Surgery · Lip reduction incision

Lip Reduction Scar

A line kept on the inside of the lip

Gangnam, Seoul | Board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Jonghwan Choi
KHIDI-registered for international patients · Apgujeong Rewind

Lip Reduction Scar Inner Lip Incision Lip Reduction Scar Inner Lip Incision 
Line

Lip reduction scar

Is a lip reduction scar visible, and where is the incision made?

The short answer

In the published technique for lip reduction, the incision runs along the inner surface of the lip, near the line where the dry red lip meets the moist lining of the mouth. With the mouth closed and the lip at rest, that line faces the teeth and is not seen from outside. It can be felt with the tongue while it heals, and it can be seen if the lip is turned outward. Rewind does not publish its own step-by-step technique for the reduction, so the placement for your lip is confirmed by the surgeon at examination. No surgeon can promise a line that is never noticed, and how a scar matures differs between individuals.

Where this comes from: the incision position is described in the published papers on reduction cheiloplasty listed at the foot of this page. Rewind's Korean lip page states that its lip incisions follow the lip line so they are hard to notice, and its post-operative instructions for lip surgery recommend sunscreen against scarring and pigmentation. Both were written for the clinic's corner operation. The clinic publishes no date at which a scar counts as settled, and none is given here.

A lip reduction differs from a lip lift here more than anywhere else. A lip lift places its line on the skin under the nose, where it will always be on view to some degree. A reduction keeps the line on the inside, and the question it raises is less about being seen than about being felt: against the teeth, by the tongue, in the first weeks of eating.

Dr. Jonghwan Choi operating under loupe magnification at Rewind Plastic Surgery
Fig. 01 · Inside the lip, the incision is placed and closed under magnification
Factors

What shapes the line

Where a lip reduction scar comes from, in four parts

The scar left by a reduction is the product of four things. The surgeon controls the first two on the day. The third belongs to you for a period of weeks, and the fourth was settled long before you booked.

part 01
Placement on the inner surface
The published technique keeps the incision on the inside of the lip, near the boundary between red lip and lining. That position is what keeps the line out of view when the mouth is closed.
part 02
How much tissue comes out
A wider excision means a closure under more tension. Conservative marking is the published habit for this operation, partly for the shape of the lip and partly for the quality of the line left behind.
part 03
How the mouth is used while it heals
Wide opening, hard chewing and strong expressions all pull across the inner closure. Rewind's lip-surgery instructions limit each of them for a period, and the line benefits as much as the lip does.
part 04
Your own healing history
Raised or thickened scars on any part of the body, slow-healing wounds, smoking and some medicines all affect how a closure behaves. They are asked about at consultation, before any line is drawn.
Course

From closure to softened line

The lip reduction scar from closure to a softer line

The line inside the lip passes through five stages. Only the middle ones carry figures from the clinic's own material; the rest are followed at review.

01Design

The lip reduction incision is drawn with the patient upright

Marking is done with the face relaxed and the lips closed, because that is the lip other people see. The shape of the excision decides both how the lip changes and where the line will sit, so the two are planned together.

02Closure

The inner wound is closed inside the mouth

In the published technique the closure lies entirely within the mouth. There is no line on the skin of the face from this operation, which is the main difference from a lip lift and the reason a reduction scar is discussed in terms of feel.

03Days 6-7

Stitches, where they need removing

Rewind's lip page gives about six to seven days for stitch removal in its lip surgery. Stitches inside the mouth are sometimes the dissolving kind, and the surgeon confirms which your closure uses. Early on, the line is raised and obvious to the tongue.

04Months 1-2

Tension kept off the healing line

Wide mouth opening is avoided for one to two months after stitch removal, according to the clinic's lip page. This is the period in which a closure is most easily stretched, and the restriction protects the line as well as the shape.

05Maturing

The months in which the inner scar softens

A scar inside the lip goes on softening after the restrictions end, and the pace differs between people. Rewind publishes no month at which it is called finished. The surgeon who placed it checks it at review, against his own drawing.

Dr. Jonghwan Choi explaining scarring and risks to a patient during a consultation at Rewind Plastic Surgery
Fig. 02 · Scarring history is asked about before the incision is designed
Rewind

Why the line is planned first

Why the lip reduction incision is planned where the lip can hide it

The inner surface of the lip is the one place a reduction can be made without leaving a line on the face. Using it well is a matter of design, restraint and follow-up, and each of those sits with the surgeon.

01Concealment

A lip reduction line placed where the mouth covers it

Keeping the incision on the inside of the lip means that, with the mouth closed, the only sign of the operation is the new shape. The surgeon designs the excision so the line follows that inner boundary on both sides.

02Restraint

A smaller excision leaves a quieter closure

Taking less tissue lowers the tension across the line, and a second small step remains possible if the first falls short. Rewind's surgeon marks with that in mind, since removed tissue cannot be put back.

