5 years later and still smiling!
Despite trying to walk away from this blog twice (here and here), I’ve been drawn back yet again. It seems helping people through the experience of having jaw surgery is something of an addiction.
Perhaps most importantly, I should let you know that I am back to help answer your questions (and have been doing so for nearly 2 months already). It’s been encouraging to see people helping each other in the comments as well, so thanks to all of you who are sharing your own wisdom with people new to this surgery.
In case you’re wondering what happened during my 5-year hiatus, I’d like to share a few brief updates on my life since my previous “final” post.
- After 6 years in university, I finally graduated with a degree in Computer Engineering. I’m not sure what that means, exactly, but many adults seemed to think it was a good thing to collect.
- I let all of my professors down by opting to become a traveling bum instead of getting a desk job. In 2012, I traveled around this blue and green orb God gave us (also known as Earth) and discovered friendly, hopeful people all over the place. The year-long experience involved many long bus rides, sleeping on park benches, eating frogs, walking cheetahs, and seeing the number $0 on my bank statements. (I was also lucky enough to spend Christmas in Malaysia with a fellow jaw hero!)
- I met a girl named Roma along the way and then married her a year later.
- We moved to Thailand because we’re wimps when it comes to winter in Canada. We have not stopped sweating since that day. 😅
- My commitment to being a computer geek finally paid off and spurred a career in programming. I now work as a remote software engineer from all corners of the world. (Today, I’m writing this blog post from the town of Siem Reap in Cambodia.)
- I learned that I like cats.
This is the girl I met. (Also, my wife.)
Since this is a blog about jaw surgery, I suppose an update on the current state of my jaw would prove useful as well. 😁
- I still wear my retainer 2 nights per week, a habit lovingly enforced by my wife.
- I now floss every single night, another habit
forcedencouraged by Roma. - I still have permanent numb patches in my lower lip and chin, but they do not negatively impact my life in any way (except maybe for those awkward moments when I have water running down my chin and nobody has the courage to tell me about it).
- I can eat and drink anything and my open bite no longer affects my chewing.
Finally, even 5 full years after my recovery, I still highly recommend this surgery for anyone who has difficulty chewing or feels an extreme lack of confidence due to their smile.
If you have any questions, or perhaps just want to say hello, feel free to leave a comment below and I will happily respond.
I wish you all a very happy new year and hope to meet even more of you in 2016!
March 3, 2016 at 2:26 pm
Hi Graham,
Your blog is super inspiring. I am glad everything is going well for you, and extra glad to hear you’ve adjusted to your bite and don’t need that second surgery!
I am preparing for my own double jaw surgery. I got my braces on in November. Amazing how technology changes, when I went in for my initial consultation as a kid 15 years ago, it was looking like I was going to be all wired and splinted up like you were. My surgeon now tells me IF he has to wire me shut, it would be for 10 days, max. I was floored!
Thank you for posting such a candid view of what the aftermath of jaw surgery is like. Honest, in depth, yet still funny and optimistic. I can’t thank you enough for documenting your journey.
March 3, 2016 at 8:02 pm
Hi Leanne, I’m happy to hear you’ve found this blog useful. Good luck with the upcoming surgery and let us know how you’re feeling once you’re on the other side! 😊
February 29, 2016 at 7:38 pm
Hi Graham,
I am set to have double jaw surgery tomorrow March 1st. I am anxious and excited at the same time. I am 32 and have never been able to have the surgery because the insurance would not be cover it until now. I really just wanted to say thank you for the blog, it has definitely helped me to be “ready” for everything. I think I am really looking forward to the weight loss since I have gain a few pounds on the eat everything you can die,t since I will not be able to eat I wanted to be able to eat everything that I knew I would be craving. LOL. That may not have been a good idea, but who cares. I didn’t want to have to blend pizza when I started to crave it in a few weeks. Luckily my surgeon says my teeth were set up so well with my braces, so I do not have to have a splint, but I still have to be on liquids due to the way that he is banding my teeth. I have taken a lot of things from your posts (since I read everyone from day 1) . I cannot wait for it to be over and for me to have the smile I have been dreaming of and being able to chew on both sides of my mouth will be nice also. I just wanted to show you some appreciation for writing your blog and really thank you for keeping it 5 years later.
