When President Barack Obama suffered a split lip while playing basketball over the Thanksgiving holiday, a large number of Americans likely sympathized with his injury. A cut lip is one of the most common sports-related injuries and the one that most frequently requires plastic surgery, CNN reports.

While it is a common injury, plastic surgeons have to be careful when closing the wound. Reconstructing the border of the lips is the most crucial aspect of such a procedure. If a surgeon fails to correctly line up the borders of the lips, as the wound heals it might result in a superficial deformity.

That specific area of the body is especially sensitive. A hit to the jaw or near the mouth usually causes the lips to swell quickly, more so than most other parts of the body. The delicate skin and proximity to the teeth add to the possibility of injury.

A week later, the President had trouble pronouncing the word “superfluous” at the Kennedy Center Honors because of the dozen stitches he received.

Closing a split lip is a delicate procedure. Patients can request a plastic surgeon for stitches and should make sure they are board certified or a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.