Nerve Damage on Lip? (photo)

The photograph does not demonstrate too much weakness of the orbicularis muscle after facelift. Any traction damage on the nerve is temporary but may take as long as six months to resolve. This should be monitored closely by your plastic surgeon.

After studying your photograph, I observe modest weakness of the muscle surrounding your lips on the right. You should notice meaningful improvement 6-8 weeks after your surgery. Full recovery may take 4 months (or longer).

given this response is over the internet best that you discuss with your md.  but i would expect improvement in 3-6 months.

The photo does not provide enough information to give a complete answer.  Facial nerve injury in Facelift is very rare and generally pertains to an injury of one of the five main branches of the VIIth Cranial Nerve.  If there is irregularity in motion of the upper lip, it would suggest a paresis of the buccal branch(es).  Luckily, there are usually many cross branches of the buccal division, making full recovery very likely.  The time frame can be form 6 weeks to 18 months.

Hello there

I'm afraid it is difficult to tell from a single photo what is going on there so I can only speak in generalities .

Nerve injuries during facelifts are very rare and I am sorry that this has happened . However most people begin to show recovery by 3 to 4 months . Rarely recovery can evolve up to 2 years out but I hope you are in the first group .

All the best

Terrence Scamp

Most of the time a patient experiences some facial nerve changes after a facelift, they are temporary changes from the nerves simply being beaten up during surgery.  It usually takes a few months for everything to return to normal, so be patient.  At the three month mark you should be returning to normal.  I hope this helps.

Dear Jo,

Thank you for your question. In general, a facial nerve traction injury takes 3-6 months to recover, but can sometimes take a year or more for full recovery.  Yours seems to be either minimal, or already improving, and thus has a good prognosis.

Best Wishes,

Pablo Prichard, MD

There are multiple branches of the facial nerve that supply this area to the upper lip.  These are the buccal branches and a permanent injury to the never is in the .1% range.  It may however take you up to 6 weeks to regain full motor function to this area.

Hopefully you will appreciate small changes in improved puckering/smiling over time as it would be a indicator that you will heal from the injury.  And that your surgeon will follow up with you regularly to help you through this distressing time.

Injuries to the branches of the facial nerve can occur during facelift surgery.  In the vast majority of cases the weakness and asymmetry associated with the injury are temporary.  Recovery time for full recovery can vary from 6 weeks to 1 - 1.5 years.  

Mario J. Imola, MD, DDS, FRCSC, FACS.