Lip Lift Scars and Other Risks: Visible Lines, Asymmetry and What Helps Healing

She has been standing at the bathroom mirror for a while now, one fingertip pressed just under her nose, lifting the skin a few millimeters and letting it fall. Up, her upper teeth show when she relaxes. Down, they vanish. The question she keeps circling back to is not whether the shape appeals to her. It is the line. A lip lift scar sits in one of the most looked-at places on the human face, and no amount of enthusiasm for the result erases the fact that a scalpel will go there.

That hesitation is healthy. Most people who research this procedure have already scrolled through polished results and a handful of alarming ones, and are left guessing which camp they would fall into. The honest answer lives in between, and it depends on anatomy, technique, skin biology and aftercare in roughly equal measure.

What follows is the plain version: what the incision actually does, why some scars fade into the nostril shadow while others announce themselves, how asymmetry happens, what the evidence says helps healing, and which signs mean you should pick up the phone rather than wait.

How a lip lift actually works

A lip lift is a small operation that shortens the philtrum, the strip of skin between the base of the nose and the top edge of the upper lip, so that more of the pink lip rolls upward and outward. Unlike injectable filler, which adds volume, a lip lift removes tissue. Nothing is added; a measured sliver of skin is taken away and the edges are sewn together.

The most common version is the subnasal or “bullhorn” lip lift, named for the curved shape of the excised skin, which looks like a pair of horns hugging the base of the nostrils. The surgeon marks that shape along the natural crease where the nose meets the upper lip, removes the skin within the marks, and closes the gap in layers. Deeper stitches take the pulling force; fine surface stitches line up the skin edges.

Some surgeons go a step further and anchor the deeper tissue to the firm structures around the nasal base rather than relying on skin alone. The stated aim is to shift tension away from the visible edge so the scar heals under less strain. Whether one technique reliably produces a finer scar than another has not been settled by high-quality comparative trials; what is well established across all wound types is that tension across a healing wound worsens scarring (NHS).

The procedure is usually performed under local anesthetic, sometimes with light sedation, and typically takes well under an hour. Because it removes skin permanently, the result is also permanent. That single fact shapes almost every risk discussed below: a lip lift cannot be undone the way a filler can be dissolved, and a scar that heals poorly cannot be erased, only improved.

Are lip lift scars noticeable? Where the line sits and why

The short answer is that a lip lift scar is always present but often not obvious. Its visibility hinges on one design principle: the incision is placed along the junction between the nostril skin and the lip skin, a natural crease that already casts a small shadow. A scar that sits precisely in that crease borrows the shadow and disappears from most angles. A scar that drifts even a couple of millimeters onto the flat, well-lit skin of the lip has nowhere to hide.

Skin color and texture matter as well. Every scar is made of collagen laid down differently from the surrounding skin, so it reflects light differently. Scars are often pink or red for months, then gradually pale over time; the NHS notes that scars can take up to two years to fully mature and fade. During that window the line is more visible than it will eventually be, which is why judging a lip lift scar at three months tells you relatively little.

Other things that make a lip lift scar more noticeable:

• A scar that is wider than a fine line, usually from tension during healing.
• A raised or thickened scar, which catches light along its ridge.
• A scar that is paler or darker than the surrounding skin once it has settled.
• Small crosswise marks left by suture tracks, sometimes called cross-hatching.
• A step or notch where the two sides do not meet evenly under the nostril.

Photographs online tend to show either very early scars or very good long-term ones. The most useful question to ask a surgeon is to see the scars of several people at least a year out, under ordinary room light, from below as well as straight on, since the underside of the nose is exactly where a companion sees you when you are sitting and they are standing.

What can go wrong with a lip lift scar: widening, thickening and color change

Scars misbehave in a limited number of ways, and it helps to know the vocabulary before a follow-up appointment. A widened scar has stretched into a broader band rather than a thin line. A hypertrophic scar is raised and firm but stays within the original wound boundary; the Cleveland Clinic describes these as typically appearing within weeks of the injury and often improving over one to two years. A keloid is a scar that keeps growing beyond the wound edges; the Mayo Clinic notes that keloids can appear months after the injury, are more common in people with brown or Black skin, and tend to run in families. Hypopigmentation means the scar has lost pigment and looks paler than the surrounding skin; hyperpigmentation means it has darkened, something sun exposure on a fresh scar makes more likely.