03Follow-up

The line is reviewed by the person who closed it

In a single-surgeon clinic, the checks after a lip reduction are made by the surgeon who drew and sutured the line. Patients from abroad send photographs and correspond in their own language, under the clinic's KHIDI registration M-2025-01-08-09288.

Dr. Jonghwan Choi presenting surgical technique at an academic meeting
Fig. 03 · Incision design is surgical technique, and it is discussed as such
Theatre

Where the incision is made

Where the lip reduction incision is made and later checked

Operating room at Rewind Plastic Surgery, Richro Building

Fig. 04 · The clinic's operating room, where the line inside the lip is placed

Private rest room on the treatment floor at Rewind Plastic Surgery

Fig. 05 · A private room for the first hours after the closure

Rewind operates in its own theatre on the fourth and fifth floors of the Richro Building in Apgujeong, and one surgeon takes the lip from design to the last check of the scar. Reviews are booked within the clinic's hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 to 19:00, Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00, closed Thursday and Sunday. What is published about the line is listed below.

Incision on the inner surface of the lip
No line on the skin of the face from this operation
Placement confirmed at examination
Amount marked conservatively
Stitch removal at about six to seven days, if needed
No wide mouth opening for one to two months after
Sunscreen advised against scarring and pigmentation
Line reviewed by the operating surgeon
Dr. Jonghwan Choi, board-certified plastic surgeon at Rewind

Board-certified plastic surgeon

Dr. Jonghwan Choi places and closes every lip reduction incision at the clinic himself. He is a board-certified plastic surgeon, a member of the Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, and treats patients from abroad under KHIDI registration M-2025-01-08-09288.

Rates

Listed prices

The fee for the operation that leaves this lip reduction line

A line inside the lip comes with one listed operation. A second line, at the corners, appears only if a corner lift is added to the plan, and it is priced separately.

Lip reduction (cupid lip)The reduction, with its incision on the inner surface of the lip
₩1,700,000
Corner lip lift, if addedA separate operation with its own line beside each corner of the mouth
₩1,700,000
Sedation, where called forPriced as its own item on the clinic's sheet
₩200,000

These are listed prices for a first operation, VAT excluded, with the anaesthesia fee counted inside each surgical line. A lip that already carries a scar from an earlier reduction is examined before any figure is given, since the old line changes what can be done.

Risk

Who should think longer

Whose lip reduction scar tends to stay discreet, and when surgery waits

Circumstances that favour a quiet line

  • No history of raised or thickened scarring anywhere on the face or body
  • A lip free of active inflammation, with dental work already settled
  • A modest reduction, where the closure sits under little tension
  • A daily routine that can respect the limits on wide opening and hard chewing
  • Acceptance that the line will be felt with the tongue for a period, even when nothing is seen

When the operation is postponed or declined

  • A history of keloid or hypertrophic scarring, which is weighed carefully and may lead to a no
  • A demand for a scar that can never be felt or found, which no surgeon can undertake
  • Active cold sores, infection or ulceration of the lip
  • Slow wound healing in the past, a clotting disorder or daily blood thinners
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding, where surgery waits
  • A heaviness at the corners of the mouth, where corner lip lift is the relevant operation and its line sits on the skin
Care

Caring for the line

Looking after a lip reduction scar inside the mouth

Most care for this scar consists of leaving it alone. Rewind's post-operative instructions for lip surgery, written for its corner operation, are the basis for the points below; the surgeon confirms which apply to your reduction.

First days
No strong stimulation
The instructions ask patients to avoid strong stimulation of the operated area and to manage the swelling. Resist testing the line with a finger or pressing it with the tongue.
First weeks
Soft food, and gentle expressions
Mainly soft food for one to two weeks, and strong facial expressions held back with rest. Both keep the inner closure from being pulled while it knits.
One to two months
No wide opening
Avoid opening the mouth wide for one to two months after stitch removal. Stretch is the main thing that widens a healing line.
Throughout
Sunscreen on any exposed line
The instructions recommend sunscreen to guard against scarring and pigmentation. It matters most wherever a line reaches the outer lip, which the surgeon points out at your review.

Scar-related risks after a lip reduction include a line that stays palpable or raised, tightness on wide opening, a small step or notch along the inner lip, uneven fullness between the two sides and altered sensation near the line. Bleeding, infection, prolonged swelling and wound separation are also recognised, and some of these may call for a further procedure. How a scar matures differs between individuals, and no particular appearance or feel can be promised.

Doctor

Professional

A scar inside the lip is decided by millimetres of design and weeks of care. At Rewind both belong to one board-certified plastic surgeon, who draws the line, closes it and checks it until the case is done.

Dr. Jonghwan Choi, board-certified plastic surgeonRewind,
Peer-reviewed paper co-authored by Dr. Jonghwan Choi on cleft lip nasal deformity
Fig. 06 · Reconstructive work on the cleft lip from his publication record

Rewind's Doctor

Dr. Jonghwan Choi Medical Director

Where a line goes
is the first decision.

Medical director and board-certified plastic surgeon, whose ten peer-reviewed papers include reconstructive work around the lip and nasal base.

