3 weeks ago, I had liposuction of the jawline and chin and he even went in and pulled some fat out that was below the muscle in my lower chin/upper neck area. My lower lip isn’t the same, when I smile it’s uneven and when I laugh or talk it looks funny. I’ve now create a habit of putting my hand over my mouth when I talk.. I talked to my dr and he said he will look at it at my next post opp appointment. My question is, is this or can it be permanent? It is caused by swelling?? Help!
May 7, 2019
Answer: Nerve Injury and scar It looks like your scar is slightly hypertrophic and might benefit from a steroid injection. The reason your smile is asymmetric is most likely from a nerve injury which is one of the risks of the procedure particularly when addressing the jawline. Your provide can help make it more symmetric but only time will allow the nerve to heal.
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May 7, 2019
Answer: Nerve Injury and scar It looks like your scar is slightly hypertrophic and might benefit from a steroid injection. The reason your smile is asymmetric is most likely from a nerve injury which is one of the risks of the procedure particularly when addressing the jawline. Your provide can help make it more symmetric but only time will allow the nerve to heal.
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September 9, 2021
Answer: Lip problems after liposuction did you follow up with your provider? This is almost certainly an injury to the mandibular branch of the facial nerve. That nerve innervates the muscle that moves your lip and a muscle that pulls the corner of your lip down. If you lose the function of this muscle on one side you will have your described asymmetry. This complication happens from time to time with chin and neck liposuction. This happens more often leave when the procedure is done aggressively, with larger cannula's or if the treatment includes going above the mandible into the face treating jowls etc. I suppose the news is good and bad. The bad news is this happened to you. The good news is twofold first of all now you have a diagnosis. Secondly there's almost always returns to normal with time. In order for nerves to work they need a fatty coding called the Myelin sheath. Liposuction can temporarily damage this fatty coding but generally is not aggressive enough to cut the nerve. When this happens we often referred to as neurapraxia. Neurapraxia can be divided into different categories depending on how severe it is. For example if you sit with your legs crossed and your foot gets numb you developed mild neurapraxia. Obviously you get the feeling back in a few minutes because the neurapraxia is really mild. In more severe cases of neurapraxia the nerve needs to undergo regeneration. As long as the nerve fibers are present the fatty coating can regrow re-innovating the muscles with time. Usually the nerve function comes back within a few days two weeks but it can take several months. In the absolute worst case scenario it can take up to a year. When that's the case there's usually been open surgery with some nerve branches cut. I wouldn't dissipate your lip moving normally within the next two months at the longest but no one can tell you for sure. One option is to inject Botox on the opposite side to even out the results. I would not recommend doing this. Follow up with your provider and let him or her know how you're doing. Best, Mats Hagstrom MD
Helpful 9 people found this helpful
September 9, 2021
Answer: Lip problems after liposuction did you follow up with your provider? This is almost certainly an injury to the mandibular branch of the facial nerve. That nerve innervates the muscle that moves your lip and a muscle that pulls the corner of your lip down. If you lose the function of this muscle on one side you will have your described asymmetry. This complication happens from time to time with chin and neck liposuction. This happens more often leave when the procedure is done aggressively, with larger cannula's or if the treatment includes going above the mandible into the face treating jowls etc. I suppose the news is good and bad. The bad news is this happened to you. The good news is twofold first of all now you have a diagnosis. Secondly there's almost always returns to normal with time. In order for nerves to work they need a fatty coding called the Myelin sheath. Liposuction can temporarily damage this fatty coding but generally is not aggressive enough to cut the nerve. When this happens we often referred to as neurapraxia. Neurapraxia can be divided into different categories depending on how severe it is. For example if you sit with your legs crossed and your foot gets numb you developed mild neurapraxia. Obviously you get the feeling back in a few minutes because the neurapraxia is really mild. In more severe cases of neurapraxia the nerve needs to undergo regeneration. As long as the nerve fibers are present the fatty coating can regrow re-innovating the muscles with time. Usually the nerve function comes back within a few days two weeks but it can take several months. In the absolute worst case scenario it can take up to a year. When that's the case there's usually been open surgery with some nerve branches cut. I wouldn't dissipate your lip moving normally within the next two months at the longest but no one can tell you for sure. One option is to inject Botox on the opposite side to even out the results. I would not recommend doing this. Follow up with your provider and let him or her know how you're doing. Best, Mats Hagstrom MD
Helpful 9 people found this helpful
