Sam

My experience is very similar to Gordon's. My entire left side of my face including ear, cheek, lip and neck was wooden and numb. About a year after surgery, little by little areas on my cheek developed "needles & pins" prickling sensations. My ENT said it was the nerves recovering from surgical trauma.
My lip feeling has come back, but not the rest yet.
so there is hope for your lip to recover fully
Charm