I had my lip lift five days ago with Dr Mascaro

Hello ladies, it's time for another update. I'll try to keep it brief. The changes I've noticed week by week: it is getting easier to talk although I still have a very numb philtrum and unbelievably I still can't smile wide without feeling discomfort and pulling. As far as holding a normal conversation, I can't without discomfort however I can push through it if I need to (I don't like to force it though) and my upper lip movement is still limited and looks odd. Redness still very much present, this won't disperse without laser I imagine. I can't bite into food very well so I eat everything with a knife and fork including sandwiches. This has been ongoing from day one but it is getting easier little by little. I've noticed my lip has deflated over the weeks and I no longer have that nice swollen look that initially plumped up my top lip in the first 2-3 months after surgery however in saying that I don't feel the lip has dropped, maybe just a touch but nothing too noticeable. The nose is still a big issue. Nostrils are definitely not going back to their original shape and I have noticed as I look closer that the nostril rims (I think that is what they're called) are not as visible as they were before the lip lift. Perhaps this is due to the redness and broken capillaries and it also appears to be one of the reasons (perhaps) that my nostrils look bigger. I didn't think about this so much before although now I realise they (the rims) aren't as prominent as they were originally. I have added some before and after photos so maybe you can see what I mean. Another thing that is bothering me, which I thought would settle down by now hence I did not mention it in my previous comments, I just can't get used to the fat looking philtrum. I don't find it an attractive look and is something to be aware of when considering this procedure. The swelling in my cheeks has gone down a lot but still resurfaces in my left cheek making me look a bit chip monkie at times. The odd expressions are another thing I can't get used to. I've been practising different looks in the mirror in order to perfect the nicest possible resting face but it's definitely uglier than how my mouth used to look at rest. Ok, I think that's it for now my lovelies. I apologise if this update is a bit rushed and not written so well but it's late and I'm ready for bed haha. Please have a look at my photos, I've tried to include a few different angles and expressions. Lastly, I'm trying to remain positive but some days are worse than others and it does get me down. I know I'm not majorly disfigured but I do look a bit unnatural and off looking and if there is one valuable lesson I've learnt from this lip lift (and my rhinoplasty) it is, don't play around with nature because at the end of the day God knows best and he has created you perfectly. Surgeons are not God!

I have reached the 3 month mark (3 months, 3 days to be precise) and I honestly don't know how to write this update. I have a lot of sadness over this lip lift and I can now say that I regret doing it. I want to add this very important point: It's not easy deciding how upfront and honest to be on this site because in the back of my mind I am reminded of when I first stepped foot into the surgical center and within 30 seconds of introductions being made I was presented with an array of forms to sign. Those of you who have had any type of plastic surgery will know these forms. At that point I began to question my decision and this feeling was further enhanced when I met the doctor. This is business for them, that's it! They are professional and friendly to a degree but they have a job to do and it's not to look after your emotions or console you if you feel nervous or afraid. If I can give any advice based on my experience, don't expect anything other than a service. You are not a cancer patient. You are here because you made the decision to have plastic surgery. I trusted my doctors expertise (well I trusted to a degree because at that point I hadn't had the procedure yet) but I knew emotionally I was on my own. Ok, now moving on to what I am experiencing with the healing after 3 months. Between month 2 and 3 I started to feel less tightness which of course is a good thing. It is getting easier to move my mouth, brush my teeth and eat although I am still debilitated when it comes to functionality and the use of my mouth and I can't open my mouth wide enough to floss my teeth which is annoying. I am slowly losing hope that my movement will be normal again. If I can describe what I look like when I speak it's Beaker from the Muppets. My bottom lip has to come up to meet my top lip and there is very little movement in my top lip. I can't eat with my mouth closed (only for a couple of chews if I push myself) so my social life has taken a nose dive. I don't go to social functions where there are a lot of people with talking and eating involved. At work I eat in private. I have terrible redness under my nose from the broken capillaries and the base of my nose and nostrils are wider. This is the thing that upsets me the most. After 3 months my nose has shrunk a little but it has definitely changed. Please be aware that this is one of the risks even though in my case my doctor said he's not worried about it because my nostrils already show. I don't think the lip lift suits my face. The two bunny teeth I can see at rest and the big nostrils don't look very nice together on my face. The swelling in my cheeks is still present every day with my left cheek looking more puffy than the right. I am honestly not sure if my speech will ever be normal again and when I think about this too much it makes me upset so I still try to hang onto hope because if I don't have hope where will I be? I understand this review will most likely come across very negative but this has been my experience, my journey and I want you to know that it's not an easy procedure to recover from. Something so small, or so it seems, can actually change the look of your entire face. Please be aware of this if you are deciding whether or not to go ahead with this procedure. Don't expect any major changes for at least two months because those first two months will be very difficult. If you have any dental work, checkups etc to do, definitely do them prior to your lip lift because you won't be able to open your mouth wide for a very long time. I am still waiting for the day it feels comfortable opening my mouth widely. My smile is still very rigid and ugly so I have to cover my mouth when I laugh and it hurts because of the tightness. I just watched a youtube video of a woman who had a muscle and skin lip lift 12 years ago and she addresses a lot of the issues I have, especially losing functionality of the mouth. She advised to not only go by 'after' photos because most likely the patient will look good but to take note of how the mouth moves (video or seeing the person speak). I made my decision to have this lip lift based on photos alone, on this site actually. Everyone looked great in photos and every review I read talked about their easy breezy recovery. This honestly baffles me. It was only after I had my surgery and I wrote my own review that others started commenting and writing reviews that weren't so great in regards to the healing process. I had read snippets of how it wasn't easy but nothing in detail. Anyway, I apologise for the long update but I feel it's important to share my experiences and to make you aware of what may happen. You might be one of the lucky ones but please do remember that not everyone is lucky. Another thing I'd like to point out is doctors don't tell you everything. I was told I would be fine to go back to work after 2 weeks and when I asked the question about kissing I was told 3 weeks. At 3 months I am still unable to kiss and I went back to work after 6 weeks and still found it extremely difficult to talk and eat. Pre op I was told 1 month recovery however after the lip lift I was told 3 months I would be 85% healed and the last bit of swelling will take longer. I think my face was prettier before the lip lift, not necessarily my mouth on its own but the entire look of my face was much nicer. Some of you have mentioned that I should post a video but I am not comfortable as this is the internet and too pubic. I am happy to Skype with anyone who generally wants to see as I would like to help others but I won't post online. Lastly I would like to say I really appreciate everyone who has commented on my review and given me advice. I actually look to you ladies for support and guidance. Feel free to reach out to me for any further advice. I will post some more photos soon.

