My, that's a mighty fat lip you have, grandma.
June 6, 2010 9:31 AM   Subscribe

How long should a fat lip stay fat before I start to worry?

My son came home with what I guess is a UDI (Unidentified Drinking Injury) after a weekend at the beach. He says "a wave did it", but I've seen waves at the Jersey shore and I'm not sure he is being completely truthful, though that's an entirely different question.

His lip has been fat a full week, and actually seems worse rather than better. Web medical resources are failing me. Is it time to have it looked at?
posted by Breav to Health & Fitness (6 answers total)
 
Well, if he cut it and it got infected that could be bad. Yeah, after a week I'd think the swelling should definitely go down. Go have it checked out.
posted by amanda at 9:35 AM on June 6, 2010 [1 favorite]


Well, when something gets worse over time instead of better, that is a cause for concern. IANAD so I don't know what it could be, but I would think it should be checked out. previously
posted by desjardins at 9:55 AM on June 6, 2010


It should be getting smaller in 3-4 days at most.
7 days and getting worse? Time for a doctor.
posted by SLC Mom at 10:47 AM on June 6, 2010


By all means, get it looked at.

Just out of curiosity, what do you mean by it's gotten worse? What color is his lip? How has it changed over the seven days? Does it hurt?
posted by ladypants at 10:59 AM on June 6, 2010


Having had my share of ass whoopin's fat lips are supposed to get better not worse, over the course of a few days to a week or so.

Big fat lips will take time, especially if the inside of his lips have been torn by his teeth, everything seems to make it stay swollen in those cases.

Ask him how his mouth feels, if it's still tender or hot or spicy foods hurt that area.

Assume that even if it WAS a wave, dirty water carries lots of bad infectious things in it, I'd see a doctor.
posted by Max Power at 12:04 PM on June 6, 2010


A week is a really long time, but has he been well hydrated? If he's not drinking enough water (soda doesn't help), then try dunking it in water for a couple minutes and see if that takes the swelling down.
posted by anaelith at 1:25 PM on June 6, 2010


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