Scar problem	What it looks like	Main drivers	Typical course
Widened	Flat but broad line	Tension, early stretching, thin closure	Stable once healed; revision can narrow it
Hypertrophic	Raised, firm, pink ridge within wound edges	Tension, prolonged inflammation, skin tendency	Often softens over 1-2 years (Cleveland Clinic)
Keloid	Raised growth spreading beyond the wound	Genetic predisposition, skin type, prior keloids	Does not resolve on its own; may recur after treatment (Mayo Clinic)
Color change	Paler or darker than nearby skin	Sun exposure, inflammation, pigment loss in scar tissue	Darkening may fade; pigment loss is often lasting

Two points deserve emphasis. First, hypertrophic and keloid scars are different problems with different outlooks, and a surgeon will want to know which one you have before suggesting anything. Second, the nasal base is not a classic keloid-prone zone in the way the chest, shoulders and earlobes are, but anyone who has formed a keloid anywhere carries a higher risk everywhere, and that history belongs in the consultation.

Cross-hatching, tension and why your skin type matters

Cross-hatching is the term for the little perpendicular marks that can appear on either side of a scar line. They are the footprints of surface stitches that were tied too tightly, left in too long, or placed through skin that swelled against them. On a forearm they would go unnoticed. Under the nose, each one is a tiny railway tie across a line you are hoping to hide.

The mechanism is straightforward. Skin that is compressed by a suture loses some of its blood supply and heals with its own micro-scar. Early swelling makes this worse, because a stitch that fit comfortably on the operating table becomes a tourniquet by the second day. This is why many surgeons favor a strong hidden layer of stitches beneath the skin, so the surface stitches can be fine, loose and removed early. It is also why the timing of stitch removal is set by the team, not by a fixed rule; leaving them in longer is not automatically safer.

Tension is the other great enemy. The upper lip moves constantly: talking, eating, smiling, yawning. Every movement tugs on a healing incision that runs straight across the direction of pull. Wounds under sustained tension lay down more collagen and produce wider, thicker scars (MedlinePlus). The bullhorn design, removing more skin in the center than at the edges, exaggerates this problem, which is one reason surgeons debate how much skin is safe to take.

Skin type modifies all of it. Thicker, oilier skin tends to scar more visibly than thin, dry skin. Deeper skin tones are more prone to both hyperpigmentation and keloid formation (Mayo Clinic). None of these are reasons to be refused surgery, but they change the conversation about expectations, and a surgeon who does not raise them unprompted is worth asking directly.

Asymmetry, nostril distortion and the over-shortened philtrum

Scars are not the only thing that can go wrong. Shape problems are harder to hide than a fine line, and they are also harder to fix.

Asymmetry is the most common. Almost no face is perfectly symmetrical to begin with, and the nasal base is no exception: one nostril often sits slightly higher or flares slightly wider. If the surgeon removes an identical strip of skin on each side without accounting for that, the finished lip will be lifted unevenly, with one peak of the Cupid’s bow, the double curve at the center of the upper lip, sitting higher than the other. Careful marking with the face upright and relaxed reduces this risk but does not eliminate it, since swelling settles unevenly too.

Nostril distortion happens when the closure pulls the soft tissue of the nostril base downward or inward. The nostrils can look pinched, the base of the nose can appear flattened, or the columella, the strip of tissue between the nostrils, can seem to hang lower. Because the incision runs directly beneath these structures, any excess tension in the closure is transmitted straight to them.

Over-shortening is the risk people fear most and the one that is least reversible. Remove too much skin and the upper lip loses the ability to close comfortably over the teeth at rest, producing a permanently exposed row of upper incisors and a look that reads as strained rather than youthful. Because skin cannot be put back, correcting this relies on techniques that lengthen tissue indirectly, and those have limits.

The practical safeguard is conservatism. Surgeons generally describe removing less rather than more, on the principle that a modest lift can be repeated later while an excessive one cannot be undone. When a consultation leaves you feeling that a larger change is being encouraged than you asked for, that is information.

Other lip lift risks: infection, bleeding, numbness and stiffness

Every skin incision carries a baseline set of risks, and the upper lip adds a few of its own.