I am 2 months post op today and it has been a very long healing process. I am still not happy with my result although on a positive note the swelling started to subside this week and I am not waking up so puffy which is definitely a good thing. My nose hasn't gone back to it's original size and my nostrils are a different shape. This is very upsetting although I'm not at the 3 month mark yet and Dr Mascaro said I would be 85 to 90 percent healed by 3 months. My mouth does look quite pretty if just sitting still with mouth open however when I speak, laugh and smile it looks weird and I still feel that my lip is slightly too high. I went back to work at 6 weeks but found it very difficult to eat and speak normally although I had to force myself to talk properly to my work colleagues because I didn't want them to suspect anything. This was very upsetting for me as I'd return home from work each night with a sore philtrum and around the incision and a lot of redness from the broken capillaries being aggravated. If anyone else has suffered broken capillaries from a lip lift please advise me on what to apply topically (if anything) to soothe. I may have to get laser treatment if they don't calm down. When I'm at home I try to rest my mouth as much as possible because I'm afraid I'll do damage. There is absolutely no way I can kiss yet, even at 2 months it's a definite no no. I have so much tightness and struggle with pronunciation of certain letters that allow my lips to press together ie: Ms and Bs. Every meal is a challenge. I can't open my mouth wide enough to pop a Lindt ball in (haha) so this may give you ladies an idea of how much tightness I still have. As far as my lip dropping I don't see any change, maybe a very slight drop but I think it's just the area softening which has helped with closing my mouth. My overall opinion about a lip lift is I'm still on the fence about this operation. It can result in a lovely outcome for many but there is still some risk involved even at the hands of the most skilled doctor. My mouth moves oddly now and my smile looks ridiculous but I'm hoping everything will soften in time. The proportional difference in my face now ie: nose and mouth is quite drastic and is one that should be taken into consideration when deciding to have a lip lift. Dr Mascaro did explain to me pre op that most people feel their nose looks bigger because of the facial proportions changing however I didn't feel it would affect me because I had such a small nose but now my nose certainly does look big. Your face will definitely change (not just your lips) so make sure you are prepared for it. Lastly if anyone can offer me any advice in regards to eating and talking at the 2 month mark It would be most helpful as I'm afraid I'm doing damage with all the tightness and tugging. Has anyone else experienced pain in the philtrum when talking too much and please also advise about kissing and when it felt comfortable. Any advice or comments will be greatly appreciated as I am feeling a little lost over this whole process. It certainly wasn't what I expected. I'm afraid my speech will never be the same again. Lastly I have to say Dr Mascaro is a highly skilled doctor and by no means am I blotched, the outcome is just not as I'd hoped. I don't want to be negative seeing that I'm still healing. The incision is very neat and so far no issues there apart from my redness and broken capillaries. There has been the odd bump here and there on the incision however it just scabs and falls off with no damage underneath.