Board-certified plastic surgeon (Plastic Surgery)
10 peer-reviewed publications
Medical Director, Rewind Plastic Surgery
Korean Society of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons
Former chief director, Apgujeong Y&T Plastic Surgery
Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
J Craniofac Surg · JKMS · Arch Craniofac Surg
Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association
Voices

Google Reviews

What our patients say.

G 5.0 ★★★★★ 40 Google reviews · Rewind Plastic Surgery, Apgujeong — live-synced from Google Business Profile

"There are just way too many cosmetic clinics in Korea and I'm so happy I found Rewind Clinic in Gangnam. Dr. Choi was so kind and patient while explaining the different face-lifting options, from threads to mini-lifts to deep-plane lifts. I've had procedures in Taiwan and the US and now m…"

JJ. S.3 MONTHS AGO · POSTED ON GOOGLE

"Really nice environment. Doctor is easy to communicate and understands my visions. Waited two weeks to make a review and I confirm the results exceeded my expectations and I am super happy with it. Can't wait to come back!! :))"

KKristie Chu3 MONTHS AGO · POSTED ON GOOGLE

"I found Rewind clinic through a Korean chat forum and many local clients highly recommended it. The clinic is brand new, featuring large, clean rooms and many private waiting areas so it doesn't give off that "factory" clinic vibe. All the staff, including the receptionists, nurses, a…"

JJ. Siou3 MONTHS AGO · POSTED ON GOOGLE

"You know how you get self-conscious about your facial contours before going on vacation? I was wondering what I could do to see quick results, and a friend recommended Apgujeong Rewind Plastic Surgery. All the staff were friendly, and the facilities were incredibly pleasant—it felt like a hotel! Val…"

똑똑띠언니A MONTH AGO · POSTED ON GOOGLE · Translated by Google

"I went for a consultation for lip fillers and am leaving this review because I am so satisfied with the results. I told them about the lip line I had always wanted, and they carefully examined my face shape and features to naturally recreate a shape that suited me well. The director definitely has …"

WWang, Ziyuan(경영대학 경영학과) ­2 MONTHS AGO · POSTED ON GOOGLE · Translated by Google
Ask

Questions

Lip reduction scar: what patients ask about the line

Is the lip reduction scar visible?
With the mouth closed and the lip relaxed, the line faces the teeth and is not seen from outside in the published technique. It can be seen if the lip is turned outward, and it can be felt with the tongue while it heals. How a scar matures differs between people, so an unnoticeable line cannot be promised.
Is the lip reduction incision hidden inside the lip?
Yes, in the standard technique described by published papers: it sits where the lip rests against the teeth, near the wet line. Rewind has not published a step-by-step account of its own reduction, so ask Dr. Choi to show you on a mirror exactly where your line would run.
How long until the scar inside the lip softens?
Rewind publishes no timescale. The line is firmest in the early weeks and softens gradually after the mouth-opening restriction ends, at a pace that differs between individuals. The surgeon who closed it checks it at each review and compares it with his original design.
Will I feel the scar with my tongue?
Most likely, for a while. A closure inside the lip is noticeable to the tongue and against the teeth well before and after anything can be seen. Patients tend to notice it much more than anyone looking at them does, and the feeling usually becomes less obvious as the line softens.
Can a lip reduction scar become thick or raised?
It is possible, and it is one of the things the consultation screens for. Anyone with lumpy or raised scars from past injuries or operations should mention them early. Report a line inside the lip that thickens, stays sore or pulls when you speak at your next review.
Does the scar change how the lip moves or feels?
Tightness on wide opening and altered sensation near the line are recognised effects, often most noticeable in the early months. They are followed at review. The muscles that move the mouth are not the target of a reduction, so any stiffness comes from healing tissue around the closure.
How is a lip reduction scar different from a lip lift scar?
A lip lift removes skin under the nose, so its line sits on the face below the nostrils. A lip reduction removes tissue from inside the lip, so its line sits on the inner surface. Two separate operations with opposite aims, and very different questions about scarring.
What can be done if the inner line heals unevenly?
Nothing is decided early. Once the line has matured, the surgeon assesses whether a small revision would improve it. Work on a lip that has already been operated on is priced only after examination, and some unevenness is better left alone than chased.
Booking

Reservation

REWIND,booking

Tell us about any raised scars or slow-healing wounds in your history and send a relaxed profile photograph of your lips. We reply within one business day, in your language.

By sending this inquiry you agree that Rewind Plastic Surgery may use the details above to contact you about your consultation. We keep them only for that purpose.

Scientific evidence

Published work on where lip incisions are placed

The first two papers describe reduction cheiloplasty and a variation of its excision design, including where the incision sits inside the lip. The third describes a lip-lift technique with its incision under the nose, included here to show the contrast between the two kinds of line. The observations in these papers come from their own authors' patients and not from Rewind. They explain where a lip reduction line is placed; they cannot predict how an individual scar will mature.