Infection is uncommon in clean facial surgery but not impossible, and the area sits close to the nostrils, which harbor bacteria. The CDC describes surgical site infections as typically developing within 30 days of an operation, with warning signs that include spreading redness, increasing pain, warmth, pus and fever. An infected lip lift wound is more than an inconvenience: inflammation drives thicker, wider scarring, so early treatment protects the cosmetic result as well as your health.

Bleeding and bruising are expected in small amounts. A collection of blood under the skin, called a hematoma, is rarer and shows up as a tense, expanding, painful swelling on one side. It needs prompt review because pressure from trapped blood can compromise the skin edges.

Numbness and altered sensation are common in the first weeks. Small sensory nerve branches cross the incision line and are cut during surgery; most recover as they regrow, but the MedlinePlus overview of scars notes that changes in sensation around scar tissue can persist. Some people describe a tight or stiff feeling when smiling widely for a period after surgery as the scar matures and softens.

Less often discussed risks include:

• Stitch abscess, a small pimple-like reaction to a buried suture, which may need the stitch removed.
• Wound edges separating, called dehiscence, usually from early tension or infection.
• Changes in how the lip moves during speech or when drinking through a straw, typically temporary.
• Dissatisfaction with the aesthetic result even when healing is technically uneventful.

None of these are reasons for alarm in the abstract. They are reasons to know your surgeon’s after-hours contact route before you need it.

Who a lip lift is usually for, and who is usually asked to wait

Surgeons tend to describe the same profile when explaining who this operation suits. The person has a long philtrum, often described loosely as more than the proportion the surgeon considers balanced for that face, with a thin or inward-rolled upper lip that shows little pink at rest. Filler has either been tried and looked heavy, or is not wanted. Skin quality is reasonable, expectations are specific and modest, and general health is good.

Age is not a strict gate. Younger adults sometimes seek a lip lift for a naturally long philtrum; older adults seek it because the philtrum lengthens with age as skin loses elasticity and the lip thins. Both can be candidates.

People who are commonly asked to wait, or to reconsider, include those who:

• Have a short philtrum already, since further shortening risks the over-lifted look.
• Smoke or use nicotine, because nicotine narrows blood vessels and slows wound healing (NHS).
• Have a personal or family history of keloids, which raises the chance of a raised, spreading scar (Mayo Clinic).
• Have active skin conditions at the nasal base, such as a cold sore outbreak or acne, until they settle.
• Have poorly controlled diabetes or other conditions that impair healing.
• Are taking medicines that affect clotting or wound repair; these should never be stopped or altered without the prescribing clinician’s guidance.
• Are seeking the procedure during a period of major life stress, or to satisfy someone else’s preference.

The NHS guidance on cosmetic procedures stresses taking time to consider the decision, checking the practitioner’s qualifications and registration, and having a second consultation before committing. A surgeon who suggests waiting is not rejecting you. They are protecting the result, and the decision about timing belongs jointly to you and the treating team.

Lip lift scar healing: what the first days and weeks usually look like

Recovery has a predictable shape even though the pace varies from person to person. Knowing the shape stops you from panicking at the wrong moment.

In the first two or three days, swelling peaks. The upper lip looks bigger than the final result will be, the incision is red, and small amounts of oozing or bruising are common. Talking and eating are awkward. The wound is cleaned as the team instructs and often kept lightly covered with an ointment they specify.

By the end of the first week or so, surface stitches are usually removed on the surgeon’s schedule. The line at this stage is pink, slightly raised and still quite visible. Makeup is often permitted once the skin has sealed, but only when the team says so.

Through weeks two to six, swelling drifts downward and the lip shape begins to reveal itself. The scar may look worse before it looks better. This is the proliferative phase of healing, when fibroblasts, the cells that build scar tissue, are laying down collagen quickly; scars are often at their reddest and firmest in this window (Cleveland Clinic). Numbness and tightness are common.

Over the following months, the scar remodels. Collagen fibers reorganize, redness fades and the line flattens. The NHS describes this maturation as taking up to two years, which is why surgeons are generally reluctant to judge a scar, let alone revise one, before at least a year has passed.

A few practical realities of this period:

• Smiling broadly feels strange for a while; that sensation usually eases as the scar softens.
• The lip may look slightly asymmetrical during swelling and then even out.
• Sun protection matters from the moment the wound is closed, as discussed next.

