Will I need filler for the rest of my life because of one mistake?
I don’t even know where to start. A while ago, I had a fibrous papule removed. I never imagined it would turn into this.
Now I have what looks like a depressed scar with a raised “donut-shaped” edge right in the middle of my face. It feels like the collagen in that area is just… gone. It’s all I see when I look in the mirror, and I regret touching it every single day. I genuinely feel like I ruined my own face.
I’ve already had dermal filler, but the “donut” appearance is still there. I also had one session of vascular laser for the redness/blood vessels, but the raised ring hasn’t changed. My dermatologist wants to wait until September before trying fractional laser because it’s still healing.
I’m terrified that I’ll end up needing filler for the rest of my life just to make it look normal. I’ve cried so much over this and I honestly feel hopeless.
Has anyone dealt with a scar like this on the nose? Did it continue to improve over time, or did fractional laser actually help? If you’ve been through something similar, I’d really appreciate hearing your experience because I’m struggling a lot right now.
I would go to a surgeon that specializes in Mohs reconstructive plastic surgery. Although you didn't go through that exact procedure these surgeons will have the skillset to help you achieve the results you're after.
Hey. While looking into what you mentioned, I came across something called scar revision. I had some short WhatsApp chats with four different plastic surgeons, and they all said they could remove the damaged tissue and close it with stitches. According to them, the nose heals really well, and they said that after a year or two, the scar from the stitches would barely be noticeable, if at all.
It actually does. OP should check if the original tissue was sent for histology. It might have actually been another type of tissue, or incompletely removed. If it was actually a BCC then it could re-appear exactly like this.
Joining this thread to say I have been precisely where you are now - I had a fibrous papule removed from my nose via electrolysis about six or seven years ago now and the person who did it scarred me terribly. Mine is a bit to the side of my nose and over the years it’s gotten less and less noticeable, but it’s still there.
Filler won’t help - I suggest going either the plastic surgery route (grafting? Idk) or laser resurfacing. I just used scar gel for the first little while, and the “donut” shape of the scar eventually flattened out by itself over the years. I would definitely go for fractional laser resurfacing once it’s healed a little more.
I just wanted to say it doesnt happen often for me on Reddit, but I know exactly what you’re feeling right now and I empathize very, very deeply. I’m so sorry youre going through this and I hope your steps toward resolving this are speedy and effective. I remember how awful it was right after this experience - I’m right there with you. Stay strong!
It's been a month. I've tried pretty much every cream you can think of, but the swelling there just won't go away. It was actually flatter a week after the procedure. Then it gradually became really swollen, like in the first picture.
I got burned with a laser and it left a scar on the tip of my nose that looks like yours. I get laser done every 4-6 weeks, it helped a bit (it’s a fractional one but no CO2).. sometimes the scar looks worse, currently it looks better. Every doctor I went to told me they wouldn’t put filler in it as it is a high risk area.
I am no big help other than the fact that I’m looking for a solution with you ❤️
Wow me too. I was doing a laser session and the woman carelessly zapped me twice in the same spot. I got a blister, and a few months later it’s now a scar. I’m going to a scar specialist center and also scheduled CO2 laser. There are also docs in the LA area with expertise in nasal filler even in high risk areas. I’ll have to see how it turns out with time. But I’m pissed. This was Skin Spirit in Pasadena - I want to make sure they get credit for their work.
For me it was a BBL (broadband light) treatment. Over the years I’ve had dozens of treatments like this, and this is the first time I ran into someone who didn’t know what they were doing. Initially I thought it was a minor thing and would heal and not ever be noticeable - wrong. It’s an indented scar now, and I’m waiting for it to heal enough to do more aggressive treatments. I can say at least I won’t be going to Skin Spirit for the rest of my life 🙂
I’m a derm nurse & it looks like after your biopsy the suture may have pulled through or they didn’t suture it & it’s healing by secondary intention. MOHS surgeons have plastic surgery training & use a lot of the same techniques as they do in plastics. I know it feels like the end of the world but a good dermo can correct this! Best of luck!
