Globie Plastic Surgery Clinic

is located on the 5th and 6th floors of the EGI Building,

843 Nonhyeon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul,

just a one-minute walk from Exit 4 of Apgujeong Station on Subway Line 3.

Consultation reservations are available on weekdays and weekends.

All consultations are conducted privately on a one-on-one basis.

For detailed inquiries and reservations, please leave a message through the channel below.

Philtrum Reduction Surgery Scars