My Dog Bit off my Top Lip

asked 1 year ago by Brentwood in Brentwood, TN
Latest answer by Jeffrey Weinzweig, MD
Question viewed 1,005 times
Tags: dog bite, top lip

Last week my dog bit me and took out a chunk of skin from my cheek and going into my top lip. I took the chunk of skin to the ER and a plastic surgeon sewed it back on but seem less than positive about the outcome. The skin chunk involves my very white skin going into the ridge of my lip and going into the dark skin of my lip. What is my best hope and what questions should I ask the surgeon when I see them tomorrow?

5 answers to My Dog Bit off my Top Lip

Dog Bite Lip Reconstruction

From your description, it sounds like you have lost a segment of lip containing the skin (white part), vermilion border, and vermilion (pink part). When the tissue is relatively preserved and not too chewed up (excuse the pun) it can be replanted as a composite graft. Factors such as smoking, medications, age, general health status, and post-reconstruction care (e.g., application of ice, etc.) all play a role in determining if this tissue will survive. You should ask your surgeon what... more

Jeffrey Weinzweig, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

My dog bit off a piece of my cheek. It was stitched back on but is it going to work?

Regarding : "My Dog Bit off my Top Lip Last week my dog bit me and took out a chunk of skin from my cheek and going into my top lip. I took the chunk of skin to the ER and a plastic surgeon sewed it back on but seem less than positive about the outcome. The skin chunk involves my very white skin going into the ridge of my lip and going into the dark skin of my lip. What is my best hope and what questions should I ask the surgeon when I see them tomorrow?" Without a... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Key issue: How much tissue survived dog bite

The reconstruction of the lip depends on the amount of tissue that survives. To some degreee this may be apparent as early as 5 days but may take at least 10 days to make a full assessment. However, gentle wound care and dressing changes may be advised for weeks or months prior to any additional surgery. The key issue now is: how much tissue survived.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Loss of tissue

The survival of the reattached tissue depends on its size (thickness, width) and the vascularity of the surrounding healthy tissue. Sometimes cooling the reimplanted tissue with intermittent cold compresses can increase survivability by reducing its metabolism affording a longer time for the new blood vessels int grow into it.. If it does not survive or survives only partially then your surgeon will need to debride it by removing the dead tissue. Sometimes the remaining defect can be... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Lip reconstruction

When you see your plastic surgeon tomorrow, he will tell you how that replanted tissue looks. If it's healthy (the tissue is surviving), then he'll likely just let the scar mature over time (9-12 months), then do any necessary revisions. If the replanted tissue is not surviving, he may cut some or all of it out, then proceed with some other type of reconstruction. I'm certain he will discuss this with you when he sees you.

Carmen Kavali, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

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