Lip Lift- 26 Year Old Woman, Washington DC, DC

I had always wanted to do something to make my upper lip have more surface area and to lessen the distance between my lip and my nose. However I'd only heard of lip injections and implants until I found out about a lip lift (perfect!). Had a consult and when I learned that it was relatively affordable for me ($2250) and that it was so simple (done under local in-office, 1-2 weeks recovery) I knew I had t schedule one right away!

Just got it done yesterday. I took some Xanax before and listened to music while it was going on. Procedure wasn't too gross or unbearable since I was numb (the 3 numbing injections were the worst part! lol). After an hour I was out and on my way home and then I took some old oxycodone pills every four hours till bedtime. These kept me pain-free and knocked out (though I probably could have survived just fine with strong Ibuprofin). My doctor was able to do some very good sutures in my nose, so that the typical incision line seen just below the nose is not there. I actually can't see the sutures, wherever they are, but I'm to go back in two weeks to get them out. There is surgical glue and pen markings under my nose, but that's it. If I wind up having a scar at all it should be nearly non-existent.

I had 6 mm removed and I can tell this was a good choice for me. There was some swelling for the first few hours which then seemed to subside pretty well, but by eight hours after the surgery the swelling returned in force, making my upper lip look HUGE. This is a normal reaction from my body so I'm okay with it, but it is pretty hilarious looking and I'm certainly thankful that I made sure to get enough time off from work!

Day 2: I can already tell that once it stops being so swollen that I am going to love the shape and surface area of my new lip. And I think there'll be some great tooth show as well. Upper lip is tight firm feeling, but not too painful. Had some minor bruising inside my lip which was unexpected. I just use ice compression every twenty minutes or so. I'm hoping to get some bromelain pills soon to reduce swelling too. Drinking out of bendy straws is a life saver. Just eating soups and oatmeal and yogurt and stuff right now.

Yesterday (day two) was the day of swelling. Like, Platypus lips! But today the swelling has gone down from the bottom (top still swollen) and I feel like my lip is actually made of human tissue instead of vulcanized rubber. No pain still, but I am more aware of the bruised feeling near where the incision was.

Feel like a dummy that I didn't know this, but there are no stitches to be removed (YAY!). I got some under the skin stitches and the surgical glue on top of my skin.

As the swelling goes down, the (extremely slight!!!) pain near the incision that I'd originally imagined grows. It's because I now have more movement up there, versus before when I was basically immobilized by my flesh-beak, haha. This new lack of swelling also makes it bleed a tiiiiny bit, though I never see it happen I just notice a little dried blood. Despite this though I feel more comfortable today than days past and I do feel like I'm healing.

I'm actually going to go out in public today around people who I don't usually see and who don't know me. I know strangers at Costco and Walmart will be able to see that I've had work done, but they will all assume it was my nose because of the pen marking and glue under there. Either way I don't really care. I'm just excited about my new lip!