Like most facial plastic surgeries, lip reconstruction will involve sutures, dressings, and post-surgical side effects. Your dressing may be removed as soon as the day following your reconstruction. Your sutures, however, may be present for up to seven days. Once your sutures have been removed, you might be able to apply makeup to help camouflage scarring as the tissue heals. While you may feel well enough to return to work after three to four days, you may want to schedule one to two weeks off work to allow time for optimal cosmetic recovery.