March 1, 2016 at 9:47 pm
Hi Needa! Thanks so much for your kind words — they are much appreciated. Being that you are one of the lucky ones to not to have a splint, you will probably be back on a diet of soft food sooner than most. Good luck with the surgery and remember to stay positive. The frustrations of recovery are only temporary! 😊
February 28, 2016 at 9:57 pm
Hey Graham,
Thanks so much for taking the time to publish/maintain this blog. It’s a fantastic resource.
I think my doctor mentioned he would clear me to start lifting weight and going to the gym at eight weeks post-op, which is coming up for me. I was wondering if you can recommend any specific routines (exercises at the gym, diet) that you did after your operation that helped you to gain back weight.
Thank you!
February 29, 2016 at 6:10 pm
Hi Tyler, that’s great news that you’ll be able to get back to the gym soon! Since I returned to the gym before I was even allowed to eat soft foods, I cannot speak to any type of diet to reclaim your lost muscle. Of course, protein is the general goal, so perhaps soups with actual pieces of chicken may help. If you cannot chew pieces of chicken yet, don’t be afraid to blend it up.
As for routine, I resumed my routine from before surgery, but was extremely careful about over-exertion. Be sure to start with much lower weights than before and if you feel any pain at all, I recommend taking a break and decreasing the weird.
Fear not, though, because as soon as you’re able to eat regular food again, you’ll have little trouble getting your weight and muscle back. Good luck!
February 25, 2016 at 5:24 pm
Hey Graham! First of all, thank you for the well-written, and very reassuring website you have here. It’s helped guide me when I’ve been irrational during the healing process so far.
I had double jaw surgery a month ago today, and things are progressing pretty smoothly. My swelling is waaay down from day 1, and my upper lip is starting to get feeling back. Lower lip and chin are still entirely numb, but I’m not worried about that yet.
I actually had a question about shaving. Is it supposed to hurt? I mean on the spots that aren’t numb. Shaving the numb spots of course is strange, but it’s not a problem. Shaving where I have feeling, however, is actually pretty painful. I don’t draw blood, so I know I’m not going overboard with the pressure. I was just wondering if it’s normal to be so sensitive at this point, and if it goes away in time. I don’t know if you’ve had a similar experience in your recovery, it’s just an annoyance is all.
Thanks!
February 25, 2016 at 7:02 pm
Hi Ben, it is perfectly normal for your skin to be sensitive at this point. I actually found shaving quite uncomfortable until around the fourth month. I remember feeling like I noticed each individual hair being removed. I assure you this feeling does go away, but it may take another few months.
February 25, 2016 at 2:45 pm
Hi there.
First, thank you for documenting your surgery and recovery. I’m sure many people have found it useful.
I am 31 and am due to have double jaw surgery this year. Only my front row of teeth touch with a large gap between my back teeth.
The chance of numbness on my lips, chin etc being permanent worries me. How does this affect you day to day?
I have no pain, I just chew food poorly. Would you recommend the surgery?
February 25, 2016 at 6:41 pm
Hi Bryan,
1) My permanent numb spots do not negatively impact my life today. In fact, the only time I remember I have them is when people ask about them! Remember that all surgeries have risks and rewards and you need to make an informed decision about whether the 30% chance of permanent numb patches is acceptable given the positive outcomes of the surgery.
2) I recommend this surgery to fix your bite as long as you are comfortable with the recovery period and you can afford it. If your surgeon or orthodontist think your bite could lead to TMJ (“lock jaw”) in the future, that would also be a good reason to get this surgery now.
Hope this helps!
February 25, 2016 at 8:39 am
Hi Graham, your blog is awesome! I’m 38 days after double jaw surgery and I checked this blog relentlessly in the first two weeks of my recovery.