Follow-up visits exist so the team can catch problems while they are still easy to influence. Skipping them to avoid hearing bad news rarely works out.

What helps a lip lift scar heal: an evidence-graded view

Plenty of products promise to erase scars. The evidence supports a much shorter list, and most of it is unglamorous.

Strong evidence. Do not smoke or use nicotine before or after surgery; the NHS is explicit that smoking impairs healing and raises complication risk. Keep the wound clean and follow the team’s dressing instructions to lower infection risk, since infection is a direct driver of worse scarring (CDC). Protect the scar from sun. Ultraviolet light darkens healing scars and can make pigment changes permanent; the NHS recommends covering new scars or using sunscreen on them while they are still maturing.

Moderate evidence. Silicone gel or silicone sheeting is the most consistently supported topical measure for reducing raised scars, and both the NHS and Mayo Clinic list it among first-line options for hypertrophic and keloid scars. The proposed mechanism is hydration and gentle pressure that calm the collagen-producing cells. Whether and when to use it on the delicate nasal base is a question for your surgeon, since the area is small, mobile and prone to irritation. Gentle massage once the wound is fully closed is widely recommended by surgeons and is thought to help flatten and soften scar tissue, though the trial evidence is thinner than the enthusiasm.

Weak or absent evidence. Vitamin E oil is popular and has not been shown to improve scars; some people develop contact irritation from it. Onion-extract gels have mixed results. Cocoa butter, coconut oil and most “scar creams” moisturize, which feels good, but there is no reliable evidence that they change the final scar.

Behavioral. Limit exaggerated lip movements in the early weeks, avoid picking at crusts, and let the team know about any medicine or supplement you take, because some affect bleeding and healing. Never change a prescribed medicine on your own account.

How to fix a lip lift scar: lip lift scar revision and other options

The first and most underrated fix is time. Because scars keep maturing for up to two years (NHS), a line that looks alarming at four months frequently looks acceptable at fourteen. Surgeons generally advise against revising a scar before it has finished remodeling, both because it may improve on its own and because operating on inflamed tissue tends to produce more of the same.

When a scar has matured and remains a problem, the options depend on what kind of problem it is.

For raised hypertrophic or keloid scars, injected corticosteroids are a long-established approach. They work by dampening inflammation and reducing collagen production in the scar, and they are usually given as a course spaced over weeks or months, with the schedule set entirely by the treating clinician. The Mayo Clinic notes that keloids in particular may recur after treatment and often need combined approaches. Silicone sheeting is frequently continued alongside.

For redness, laser treatments that target blood vessels can speed the fading of a pink scar, and resurfacing lasers or microneedling may soften texture. Evidence for these is moderate and results vary with skin type; darker skin tones carry a higher risk of pigment change with some lasers, which needs discussing beforehand.

For widened, stepped or badly placed scars, surgical scar revision is the definitive route. The old scar is cut out and the wound is closed again, this time with attention to placing the line exactly in the nostril crease, reducing tension with deep stitches, and sometimes using a zigzag or geometric pattern so the eye cannot follow a straight line. A revision produces a new scar, which must itself heal; it trades a poor scar for the chance of a better one, not a guarantee.

Nothing here is a reason to rush. A second opinion from a surgeon experienced with the nasal base is reasonable, and the plan should be built around your specific scar rather than a menu.

Can a lip lift be reversed? What alternatives exist instead

A lip lift cannot be reversed in the literal sense. Skin has been removed and discarded; it cannot be sewn back. What surgeons can offer for an over-lifted lip is partial correction: releasing the scar, borrowing tissue from adjacent areas, or lengthening the upper lip indirectly with grafts or internal flaps. These are specialized procedures with their own scars and limits, and a result that looks natural is not assured. This is the single strongest argument for a conservative first operation.

Because reversal is so limited, it is worth weighing the alternatives honestly before committing.

Hyaluronic acid filler adds volume to the lip body or border and can create modest eversion, the outward roll of the pink lip. It leaves no scar, is temporary, and can be dissolved with an enzyme if disliked. It does not shorten the philtrum, and repeated large volumes can produce a heavy, projected look that some people find worse than the original problem.

Botulinum toxin “lip flip” relaxes the muscle that curls the upper lip inward, allowing a slight outward roll. It is scarless and wears off in months. The effect is subtle and does not change philtrum length; some people notice temporary difficulty with straws or whistling.

