I'm in Warsaw, scheduled to have my operation at 9 am tomorrow! I've been so nervous and second guessing myself for the last few days but reading some reviews here have put me to ease a little bit! So I thought it might be helpful to write my own.
I've been self conscious about my thin lips for a long time. I've had fillers done twice before and they really didn't do much for me because of the shape of my lips. And I know that they were done really well and by a skillful person so the problem was my lips not the filler.
I went to get my blood tests done today. So impressed by the friendly staff, and they spoke excellent english. It's about 20-25 min taxi ride from central Warsaw where I'm staying.
Updated on 8 Aug 2019:
I was so nervous this morning. For no reason really. Everything went very smoothly. I went in, got my consultation, paid, signed some papers, changed into hospital gowns. It’s a small clinic so you feel cared for. The only thing that hurt was the local anaesthesia shot. But only the first one hurts badly and it’s over in a few seconds. During the operation I felt really relaxed. I tried to not think about them cutting my face open, I just imagined I was getting a facial haha. That’s what it feels like, like they’re just massaging your face, just some pressure here and there. When they pulled my lip upwards to its new position, it’s the weirdest feeling ever! Anyway, then I got antibiotic and pain killer and just relaxed in a room for maybe 45 minutes. The pain kicked in just as I’d got back to my accommodation in Warsaw. It was quite bad but I’ve been icing the area and it helps a lot. It’s now 7pm and I’m still in pain.. Hopefully I can sleep tonight and tomorrow won’t be so painful..
Oh, I look alright by the way. I think I only got a little bit of swelling in my upper lip. It’s a bit of a rabbit look, but I know it will look more normal later. The doctor did say that it might take 2 months to stop looking strange so I’ve got a long way to go. I did get to see the stitches before bandages went on and I'm really happy how high the cut is. So close to my nose it nearly goes into the nostrils.
I'll update you tomorrow.
Updated on 9 Aug 2019:
The pain is only minimal now which I'm so relieved about. Last night the pain was baaaad. And I slept very intermittently due to just being so uncomfortable. But when I woke up this morning the pain was nearly gone! Then I looked in the mirror and noticed the swelling! I tried to sleep upright last night but wasn't so successful. I rolled over at some point and think I ended up sleeping on my side. Maybe that's why I got so swollen overnight. I did take an allergy pill cause I though that might help the swelling but it didn't. I've been just relaxing today, and icing a lot. Getting quite bored being at home so much but I'm too self conscious to go in public with my bandages. I've been eating regular foods but it's difficult. Chewing is ok, but I can barely open my mouth at all.
Updated on 10 Aug 2019:
Swelling is the same as yesterday and pain is minimal. I took a peak under the bandage. The stitches looked really neat when I saw them just after the operation. Now not so neat there's some blood, scabbing etc. Which is normal I believe. I made a new smaller skin colour bandage, since I went out of the house today! Anybody else relate to feeling like everybody stares when you're out in the public with bandages? Anyway, I was getting so bored I had to go out. Just went to the movies. Felt like a normal person haha.
You probably can't tell from the photos since you can't see my whole face proportions but the swelling has spread to my cheeks now. I look like a real chipmunk. I don't mind it too much though. By the way, if you spot some unevenness in my lips, it's just the way they've always been, it's not the operation.
Updated on 10 Aug 2019:
Hi, really wanted to post this first comparison photo. You can see just how much came off! The doctor said we would remove 7-8 mm, and I had about 20mm before. Obviously things will still change from here, but anyway..
Updated on 12 Aug 2019:
Can't believe it's already been 4 days since my operation! I'm feeling more and more comfortable by the day. The swelling has gone done massively, although not completely. Pain is very minimal, sometimes non-existent at this point. I've stopped taking pain medication too, now only taking my antibiotic. Eating and speaking is easier too, but I still can't laugh or smile. I was watching a funny movie yesterday and trying so hard not to laugh or smile ;) I think I'm becoming really good at it. Great training for my pokerface haha. I woke up this morning really itchy around the stitches? It's not too red or anything so I don't think it's infection, maybe just part of the skin healing? I'm applying some antibacterial cream to keep it from drying (bactroban 2% mupirocin if anyone's wondering).
