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Lindsey's Abbé Flap Surgery
In this procedure, the doctor "borrows" tissue from Lindsey's bottom lip, which tends to pout even when she is not, and give it to her top lip to help out the tissue deficiency there. A piece of tissue will be partially detached from the bottom lip and sutured to the top lip. Essentially, her lips are sewed together connected by a small piece of the tissue. This remained for two weeks in order for the sutured piece to establish a blood supply.
After the two week period, another operation was performed to completely free up the bottom lip, stitch it together and attach the piece completely to the top lip. It did create a small vertical scar from her lip running down toward her chin (Approximately 1 inch). A columella lengthening was also done at this time.
As you browse through the pictures, you will notice that the area that used to be on her bottom lip and chin is now part of her top lip and area beneath her nose. This is the area between the suture lines. Be prepared as the pictures are rather graphic and should not be viewed by those with weak stomachs!
Two days before her scheduled Abbé Flap procedure. Lindsey is also sporting eight stitches from an unrelated encounter with a very hard bench.
Just hours after surgery, quite groggy and out of it.
Day 2. Awake, but not happy. Pain medicine very needed at this point, very hard to even get anything into her mouth in the way of liquids. A syringe eventually was used for the two-week duration -- hurt too much to suck and the opening was only wide enough for a coffee stirrer.
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Day 4. Bruising and swelling is severe and the area of her mouth is very sore. Still cannot speak and that glassy-eyed look speaks for itself.
Day 6. Several stitches were removed and swelling is beginning to fade.
Day 10. All stitches removed. Surgeon is very pleased with the color of area and overall grafting. Bruising is all but gone too.