Corner lift or vermilion advancement are other excisional options that change lip shape from different angles, each with its own scar in a different location.

Doing nothing is a legitimate choice. A long philtrum is a normal facial variation, not a medical condition, and no guideline body considers this surgery necessary for health.

Seen this way, the trade is clear: reversible options with modest effect and no scar, versus a permanent operation with a definitive effect and a permanent line. Which trade is right is a personal judgment, made with a surgeon who lays out both sides without steering.

What people often get wrong about lip lift scars

“A good surgeon leaves no scar.” Every incision through the full thickness of skin leaves a scar; that is how skin heals (MedlinePlus). Skill influences where the scar sits, how much tension it bears and how fine it is. It does not abolish it.

“If the scar looks bad at three months, it has failed.” Scars are often at their reddest and firmest in the early months and continue maturing for up to two years (NHS). Early appearance is a poor predictor of the final result.

“Scar creams will fix it.” Most over-the-counter creams moisturize and little else. Silicone has the best evidence among topicals; vitamin E does not (NHS). No cream narrows a widened scar.

“A raised scar is a keloid.” Most raised surgical scars are hypertrophic, stay within the wound edges and improve over time (Cleveland Clinic). A keloid spreads beyond the wound and behaves differently (Mayo Clinic). The distinction changes the plan.

“More lift is better value.” Over-shortening is the least correctable complication of all. Skin removed cannot be replaced, while a modest lift can be repeated later.

“One technique guarantees a hidden scar.” Newer approaches that anchor deeper tissue aim to reduce tension on the skin edge, which is biologically sensible, but head-to-head trials proving one technique produces finer scars than another are lacking. Treat confident claims as marketing until you see a surgeon’s own long-term results.

“A tiny procedure means tiny risks.” The operation is small; its location is not. A poor scar under the nose is seen in every conversation. The stakes justify the same care in choosing a surgeon and preparing your skin as any larger facial operation.

Questions to ask your care team before a lip lift

A consultation is a two-way examination. These questions tend to produce the most useful answers; write down what you hear and compare it with a second opinion.

• Where exactly will the incision sit, and can you draw it on my face in the mirror?
• How many millimeters do you propose to remove, and why that amount for my philtrum length?
• May I see photographs of your own patients at least a year after surgery, taken in ordinary light, including views from below?
• How do you manage tension on the wound, and how do you decide when to remove surface stitches?
• Given my skin type and any history of thick or dark scars, what do you expect my scar to look like at one year?
• What is your approach if the scar widens, thickens or heals unevenly?
• How do you account for the natural asymmetry of my nostrils when marking?
• What are the chances I will need a revision, based on your own experience, and how is that handled?
• Which of my current medicines or supplements matter for bleeding or healing, and who will coordinate with my prescribing clinician?
• What does aftercare involve, day by day, and who do I contact if something worries me at night or on a weekend?
• Are you a board-certified plastic, facial plastic or oculoplastic surgeon, and where will the procedure be performed?
• What would make you advise me against this operation?

That last question is the most revealing. A surgeon who can describe the patient they would turn away has thought hard about the failures as well as the successes. The NHS guidance on cosmetic procedures encourages exactly this kind of scrutiny: check qualifications, take time, avoid pressure, and never feel obliged to proceed because a consultation has taken place.

When to call your doctor after a lip lift

Most recovery worries are ordinary: swelling that looks lopsided, a line that seems too red, a tight feeling when you smile. These belong in your next scheduled follow-up. A smaller set of signs should not wait.

Contact your surgical team the same day, or seek urgent care if you cannot reach them, if you notice:

• Redness spreading outward from the incision, increasing warmth, or pain that is getting worse rather than better after the first few days.
• Pus, cloudy fluid, or a foul smell from the wound.
• Fever or chills, which the CDC lists among signs of a surgical site infection.
• A rapidly enlarging, tense, painful swelling on one side, which may indicate blood collecting under the skin.
• Bleeding that soaks through dressings and does not stop with gentle pressure.
• Wound edges pulling apart or a stitch that has come loose with the skin gaping.
• Dusky, purple or gray discoloration of the skin edges, which can signal compromised blood supply.
• Numbness that is worsening rather than slowly improving, or new weakness moving the lip.
• Any allergic reaction to a dressing, ointment or medicine: rash, swelling of the face or mouth, or difficulty breathing. Difficulty breathing is an emergency; call emergency services.