At this point I'm loving my result! I think it looks really natural (except for the stitches of course..). It's not nearly as toothy as it first looked after the operation. Either my lip has dropped a bit, or maybe the swelling is just covering my teeth?
Updated on 13 Aug 2019:
Today I've especially noticed that the swelling of my upper lip is all gone. In a way I liked the swelling.. I'm thinking I might do some conservative filler someday. My lower cheeks are still swollen though.
Okay about the itching, has anyone else got like SEVERELY itchy around the stitches? I woke up two times last night because the itching was so bad that it woke me up. I have no idea what to do about it. When it gets really bad I just clean the area and apply antibacterial cream and usually that calms it down a little bit. I also read that cold compresses might soothe itchiness so I tried that too.
I'm so excited for the stitches to come off. Only 3 more days! Then I can feel a bit more normal.
Updated on 14 Aug 2019:
Just wanted to post these photos from today.
As you can see, I still have small lips like I've always had, if you think this operation gives you big lips you're wrong. But my proportions look so much better and when I look in the mirror I feel like I look younger. I mean I'm only 24 so it's not like my long upper lip was due to aging, but I still feel like this has given me a fresher / cuter look.
Anyway, I'm feeling more normal every day. There's still some swelling lingering on my lower cheeks but it's getting better. The stitches have only been mildly itchy today so feeling good! Only a few more days till they come off!
Updated on 18 Aug 2019:
Stitches came off yesterday, on day 9 post-op. The incision line is nearly invisible at some points and a thin pink line at other points. There's some scabbing near where the stitches used to be. The stitches were so tiny! I think the nurse who took them off really struggled! I would highly recommend you don't try to take them off yourself, even if you have taken off normal stitches before, these are not like most stitches.
I'm still just using antibacterial cream at the moment but switching to silicone cream when the scabbing is gone, cause I think you're not supposed to use silicone cream on broken skin. I bought one called Dermatix, and I think I'm also gonna get silicone scar sheets (like ScarAway). I read somewhere that the pressure from a scar sheet might help to not develop raised (keloid) scarring. I'm quite prone to keloids so I'm doing everything to avoid them.
Updated on 9 Sep 2019:
Hi, it's been 1 month since my lip lift operation. My scar looks worse in some ways than it did right after stitch removal. It more pink now. But still not bad. I don't cover it with make up at all and I'm honestly surprised that NO ONE has noticed my scar. The only comment I've gotten is 'there's something different about you..' and everyone I haven't seen for a while says 'you look well!' When I tell people about my operation they get really close to my face to look at my scar and only then notice it. Mostly I think it just looks like I've recently had a flu and it's a bit red under my nose.
Smiling widely is still uncomfortable but not painful. It's just a very tight feeling under my nose. Also my smile looks a bit weird. I hope it will look better in the future.
I'm now starting silicone gel treatment. I try to do it morning and night.
Overall I'm so happy I did this. I think in maybe 6 months time or whenever I feel like I'm more healed I will get small amount of filler. I think it will look so much better on me now than it did before.
Updated on 13 Apr 2020:
I took some pictures of my scar for you to see 8 months after the operation. These are under extremely bright light tilting my head up. In normal lighting you can see even less of a scar. Literally no one ever notices! I'm so happy! Only when I pull my top lip down to stretch the scar area I can see some white scarring. My philtrum was 20 mm before, the doctor said we'd take 7-8 mm off. Soon after the surgery that was accurate as it measured about 13 mm. Now 8 months later I measure it around 14-15 mm. I think the scar formation and healing has made it slightly longer. So overall 5 mm came off.
In my last update I talked about the tight feeling, that felt like having a string under my nose. I remember it being VERY uncomfortable to smile big. Now that has 90% gone away and I'm confident that it will continue to improve.
In my daily life I don't see a big difference in my appearance and people I know don't generally comment on it either. The only comment was from a little girl that I babysit sometimes that said 'my face shape is different'.. so observant.. But when I look at old photos the difference is so obvious! I added a few for you to see.
Also, I have no fillers now. I'm still planning to have conservative filler on the border of my upper lip sometime..