Recovery Tips
Following is a summary of the most important things I learned during my recovery from double jaw surgery.
- Drink lots of prune juice and water. Your toilet time will be far from enjoyable for the first couple of weeks because you’re likely to be severely dehydrated. The prune juice will provide your body with the fiber it needs to work those bowels properly, but fiber is useless without water because it won’t dissolve in your body. I recommend a bare minimum of 1 L of water per day. Drink 2 L per day as soon as you can.
- Before you attempt to pull any dead skin off of your lips, be absolutely certain that it’s not a stitch. I learned this the hard way.
- Start using medicated lip balm immediately following your return to your own home. If you don’t, you’ll end up with flaps of dead skin that are half an inch in diameter, and I promise you they won’t feel good when they catch on your braces.
- Apply heat to your face 3-4 times per day for the first 5-6 weeks to help with the swelling. The heat will also help you fall asleep.
- Begin each day at a decent time. If you sleep most of the day, you won’t be able to sleep at night, and you’ll hate yourself for it. Get out of bed, shower, eat some breakfast and brush your teeth and you’ll enjoy each day a lot more. (This is good advice for any day of your life, but it especially applies when you’re on the verge of depression from having jaw surgery.)
- Go to bed on time. Yawning will cause you quite a bit of pain, so prevent it by getting the right amount of sleep during the proper hours.
- As soon as you’re able to talk clearly enough for friends and family to understand you, call people and be social. Go outside and enjoy nature. Whatever you do, ensure you don’t fall into a trap of loneliness and self-pity.
- Start drinking from a cup as soon as you’re physically able to. Your upwards trek back to having full energy begins the day you can throw your syringes in the garbage.
- Eat solid food as soon as your surgeon gives you the go-ahead. It’ll be a slow, tedious and frustrating process, but you need to go through with it in order to build your jaw muscles back up and learn how to chew properly once again.
- It may take some time to get used to your new smile and your newly structured face. Don’t be ashamed of yourself. You don’t look funny at all. You’re simply not used to looking like you’re supposed to.
- And lastly, don’t worry about your looks, bite or facial feeling for at least 6 months. You may have an open bite, but you’ll wake up one morning and your teeth will have migrated back together. You may be completely numb, but feeling will return almost overnight.
If you have any questions about the recovery process, or perhaps have other pointers to share with upcoming jaw surgery patients, feel free to jot them down in the comments.
December 21, 2015 at 7:32 am
Hi I’m leah and it’s the morning of my fourth day post op. I had my upper and lower jaw moved to fix my underbite. So I had double jaw surgery. I stayed in hospital for two days and everyone thought I was heeling so incredibly fast. I was walking around the room the day of surgery I was able to some what speak. My swelling is still insane but for some reason the most pain I am having is in my throat. The doctors said this was normal because of the tube I had down my throat for 6 hours. But this pain is making it really hard for me to drink liquids. Is this normal?
December 22, 2015 at 8:59 am
Hi Leah, you can rest assured that the pain in your throat is quite normal for people because of the fact that the tube the doctor inserted down your throat scratches your flesh a bit. It will likely feel raw and burn when you eat and drink, but it should heal within another few days and begin to feel much better. Sorry to hear you’re in a bit of pain, but hang in there and you’ll be in better shape next week!
December 19, 2015 at 8:07 pm
Hi, my name is Maxine and I’m 8 weeks post op. I’m experiencing severe burning in my lower lip and jaw area. I’ve been suffering with an infection for 7 weeks now. They even had to admit me back into the hospital to give me my meds via an IV. Still I have the infection along with thrush due to all the antibiotics. Has anyone had this similar problem? My lower lip and jaw feel like someone lit it on fire or like army ants are eating me alive. Some say it’s the nerves waking but others say it’s permanent nerve damage. I’m terrified because I know I couldn’t live with this feeling for the rest of my life. What should I do? I do I cope? Desperate and afraid😥
December 22, 2015 at 8:53 am
Hi Maxine, sorry to hear you’re having such a hard time with the recovery so far. Infections are no fun and it’s certainly unfortunate that you were landed with one.
The antibiotics are certainly necessary, but try to keep your mouth as clean as possible by rinsing with warm salt water several times each day as well.
As for the pain you’re experiencing, I don’t think it’s permanent nerve damage because if it was, you wouldn’t be feeling anything at all. The fact that you can feel pain in your lower lip and jaw speaks to the fact that your nerves are in fact alive and well.
