Upper Right Lip Doesn't Move After Face Lift

I had a face lift 3 monts ago.  My upper right lip doesn't move properly.  When I try to pucker my lips the right upper lip doesn't pucker.  When I press my upper lip to my lower lip and put pressure on it my lips move to the left side of my face.  My upper right lip will ove upwards and my smile is fine.  My surgeon said that he probably damaged my orbicularis oris muscle during the surgery.  I have seen some improvement in my upper lip since the surgery but not much.  Will my upper lip get better with more time?  Can this condition be permanent?  Thank you in advance for your reply.

[Howard Rosenberg, MD]

While abnormal muscle action is rare following facelift procedure, the problem you face will likely disappear in another three or four months.  Usually the problem involves the nerve to the muscle rather than the muscle itself.  There is enough innervation to that area that full regeneration of function is the norm.

[mitch6381]

Thank you for your response.  It has been another month of healing and there is still no improvement.  When I spoke with my surgeon he explained that during the surgery, he separated my skin from the corner of my mouth up to my ear to allow him to try to minimize a wrinkle that was at the corner of my mouth.  He said that he was working blind so he feels that he might have damaged my orbicularis oris muscle as well as cutting some nerves.  If this is the case, should I continue to be optimistic about a possible full recovery of my upper right lip?  

[Howard Rosenberg, MD]

I would be even more optimistic about improvement if, in fact, the muscle was injured rather than the nerve.  Regenerative muscle function is better than nerve regeneration.