• Keep your head elevated for the next two days to reduce swelling.
• Keep an ice pack on the procedure site (on/off for 20 minutes at a time) for the next two days to reduce swelling.  Always put a barrier between the ice pack and your skin to prevent a thermal injury to your skin.
• Apply Mupirocin 2% to the lips as many times as you need it to keep them moist for 7 – 10 days. Should they become reddened or itchy, you may switch to plain petroleum jelly. Your sutures will dissolve on their own between 7-15 days.
• You may shower and get your lips wet in 24 hours.
• Clean up the wound only with plain water and do not pick at the scabs. They will fall off on their own.
• For discomfort we recommend taking 400 mg Ibuprofen every 8 hours; only if you have discomfort.
• You may also be given a prescription pain medication; take it as directed.
• Plain Tylenol may also be substituted for either medication; take it as directed.
• You have been given a steroid (anti-swelling) medication called a Medrol Dose Pack.  You should take the pills as directed until they are gone.   This could cause you to feel a bit shaky or have trouble sleeping.  Do not stop taking the medicine abruptly.
• It is normal for you to experience swelling that will peak at day 3 or 4.  Eat soft foods and b rush your teeth gently for the first week.
• It is normal to retain a feeling of numbness in either lip for an extended period of time.
• As the lips are healing, it is also normal to experience occasional itching.  Severe itching should be reported to the office.
• You may notice tightness, numbness, asymmetry, looseness of stitches early, some bleeding, and any of this is normal.
• Should you have any questions, please call the office at 972.312.8105 during regular office hours, Monday through Thursday 8:30am – 4:30pm and Friday 8:30am – 3:30pm. If you need help with a serious medical issue after hours, you may contact the Answering service at 214-346-1388.

Revised 02/23/2017