Hopefully there is someone else here that can provide some encouragement as far as dealing with infections goes. Do know that you’re not alone, though. I’ve met numerous people who had infections after the surgery and they all eventually healed up well. 🙂
December 19, 2015 at 3:38 pm
Hey I am 15 years old from London, England and currently have a quad helix expander and getting braces in February 2016. I am due to have double jaw surgery after that. I was wondering roughly how much weight loss there will be over the time of recovery?? Also at what stage did you start going out again (just walking around outside) and how long do you think I will have to be at home before going to school again??
Thank you, this blog has been very useful
December 19, 2015 at 5:19 pm
Hi Kristen!
1) Most people lose about 10 lbs during recovery. However, if you have lots of muscle mass (ie. you lift weights) or you’re overweight, you may lose up to 30 lbs.
2) You can begin going for walks outside within a couple of days after surgery, but your energy will be lacking. It is encouraged to try to get outside for walks at least a few times each day, though.
3) I would recommend staying home for 1 month before returning to school, so if you’re able to schedule the surgery for your summer break, that would be best.
Hope this helps! If you have other questions, don’t hesitate to ask. 🙂
December 19, 2015 at 11:10 am
HI, Graham thanks for all the input
I’m 7days po stop for a double jaw surgery and I can’t wait to sleep in my bed I mean I did the whole week letting my head elevated for the swelling to come down. When is the proper time to go back to sleep normally?
Thanks
December 19, 2015 at 5:16 pm
Hi Gracy, if I remember correctly, it took about 3 weeks before I was able to sleep comfortably through the night again. At this point, you can safely rest your head on your regular pillow, but try to continue sleeping on your back to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on your face. Hang in there and you’ll be back to sleeping like a normal human being in just a couple more weeks! 😴
December 18, 2015 at 4:31 pm
I’m only on day 5, but so far these are some things I’ve discovered that might be helpful:
To help a bit with breath, add a TINY bit of mouthwash to the saline rinse your doctor gave you. Make sure to check with them first that it’s a type of mouthwash that’s ok to use. Anyways, it helps with the taste in your mouth A LOT.
Also if you’re tired of the taste of meal replacements I’ve been liking strained miso soup
December 18, 2015 at 3:47 am
Hi It’s been 2 days since my surgery and I’ve been drinking as much water as I can (I’m finding it hard to drink a full 1L). My mouth tastes really bad and the mouthwash the hospital gave me isn’t helping, any advise?
December 18, 2015 at 9:17 am
Shae, try rinsing your mouth out with warm salt water a few times each day. This should help remove a bit of the bacteria that is causing the foul taste in your mouth. 🙂
December 15, 2015 at 12:14 pm
Hi Graham, I’m 5 days post op and at this point I think most parts are going fine, for example just the usual pain in the jaw. However, almost every day I’ve been having severe headaches, and I’m not sure if this is normal. I’m suspecting it’s due to dehydration but then again I’m really not sure. Any help would be great!
December 17, 2015 at 9:47 am
Elliot, I think you’ve hit the nail on the head with your dehydration guess. On top of trying to drink more water each day, you can also try laying down and applying a hot pack to your face for 10 minutes a few times each day. The heat should relax your nerves, which will in turn alleviate some of the tension in your face and hopefully reduce the frequency of your headaches. Hope this helps!
December 20, 2015 at 1:14 am
Thanks a lot for the reply! I’m doing much better now. Cheers!
December 15, 2015 at 10:53 am
Thank for all of your insight Graham. It’s been about 6 weeks since my jaw surgery ( toral bi-lateral jaw joint replacement ) and I have alot of nerve damage in my face and my doctor says it is probably just temporary but I am worried. Is this common?
Shelley
December 17, 2015 at 9:46 am
Shelley, your nerves were bruised during the operation because the surgeon had to move them to complete the appropriate cuts in your jaw. They generally take anywhere from 3 weeks to 6 months to heal. I know this is quite a large range, but it depends on the person and on the extent of the bruising. Try not to lose hope just yet, though! 🙂
December 15, 2015 at 10:34 am
Hi Graham!
Just wanted to thank you so much for your amazing blog. It has been a lifesaver and I have been reading it and feeling reassured since my surgery day. It will be 6 weeks tomorrow since my double jaw surgery and I am finally starting to feel like myself again. Your blog has been such a help and has really cheered me up when I have been feeling particularly horrible. I have been really sick through the whole process. At the beginning I was very sick in hospital for 4 days due to a reaction I took to the anaesthetic and then at home I managed to get a bug which was the last thing I needed. So glad to have it all behind me now and be well on the way to recovery. Thanks again!
