Crooked smile post-op (upper lip)

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#1 Post by **eveningninja** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 11:06 pm

Did any of you have a crooked smile post-op? The left side of my upper lip, which is numb, doesn't raise up too much when I smile as opposed to my right side which seems to raise normally. I'm 3 weeks post-op right now of a Lefort I and BSSO. I keep telling myself my smile will look normal again eventually, but I'm just wondering what your guys' experiences were like. How likely is it that my lip will regain 100% of its animation? It really bugs me and makes my smile look very weird.

#2 Post by **jordan82** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 6:17 am

Im 2 weeks post op from BSSO( advance 7 mm) my lower left side of my lip and chin are still frozen/numb and when I smile they do not move as much as the rest of my smile. If I am lookin in a mirror I can see it and correct it but when I smile naturally the frozen area is lagging a bit behind. I think once the numbness is gone so will the problem. If the numbness never goes away I dont think it will be too difficult to train the frozen area to be inline with the rest of my face when I smile etc.

#3 Post by **Tribal** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 6:18 am

I imagine it will look normal again once you get the feeling back on the other side of your lip. My surgery was 3.5 weeks ago and I still can't really smile very well. Only mine is at least the same on both sides as the numbness is the same. As the feeling is coming back I'm starting to get more movement. Give it time.

#4 Post by **OzzysMom** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 12:58 pm

At 3 weeks post-op when I tried to smile, the bottoms of my upper teeth barely showed. They gradually began showing more over the months but also then my lower gums were showing. After around 8 or 9 months, I felt I could flash a rather normal smile again. It gets discouraging but healing can take awhile. Hang in there!

#5 Post by **cvn** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 12:23 am

It's pretty hard to tell post op. Give it at least a few months until all the numbness goes away to see if the damage is permanent.

I won't lie though, my smile is crooked from nerve damage in my left cheek and I can't imagine it will be improve after my next surgery. If you're concerned you can talk with your surgeon about it.

#6 Post by **brendan** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 12:52 am

LOL at 3 weeks EVERYONE is still swollen to an extent and im almost positive every single person on the planet with this surgery has a crooked/weird smile till at least 1-1.5 months post op. You'll be amazed at what the 3rd and 4th week do as far as healing goes.!!!