Now I’m feeling much better, I started to eat and the swelling has gone down a lot. The only problem is the numbness on my lower lip and on the left side of my chin. It’s very tingly with lots of pins and needles but I’m not getting any sensation back in my lower lip (my chin instead is improving day by day and now only a very small part of it is completely numb).
I don’t know why my lower lip isn’t responding to the tingling….did you get lots of tingling in there too that didn’t turn out in feeling coming back? Thank you!
February 25, 2016 at 6:31 pm
Hi Stefano, I’m glad you’ve been finding this blog useful! I remember when my nerves were healing that the “pins and needles” sensation didn’t always seem to be in the places I expected. Nerves are intriguing things and it seems they cause little sensations all over the place. I can’t recall if I felt these sensations in the parts of the face that are now permanently numb, so apologies that I’m no help in that regard. However, I do encourage you not to lose hope. It’s tough to make a clear judgement on if you’ll be one of the unlucky 30% of people who have numb patches until about 4 months have passed. In other words, you’re still in the early stages as far as nerve recovery goes. 😊
February 20, 2016 at 1:21 am
Hi Graham, it’s John again. It’s been 37 days and I am doing well right now. My lips are still very numb with minimal, if any feeling at all. Is it normal at this stage, and when can I expect it to come back?
Bigger problem is my elastics. I’m supposed to have my elastics on for another week. I only need one elastic, which connects from the back of my upper molarteeth to the front of my lower molarteeth. It keeps coming off, especially when I eat and brush my teeth. I try to put it back on again, but it takes sooo long and is really annoying and inconvenient, especially since I have to attach it to the back of my uppermolar. Do you have any advice for this, and I am thinking of attaching my elastics only at night and not bothering to wear them during the day. Would you recommend this?
February 20, 2016 at 6:27 pm
Hi John,
The “acceptable” timeframe for your nerves healing is tough to answer. I’ve met people who received the majority of their feeling back by the third week, but I’ve also met people who didn’t even begin to get feeling back until about the sixth week. So based on that, I wouldn’t worry about it until 2 months have passed. That being said, I would bring it up with your surgeon at your next visit, if only for some peace of mind.
As for your elastic, I recommend removing it when eating and brushing your teeth because it’s likely to snap during those activities and that is annoying every single time it happens. When I first starting wearing elastics, it took me nearly half an hour to put them on the first few times, but after a week of doing so, it was a 10-second job. I honestly think it’s simply a matter of practice, but I understand getting the elastic way back to your molars can be tough. Try using one hand to pull your lips back and your other hand to hook the elastic around the bracket on your top molar, following by stretching it around the bracket on your bottom molar. If it’s taking you several minutes to do so each time, I promise you are not alone. It’s a surprisingly difficult task the first few times!
If you only have to wear the elastic for one more week, I recommend trying to keep it on during the day as well. The end is in sight, after all!
Hope this helps at least a little bit! 😊
February 19, 2016 at 2:14 pm
Hey Graham,
Just wanted to let you know how happy I am I found your blog! I am undergoing upper and possibly lower jaw surgery this May. I have had braces on for a good 4 years already (due to not doing enough research and getting stuck with a general dentist). I am super excited to finally have an orthodontist that knows what he is doing as well a surgeon who is happy to answer my questions. I’ve been reading your blogs throughout today whenever I find a dull moment at work and I already feel better about the surgery. Once I have my jaw surgery I will probably be posting on here with questions! Luckily for me, my sister went through it first so she is going to fly over to me and take care of me post surgery. Wish me luck! Thank you again for your awesome blog!
February 19, 2016 at 6:08 pm
Hi Linda, you’re very lucky to have your sister available. She’ll be able to understand what you’re going through and that will be a huge benefit. I hope you’re able to have the surgery soon so you can put all of these dental frustrations behind you! 😊
February 17, 2016 at 7:41 pm
It was a joy reading your blog posts. I’m two days post op. I can’t stop drooling, my nose is clogged, everything is uncomfortable but.. I know it’ll be worth it in the end. I hope. For now I’m just suffering haha.