December 17, 2015 at 9:44 am
Seonaid, sorry to hear that you had to deal with illness on top of this recovery, but I’m glad you’re already halfway there. Enjoy your new smile! 😄
December 14, 2015 at 6:54 am
Hey everyone,
I am at 8 weeks post operation and had both upper and lower jaw surgery. I know everyone is different but I am still have a very hard time chewing food due to my mouth still not being able to open that wide. How long did it take for you all to get back normal range of motion? I am worried that it will never be back to normal??
December 13, 2015 at 12:49 pm
Hey! I just had my double jaw surgery yesterday. How long did it take you to open your mouth and how did you open your mouth? Did you have to use your fingers?
December 14, 2015 at 6:45 am
Hi Sasha, it took me nearly a month before I was able to open my mouth by any noticeable amount. I had my splint for 7 weeks, so I was quite restricted until that was removed.
I would advise against forcing your mouth open using your fingers. The best approach is to practice patience for the first 2 weeks so your swelling has a chance to go down. 🙂
December 14, 2015 at 9:17 am
Ok I actually managed to slowly get it open, but how did you swallow all your pills? The pain pill is definitely the hardest to get down. Also. How did you brush your teeth then?
December 14, 2015 at 7:06 pm
Swallowing pills is tough for the first few days, but you can try squeezing the pills behind your back molars. If not, try grinding it up and mixing it with water until you’re able to fit the pill between your teeth.
You should not brush your teeth until your surgeon gives you permission, but you can gurgle with warm salt water to remove some of the bacteria in your mouth.
December 11, 2015 at 5:34 pm
I’m six weeks post op and the swelling is still horrific even my eyelid are very swollen. I am unable to move my eyrbrows and my doctor thinks it is nerve damage. I’m so worried that this swelling is permanent I don’t even leave the house. Is this normal?
Shelley
December 12, 2015 at 3:09 am
Shelley, it’s normal to be swollen during the entire 3-month recovery, but you should not be unable to move parts of your face after 6 weeks. I honestly cannot think of a reason nerves around your eyes would be damaged, as nerve damage usually occurs in the patient’s chin and lower lip. I would ask your surgeon if it’s possible that you have an infection somewhere that is triggering the intense swelling. Hope this helps!
December 11, 2015 at 1:15 pm
Hello, its been a month since I had jaw surgery and I’m still pretty swollen, which I don’t like at all.. help remedies ?
December 11, 2015 at 5:34 pm
Me too Anna.
December 12, 2015 at 3:07 am
Anna, it’s perfectly normal to be swollen for the entire 3-month recovery, if not longer. My swelling did not fully disappear until 4 months had passed.
December 7, 2015 at 10:36 pm
Hi I’m Tasha and i just had double jaw surgery 5 days ago. Everything has been really easy until today when I noticed that it’s getting hard for me to swallow and either my tongue or in roof of my mouth feels extremely funny and sorta puffy (it’s so hard to explain lol) I guess I just wanted to kno if this can be normal, I don’t see my doctor till Friday and it’s starting to feel really annoying. Thanks 🙂
December 8, 2015 at 9:01 am
Hi Natasha! This could be due to heavy swelling. As long as you’re still able to breathe and swallow, I wouldn’t worry about it. If it’s causing you pain, you may want to give your surgeon a call to make sure it’s not an infection. Good luck and hang in there!
December 5, 2015 at 11:58 pm
Hi I’m Jordan Its been 3 weeks since my double jaw surgery, my doctor told me that the stitches fall out or off by themselves, but I wondered if it is bad to take off the stitches myself on the side of my cheeks? because they been a bother to me and I’m so uncomfortable with them on when the ones in my mouth had already dissolved .
December 6, 2015 at 3:52 am
Hi Jordan! As long as you can be sure the cuts your stitches are holding together have completely healed, it shouldn’t be a problem to remove your stitches. That being said, it’s generally frowned upon to remove your stitches by yourself and go against your surgeon’s advice, so you may want to give them a call and mention that the stitches are causing you pain and you’d like to remove them.