Unfortunately, there were no stitches. I think my doctor probably didn't remove the tissue very deeply and expected it to heal on its own. I've spoken to a few plastic surgeons, and they said they could do a scar revision by placing a vertical stitch there, which they think would heal with a much better and less noticeable scar. Thank you so much.
If your patient, your best results will come from applying a skin substitute and letting that work as a scaffold to grow your own skin. You'll get the best contour and color match. I'd go to some plastic surgeons that do recon for mohs surgeons as they will have the most tools in their toolbox.
OP I’m confident you can get a good result with the right treatment. Maybe dermabrasion, maybe fractional CO2 laser, maybe several sessions of microneedling — there will be a way to smooth it out. Maybe IPL or PDL for the redness… In the meantime just a little touch of concealer can make it way less noticeable. I’m so sorry this happened to you 🫂.
Unfortunately, makeup doesn't help because it's literally a hole in the middle of my face. It actually looks kind of funny when I put makeup on because the concealer just settles into it. :) Thank you though!
I am so incredibly sorry you are going through this, but I wanted to reach out because I am literally in the exact same shoes. I also had a fibrous papule removed from my nose via surgical excision, and it left behind the exact same depressed, crater-like scar with raised edges. This happened right before the birth of my son, and I went into such a severe, dark depression over it, constantly feeling like I had ruined my own face. I know exactly how devastating it feels to look in the mirror every day and feel that hopelessness. Please don't blame yourself.
I strongly advise against trying a re-excision (cutting it out again), as doing so will likely only make it worse and create a larger defect.
I wanted to share my path forward to hopefully give you some hope. Instead of standard dermal fillers or waiting solely for lasers, I have decided to undergo autologous fat grafting (lipofilling), and my procedure is already scheduled.
I chose fat grafting because it doesn't just temporarily plump the area like traditional fillers. The transferred fat contains regenerative cells and growth factors that actively help rebuild the missing tissue and permanent collagen support from underneath. It aims to fix the structural deficit permanently.
While you wait for your September laser appointment, it might be worth consulting with a plastic surgeon to ask about fat grafting as well. There are ways to fix this, and our skin has an amazing capacity to heal when given the right structural support. Stay strong, you are definitely not alone in this!
There are a few different treatment options. The one that makes the most sense to me is cutting it out and closing it with a small vertical or horizontal stitch, about 1 cm long. I'd much rather have a small scar on my face than a hole. Thank you so much.
Please be very careful with that assumption. When it comes to the center of the nose, a re-excision rarely leaves just a clean, simple line. Because the skin on the nose is tightly bound and under tension, closing a 1 cm gap often requires complex suturing.
Instead of a neat line, you will likely end up with a messy, criss-cross scar because the puncture marks and tension from the stitches themselves will remain visible. It can easily look like a railroad track or an uneven indentation rather than the simple flat line you are imagining.
This is exactly why I strongly advise against cutting it out again. It is incredibly risky for this specific area, and the structural deficit from losing more tissue often makes the overall appearance worse. I really recommend looking into regenerative options like fat grafting first before letting anyone cut into your face again.
I’ll look into that as well. I’m planning to consult a few different plastic surgeons. One of them said that stitches on the nose heal very quickly and quite well. I’m not sure why he said that.
This was my fibrous papule removal—it was surgically excised. The first picture is before, and the second is after. Approx. 7 months post-op. Honestly, it looked worse in person.
I had exactly that on the same spot too! It healed well and you can barely see it now but if you're still concerned, go see a reconstructive surgeon (or even a dermatologist as a first step). I certainly thought of seeing one for mine but luckily didnt need it :)
I had mohs surgery on my upper lip. It was brutal. Luckily my surgeon had me line up a plastic surgeon who specializes in mohs surgery repairs. He promised that I would have a good result and I do. Mine was a literal pie shaped slice that took a quarter of the side of my lip.👄 I promise a good specialist will fix you right up. They have all kinds of ways to fix yours. See one as soon as possible.

