I had a facelift with neck, blepharoplasty, conservatively done lip enhancement (my fat injected into them) and laser around lips and under eyes. I am 19 days post-op and finding different things happening with my lip that wasn't happening at 2 weeks. The corner of my top right lip is not working quite right and is becoming somewhat droopy. I can move my lips, but this is a new problem that I didn't have before now. After waking from surgery in recovery, I felt as though someone had extracted all of my bottom teeth on the right side without using any deading agent. I couldn't chew ANYTHING because of the pain under my right chin. That has gotten better, but is still present after I have worked the jaw in eating. I eat only soft food. I can't seem to control food that I move to the right side of my mouth, although I can masticate the food and there is no loss of tongue function. If I slide my finger on the inside cheek when my mouth is open, the right seems to have a tight "band," (muscle?) and is smooth on the left. I can't open my mouth very wide either. I can make my lip match the left side with effort, but I can't make it pucker on the right no matter how hard I try. I have trouble forming some letters, but can do it trying repeatedly. Is it too early to tell if this is caused from damage, especially if it is something new as opposed to something that has been ongoing? If it is muscle weakness, can I do mouth exercises now to strengthen muscles? If it is nerve, can I further irritate the nerve that is affected by manipulation? Why the problem now and not earlier?
Thank goodness for the internet. I really learned so little about recovery from doctor or office.
Did your issues ever improve? I am 25 days post neck and facelift and have left upper lip paralysis, hard to eat and say certain words without deformity. Very concerning. Doctor says just wait it out!!