December 2, 2015 at 11:38 pm
Hi Graham,
Your blog has been a great source of info for me since I’ve had my surgery. I’m 14 post op from double jaw surgery to fix asymmetry. One symptom that worries me is the burning pain in my lower jaw. My lips are still swollen and odd shaped. I also have lots of tightness and tingling in my lower face. Does this seem normal? I don’t recall you mentioning burning sensations in your lower jaw.
December 3, 2015 at 6:31 pm
Lauren, your swelling, tightness, and tingling all sound normal, but you’re right, I don’t remember having burning sensations in my lower jaw. Does the pain feel like it’s in your bone or your skin?
December 5, 2015 at 10:37 am
The pain is in the skin. I talked to my doctor and he says the nerves are waking up. I’m just worried since it’s so painful. It does not seem to be what other people are experiencing.
December 6, 2015 at 3:49 am
I suppose it makes sense that nerve pain is manifesting as a burning sensation. I would recommend resting a hot pack on the parts of your face that hurt a few times each day to relax the nerves and try taking some Tylenol (or equivalent) to provide relief over the next few days. If the burning sensation lasts more than another week, you may want to let your surgeon know to make sure there’s no infection present. Good luck and let me know what you find out! 🙂
December 2, 2015 at 6:56 am
Hey Graham! I am three days post op and have found real difficulty eating (well drinking). It is so boring and I just cant drink most of the protein shakes because they taste awful. What do you recommend for me to eat to stay full because nothing has worked so far. Xx
December 2, 2015 at 5:30 pm
Michelle, the frustrating truth is that it’s very difficult to eat enough calories to feel full during the first month of recovery. I recommend trying out meal replacements—Boost, Ensure, etc.—as they will at least have lots of calories in them. If you cannot stomach these products, you can also try eating lots of heated chicken broth or tomato soup.
Within a week or so, you should be able to start blending thicker soups, which will add some much-needed flavor to your diet.
Hope this helps. Hang in there and you’ll be able to eat a bit more soon, I promise!
November 27, 2015 at 6:50 pm
Hi I’m 3 days post op and finding it very hard to sleep, eat, swallow, breathe properly. Any advice?
November 27, 2015 at 10:38 pm
Hi Lene! The third day is a tough one because your swelling is at its peak.
I recommend trying the following things:
1. Drink as much liquid as you can to stay hydrated
2. Try to keep yourself occupied with TV shows and walks outside
3. Lay down with a hot pak on your face several times each day to ease your discomfort
At this point, you’re really just trying to stay hydrated and pass the time as your body heals. Life will be much better by next week. 🙂
November 23, 2015 at 3:00 am
Hey Graham! I’ve read and re-read your blog for about 4 years now – pretty much since I started researching for when my own surgery happens (both jaws, on December 2nd). I figured as I literally print off this page I should say thanks. You put a really human face on orthognathic surgery for me, and made it less daunting – I know what to expect to a much higher degree than I would otherwise! It’s been so helpful for my family as well, to see that it’s not (quite) as terrifying as they imagine.
You have the biggest widest smile in all your Instagram photos. Can’t wait to be right there with you on the awesome fuckin’ grin front.
November 24, 2015 at 4:56 am
Dayna, glad you found my ramblings useful! It’s borderline weird how often people smile after having this surgery and braces. I guess, like many things, it’s really novel at first. 😄
Good luck with your surgery next week and let me know how you’re feeling when you wake up. Cheers!
December 3, 2015 at 1:47 pm
Oh man, felt verrrrry woozy when I woke up – stayed around for 36~ hours, and now I’m home! Apparently I’m healing crazy well. Would prefer to be more numb to be honest! Hurts like hell! Speaking well and getting in all the whole milk and Ensure etc I can manage. Getting sick of these nosebleeds, I’ll tell you what..
December 3, 2015 at 6:07 pm
Welcome home! Happy to hear the surgery is now behind you and you’re on your way to being fully recovered. I wonder how long it will be until you begin to despise Ensure… 😉
November 17, 2015 at 10:19 am
Hi. Iv gone through a maxilla surgery a month ago. They performed the surgery from inside of my upper lip. Im having problem with streching my upper lip now. It feels like i have lost elasticity. Is this permenant?
November 18, 2015 at 3:56 am
Navya, it’s common to have limited movement for at least 2 months following this surgery. One potential reason you’re unable to stretch your upper lip is due to scar tissue. If you’re able, try whistling for a few minutes several times each day. This will help break up the scar tissue in your upper lip, which will eventually help that elasticity return. 🙂