Thank you for sharing your experiences.
February 18, 2016 at 3:54 am
Hi Yuki, suffering (and patience!) is the name of the game for the first few weeks, unfortunately. It sounds like you have a positive outlook, so hopefully the time goes by quickly. Be strong! 💪
February 15, 2016 at 4:57 pm
Hi Graham,
It’s going on 4 years since I had double-jaw surgery, and my entire chin and lower lip are almost completely numb. I have been looking for a support group or anyone who knows what it’s like, and I found your blog. I would love to talk with you sometime, if you’re open to that?
Ken
February 15, 2016 at 8:27 pm
Hi Ken, I can relate on some level because half of my chin and lower lip are completely numb as well. If you’d like to chat, please feel free to email me at thinkswan@gmail.com. 😊
February 13, 2016 at 8:32 pm
hey i randomly found this looking up comments about what i have which is severe malocclusion. more soo then anyone i have encountered. I live in canada and i wondered how it worked with you through our helthcare syetem . what it covers..? i have bad back pain head aches the whole shiibang. do u have before or after pics ? I h was set to have this op at 15 and opted out due to health now 30 i want to know everything i can before going through this seriously finally.
hope to hear back..
Jordan-
February 13, 2016 at 8:42 pm
also im a terrible spell checker. but i have to have the exact same surgery as you have an im really scared about finally going through with is and have soo many questions about the costs.
February 14, 2016 at 5:31 pm
Hi Jordan,
1) You can see before and after photos on this page.
2) I’m from Alberta, so my provincial healthcare covered my hospital stay. My entire cost was $7000 for braces, $1600 to have my wisdom teeth removed, and $5000 for the surgeon. If you have health coverage on top of your provincial plan, it may cover some of that.
Hope this helps!
February 15, 2016 at 10:25 pm
Hey Jordan,
I’m also from Alberta and I’m nearing the age where I can begin my journey towards having a nice, friendly smile (closing towards 18 later this year). I’m just wondering if you had your surgery performed in Calgary and, if so, who was your dental surgeon/specialist if you don’t mind? Thanks a lot Graham!
February 12, 2016 at 3:05 pm
Graham, you grew in such a handsome man! Your smile is beautiful and it fits you yo have your hair this way. What a lucky girl is your wife !
February 12, 2016 at 6:41 pm
Wow, thanks for all your kind words, Eva! Did someone pay you to say these things? 😝
February 9, 2016 at 12:21 am
Hi graham .my daughter is nearer to 7th week post op she is doing well and eating all smooth dishes. She is on one elastic each on both sides .we talked to surgeon about her nose shape he told to keep on pressing it from the side where it looks little bucked.now her main concern is her face has changed a lot , eyes r like gone inside and face looks as if she is in illness from long .when will this get better she look nice as before .
February 9, 2016 at 2:45 am
Hi Jyothi, I recommend not fretting about appearance until a full 3 months have gone by. Swelling can drastically alter the shape of a person’s face, so it’s difficult to get a clear picture of what your daughter will truly look like until that swelling is completely gone.
Personally, my swelling was not completely gone until a full 4 months after surgery and my appearance continued to shift in subtle ways until that point.
I hope this provides a bit of comfort for your daughter!
February 9, 2016 at 7:29 am
Thanks Graham .
Your blog has tons of information.such a wonderful person u r and make time to answer everyone.god bless u and ur family. Thanks once again.
February 8, 2016 at 2:42 am
Hey Graham, so it’s been 25 days since I got the surgery. I’m doing much better but I still feel the occasional moment of pain on my chin and the top of my right chin. I feel as if my chin is about to fall off. I haven’t started eating yet either, but I should start this week or at the worst next week. Is it difficult to take out and put the elastics back in by myself? And is there a huge difference in what you can eat between week 4 and week 6, or still soft food on week 6?