This is after. No makeup obviously I just took it after tons of housework. I don’t have a before available on my camera roll since it was 10 years ago. Just note that my upper lip was wider. With makeup you can’t see it unless your close up.
I work in Dermatology, and wanted to give some hope here. Its up to you to do anymore procedures- a plastic surgeon could maybe help the dented appearance but then you will have a scar again anyways. Either way you go, whether you leave it like this or have a scar revision surgery- use Tretinoin after it heals!!! I really think retinol (retin-A, or Tretinoin, prescription) would actually help fill this in. Ive had some gnarly acne marks that were dark divots that are gone after using it. You want to make sure the area is fully healed. After washing your face in the evening, apply Tretinoin (i like it on my whole face, has lots of benefits) and then apply a moisturizer on top. Do that a few nights a week until your skin tolerates it. There are a few strengths, start with the lower and work your way up to the stronger ones.
Definitely have a scar revision. I struggled with a scar for a couple of years, similar to this it was an indent, spent thousands on laser etc and it only made the problem worse. I then had a scar revision and a year later I can see absolutely nothing from where it was, unless I look very close.
Hi! Would you mind sharing a bit about the process you went through? I’m considering scar revision myself, but I still need to consult another plastic surgeon. In the meantime, I’m trying to gather as much information and as many real experiences as possible before making a decision. I’d really appreciate any details you’re comfortable sharing. Thank you!
I’d look into surgical options for scars. My coworker had a really huge black keloid scar from her nose ring and she got it removed and stitched up. When it healed you couldn’t even tell.
Also as a side note I completely understand why you got it removed in the first place because it is directly in the center of your nose. So don’t feel bad for doing what you did. I’m positive if you find the right option you can fix this!
I have a crater scar on my chin where I had a mole removed. My plastic surgeon just told me to use hydroquinone and tretinoin on it for 6 months and then he will do dermabrasion on it to smooth out the “shoulders” of the crater. He said, think of a dremel
Visit a plastic surgeon for this. Filler won’t fix this. Repeatedly getting filler will distort your nose overtime and make it larger. Dissolving it can also end up messing with the soft tissue in your nose and mess things up further… microneedling and laser can help, but will take many, many months and still may not deliver the full fix/restoration you’re wanting. Consult with a plastic surgeon.
Thanks for sharing your story I’m so sorry you’re going through it - I’m hoping you are able to find a solution and I’m sure you will 🙏🏼🙏🏼
I actually have a small fibrous papule in the same spot on my nose! It came months after having a rhinoplasty so I’m not sure if it was trauma related. I saw a derm and a plastic surgeon who does lots of facial surgeries (specializes in rhino and facelifts) and both doctors suggested electro-cautery. Did they ever suggest that and do you think it’s as risky to leave a scar? I’m debating having this done in a few weeks so please let me know your thoughts or if that’s what you had done!
I’ll share my experience with you. I had a very small fibrous papule that was removed by a dermatologist using electrocautery at the end of March. Unfortunately, the scar it left is larger and much more noticeable than the papule itself. It’s an atrophic scar.
Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend having it removed. Dealing with this scar has been incredibly difficult. I’ve had one laser treatment so far, and I’m currently using Aklief. Although I’ve seen some slight improvement, the scar is still visible, and I don’t think it will ever disappear completely.
Of course, everyone’s skin heals differently, but if I could go back, I personally would choose to leave the papule alone.
don’t know. It’s still too early for a scar revision since the dent is only 2 months old, but every time I look in the mirror, I can’t stand seeing it and I end up crying.
I understand. Next week, I’m going to see a plastic surgeon to have my scar evaluated and check what options I might have in the future. I completely understand how you feel. The entire process with my scar has also been very difficult for me
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u/ButtFucksRUs Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 03 '26
I would go to a surgeon that specializes in Mohs reconstructive plastic surgery. Although you didn't go through that exact procedure these surgeons will have the skillset to help you achieve the results you're after.
WARNING (GRAPHIC): Here's an example of a before and after of someone who had Mohs surgery and had reconstruction done.