In the longer term, arrange a review if the scar becomes progressively thicker or begins spreading beyond the original line, since early assessment of a possible keloid widens the treatment choices (Mayo Clinic). Persistent asymmetry, a notched nostril base, or difficulty closing the lips over the teeth once swelling has fully resolved also merit a conversation, ideally with the operating surgeon first and, if you wish, a second opinion afterward.

Trust the instinct that made you look twice. Teams would far rather see a wound that turns out fine than hear about one that was left too long. Every decision about treatment, timing and revision rests with you and the clinicians who know your case.

Frequently asked questions

Are lip lift scars noticeable?

They are permanent but often subtle. A well-placed lip lift scar sits in the natural crease beneath the nostrils and borrows its shadow, so from most angles it reads as a faint line. Scars are usually pink and more visible for months before fading; the NHS notes maturation can take up to two years. Widening, thickening, pigment change or suture marks make a scar more obvious.

How long do lip lift scars last?

Forever, in the sense that scar tissue never becomes normal skin. What changes is appearance: redness fades, the line flattens and softens, and by roughly one to two years most surgical scars reach their final look, according to the NHS. Some scars remain slightly paler than surrounding skin permanently, which is why early sun protection matters so much.

How can a bullhorn lip lift scar be improved?

First by waiting until it has matured, usually at least a year. Raised scars may then be treated with injected corticosteroids or silicone sheeting; redness with vascular lasers; widened or misplaced lines with surgical revision that re-cuts and re-closes the scar under less tension. The right option depends on the scar type, skin tone and how it was placed, and is decided with a surgeon.

Can a lip lift be reversed?

Not fully. Skin that has been removed cannot be replaced. For an over-lifted lip, surgeons can attempt partial correction with scar release, tissue rearrangement or grafts, but these add further scars and cannot promise a natural result. Because reversal is so limited, most surgeons favor removing less skin at the first operation and revisiting later if more lift is wanted.

What does lip lift scar healing look like week by week?

Swelling peaks in the first two or three days, surface stitches come out on the surgeon’s schedule, and the line is pink and slightly raised through the first weeks. Between roughly weeks two and six the scar may look its firmest and reddest as collagen is laid down. Over the following months it flattens and pales, with full maturation taking up to two years per the NHS.

What is lip lift scar revision and when is it done?

Scar revision means cutting out the old scar and closing the wound again, with the line placed precisely in the nostril crease, deep stitches taking the tension, and sometimes a broken-line pattern so the eye cannot follow it. It is usually reserved for widened, stepped or misplaced scars that have fully matured, generally after a year or more, and it creates a new scar that must heal in turn.

Does skin tone affect lip lift scar risk?

Yes. Deeper skin tones are more prone to darkening of healing scars and to keloid formation, according to the Mayo Clinic, and some lasers carry higher pigment-change risk on darker skin. This does not exclude anyone from surgery, but it should shape the discussion about expectations, sun protection and which scar treatments would be appropriate if needed.

Why is my lip lift scar red and raised after two months?

Because that is typical timing for the proliferative phase of healing, when scar-building cells are most active and scars are often at their pinkest and firmest. The Cleveland Clinic notes hypertrophic scars usually appear within weeks and often soften over one to two years. Mention it at follow-up, but rising redness with pain, warmth or discharge should be reported the same day.

What is cross-hatching on a lip lift scar?

Cross-hatching refers to small crosswise marks on either side of the main scar left by surface stitches that were too tight, left in too long, or placed through swollen skin. They form because compressed skin heals with its own tiny scar. Surgeons reduce the risk by carrying tension on buried stitches and removing fine surface stitches early, on a schedule they set.

Can filler or a lip flip give the same result without a scar?

Not the same result, but a related one. Filler adds volume and can modestly roll the lip outward; a botulinum toxin lip flip relaxes the muscle to do the same. Neither shortens the philtrum, and both are temporary. They are scarless and reversible, which makes them a reasonable first step for people unsure whether they want a permanent surgical change.

References

• NHS — Scars
• MedlinePlus — Scars
• Cleveland Clinic — Hypertrophic scar
• NHS — Cosmetic procedures

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor about your individual situation.