What’s your best advice on starting to eat soft food and on transitioning to other meals? When can I start eating my favorite food, KFC and chicken breast? I haven’t had them in so long and my craving is over the top at the moment…
February 9, 2016 at 2:40 am
Hi John, taking your elastics off and putting them back on can be time-consuming at first (it took me nearly an hour the first time), but after a week or so of practice, it will only take you a few seconds to swap them.
As for eating soft foods, it took me about 2 weeks before I could eat at a normal pace. When I was given the go-ahead to eat soft foods after 7 weeks, I ate very slowly at first and was not able to open my mouth very far.
I recommend beginning your soft food adventure with things like macaroni and mashed potatoes. After a few days, try eating some steamed vegetables as well. After 2 weeks of eating soft foods, you should be able to eat just about anything that is not hard. Do not try eating things like steak, peanuts, uncooked carrots, etc.
Have patience and you will soon be able to anything you want again. 🍖🌭🍕
February 11, 2016 at 3:17 am
Hey Graham so now it has been 28 days since I got the surgery. I still have noticeable swelling on my left cheek. My right check has subtle swelling but it isn’t as significant as it is on the left. My upper lip is mixed, sometimes it looks swollen, sometimes it looks fine. But it still feels really rough and stiff on my lips so it feels and looks really awkward when I smile. Any tips to getting rid of this swelling and when should I expect the swelling on my upper lip to subside?
February 11, 2016 at 5:13 pm
John, it’s perfectly normal to be quite swollen for up to 2 months. Another important thing to note is that residual swelling will likely last up to 4–5 months, so your appearance may still shift in subtle ways for a while yet. Uneven swelling is also a common thing and is nothing to worry about.
I’m not sure if you can make the swelling dissipate any more quickly, but you can lay a hot pack on your face for 15 minutes a few times each day to provide some relief. As for when your upper lip will be back to normal, that is different for every person. You can take a look at my mugshots to get an idea of how long my lips were swollen for.
February 5, 2016 at 10:52 pm
Hello Graham! It is Kaitlyn from Southern Ontario, we had periodically emailed when I was initially recovering a few months back and reading your blogs always reminded me to look at the humorous side after surgery :). I happened to check up to see if you had written any new post (glad to see you are still updating periodically!) It was very encouraging to read that you still uncontrollably drool, due to numbness in your lower jaw. Its been a bit over 6 months since my double jaw surgery and I felt like I was the only one that still experienced this! Looks like I may never be out of the woods on that one but I certainly wouldn’t trade it after the results of my surgery.
Kaitlyn
February 6, 2016 at 12:00 am
Hey Kaitlyn, thanks for popping in! I’m happy to hear you still think the pros outweigh the cons from your surgery. It’s funny… I always forget I have a numb patch in my chin until I check the comments here each morning and see people asking about it.
I hope you’re doing well and smiling lots. Take care for now and enjoy the last few weeks of winter! ⛄️
January 23, 2016 at 5:41 pm
Hi Graham, I just wanted some advice. My surgeon is 6 hours away, so I don’t really have anyone I can consult with. Today, I moved my lower jaw from side to side even though my jaw is wired shut and felt and heard a snapping noise on my right side and then I got a massive earache and now it seems more swollen on that side. Is it possible for screws to come loose? I still seem wired shut but it’s still nerve wracking because I don’t want to have to go through all this again
January 25, 2016 at 8:55 am
Ella, apologies for my slow reply. Hearing snapping noises is generally not a good thing, but it can also be something harmless, similar to cracking your knuckles. Are you still swollen and experiencing an ear ache at this point?
January 25, 2016 at 8:59 am
Yes I am.
January 25, 2016 at 9:22 am
In that case, I recommend calling your surgeon and asking if it’s something you should be worried about. They may be able to explain what happened over the phone and either set your mind at ease or confirm that it’s something you need to be taking care of.
