Scheduled for a Vermilionectomy for premalignant lip tissue

Hi there. I am new to this forum and just thought I would share my recent experience of having a Vermilionectomy. I had a biopsy on my lower lip at the end of November 2024. I had a lip lesion that wouldn't heal. I was terrified of the procedure but honestly it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I got numbing gel on my lip before the injections (my dentist advised me to ask for it) A 6mm by 8mm [corrected] piece was removed. It took about 20 minutes and was pain free. The pain was minimal after as I kept up with pain relief of both Ibuprofen and Paracetamol every 4 hours. I ate pureed foods for about 5 days after, yes it was uncomfortable. 10 days later my results came back. Actinic Cheilitis with moderate to severe dysplasia. So, pre-cancerous. I was booked in for a Vermilionectomy January 13th 2025. This time I was more than terrified. I shouldn't have been as it again wasn't as bad as I had imagined. I had it done under general Anesthesia. Similar pain and pain relief as before plus some tramadol also for 2 days. I am now still recovering as the area is still healing but doing well, the inside of my lip is still swollen and there is numbness. I am 61, fair haired and freckled and was sunburnt a lot as a child. Hopefully this is helpful to someone who is anxious about this procedure.

Correction: the biopsy was 6mm x 8mm NOT cm

Hi there, I was wondering if anyone else has had the Vermilionectomy recently as I would like to hear about their recovery. I had the procedure performed a month ago and am finding it to be a slow healing process mainly on the inside of my lip. I had the stitches out after 16 days and my lip looks quite good on the outside although it is numb to a degree. It's the inside that is most sensitive. I am still finding eating and talking to be difficult as I can't open my mouth fully and the inside area is sort of hard and swollen. I hear it can take up to 4 months to recover fully but there isn't much information about recovery so I would appreciate to hear of anyone else's recovery. Thanks,
M

Hi @maria61, I’m tagging @marshaj @mizlynnie who are a year or two out from having had a vermilionectomy and can share their experiences.

Maria, I can also edit your post to change cm to mm if you like 🙂

Recovery does take time and anything inside our mouth feels so much larger doesn’t it? Was it recommended to work with a speech pathologist during recovery to help with talking and eating?

I can see the slightest “divot” in the lip but no one else sees it unless I point it out. It was a shave type biopsy with a scalpel. No big deal. My lower lip hasn’t been “right” for years. I have tried every lip product and mask on the market without success. Dermatologist froze it 4 times but it never healed properly, hence the chemo cream.

I’m sorry that you’re having to go through all of this & that your procedure was halted. Maybe it truly was a blessing in disguise. I am like you, in that I know this problem has to be dealt with and with the best treatment.
I hope you can get the lesion on your tongue evaluated.
My lip has diffuse areas of sun damage. I was a lifeguard for many years & we have lived in Florida for 31 years. I have fair skin.
My nephew is a plastic surgeon in NC & told me that Actinic Cheilitis, which is Actinic Keratosis on the lip is challenging to treat. They start with a chemotherapeutic (Fluorocil lip balm in my case), then if that doesn’t work, go to other options. Being a surgeon, he said the “complete shave” of the lower lip has high success rates. He also said that the lips respond well & cosmetic results are good.
I know I’m getting ahead, but he said a biopsy is important to know what I’m dealing with. The main area is right in the middle of my lip where it looks like I bit my lip, but some of my other lip is still inflamed after the chemotherapeutic treatment.
The dermatologist told me to go on a trip that I’ve had planned for quite some time, so I’m going to try to enjoy it & worry about the biopsy when I return.
My lower lip feels dry & chapped all the time & I use Aquaphor & Vaseline to soothe.
I think I have 3 of the 6 usual signs/symptoms for lip cancer:
1. A sore that doesn’t heal
2. Pain in the lip
3. Red patches on the lip
I’m glad there is an oral cancer support group. Being around other people who are going through the same thing can be beneficial to our mental, emotional & spiritual health.

@marshaj
Hello I hope you don’t mind me jumping in here and seeing how you are going. I have an appointment next Friday regrading my lip and my symptoms are the exact same as yours.. sore on bottom lip for 12 weeks that looks like I have bitten my lip, it’s red and painful but lips peeling and tingling of bottom lip.. now a 2nd GP who is experienced in Skin & Head & Neck cancers is sending me to an ENT for biopsy. I am 45 and single mum to 4 children and I am scared to say the least. I was wondering if you could tell me how your recovery is going and do you have photos from earlier on?
Thank you for allowing me to ask the questions and I hope you have recovered well. X

@marshaj
Hello I hope you don’t mind me jumping in here and seeing how you are going. I have an appointment next Friday regrading my lip and my symptoms are the exact same as yours.. sore on bottom lip for 12 weeks that looks like I have bitten my lip, it’s red and painful but lips peeling and tingling of bottom lip.. now a 2nd GP who is experienced in Skin & Head & Neck cancers is sending me to an ENT for biopsy. I am 45 and single mum to 4 children and I am scared to say the least. I was wondering if you could tell me how your recovery is going and do you have photos from earlier on?
Thank you for allowing me to ask the questions and I hope you have recovered well. X