January 23, 2016 at 2:54 pm
Hi Graham, it’s been 10 days since my surgery and I feel much better. I really hate the elastics though (I don’t normally wear them for braces). So how long until I can get my elastics off and speak properly? Also, when can I start brushing and flossing my teeth? At the moment, because of my elastics, I can only brush the front of my teeth and the back teeth is a no-mans-land and I rely on mouthwash.
January 25, 2016 at 8:51 am
John, you’ll have to ask your surgeon when you can begin removing your elastics during the day. As far as I recall, it’s recommended to wear your elastics 24 hours per day (except when eating) until your orthodontist checks you over, at which point you can begin wearing your elastics at night only.
As for brushing and flossing, you can generally start doing these things gently after about 2–3 weeks. But again, I recommend asking your surgeon.
January 26, 2016 at 1:48 am
Hi, I’ve been having my meals through a syringe for the past twelve days. A few days ago, I started drinking water, juice, and thin fluids through a straw which I have improved on. I still can’t drink soups with my straw and my syringes are becoming rough and hard to use due to excessive use. Know where to get some and how long did you use them for? After you were done using them, did you start with a spoon or a straw?
January 28, 2016 at 3:50 am
If your surgeon cannot provide any extra syringes for you, a quick search on Amazon may yield something useful. I wasn’t able to find them in any pharmacies where I live, so I asked the hospital for a few extras before I was discharged.
When I finished using syringes, I started drinking from a cup. For meals, I would blend everything in a Magic Bullet and then drink the blended food from a cup as well. It’s not glamorous, but it keeps you alive! 😄
February 2, 2016 at 12:18 am
John
I saw your post not sure if you were able to purchase them on Amazon of not then I recommend you buy them through http://www.craniorehab.com
Prior to my surgery I stocked up on the things I thought I would need. I got the Jaw bra which was given to me at the hospital (total of 2) I bought 3 extra syringes since the two from the hospital were wearing out (3 come in one order) I ended up using only one because by the end of week 2 to 3 I was already drinking from a cup and eating from a spoon. I am completely wired shut no rubber bands yet that will be after I get the wires and the splint out but I guess what makes it easier for food to go through is that part of the splint chipped and I have some tiny spaces on my bottom teeth (hard to explain)
I stayed away from the straw and dived right in to drink it from a cup and using the spoon I think it is like a training type of thing. Try it out you’ll get the hang of it just be patient, get a bib 🙂 and try it little by little.
January 22, 2016 at 12:21 pm
Hey Graham!
I referred to your blog quite a bit leading up to my own double jaw surgery in June 2015. I remember you said that one side of your bite was open. I’m 7 months post-op now and my left side is still open about 3mm. It has closed a tiny bit with elastics but it’s been a very slow process. I see you mentioned above yours doesn’t affect your chewing anymore. How open is your bite? And is it still just the one side? How long did they try to close it? You’re the only person I’ve seen online have this problem as well so your experience would be really helpful to me. Thanks from a fellow canuck!
January 22, 2016 at 6:20 pm
Hi Jaime, once my swelling went away, I had an open bite on both sides of my mouth. Approximately 6 months after that, my bite had closed on the right side, but remained on the left side.
Naturally, your teeth will want to keep growing until they encounter an opposing force (in this case, your other teeth), but it seems like they do have a maximum length they can grow because my open bite on the right side never closed.
My orthodontist did not give me any special treatment to close my bite. She said it was reasonable and would not affect my chewing and she was correct.
Since your surgeon positioned your jaw as best they could, chances are your open bite should not affect you in the long run. You will likely cease to even notice it quite soon. Truth be told, I forgot I had an open bite until you asked about it just now! 😄
January 18, 2016 at 7:40 pm
Hi Graham,
It’s been 4 days since my double jaw surgery and I’ve just been miserable.
I’m still in hospital, the pain is unbearable and face feels like it’s going to explode.
What can I do to survive these next few days?
January 18, 2016 at 9:12 pm
Hi Yusraa –
I’m sure Graham will be along soon and will comment, but wanted to give you a bit of encouragement from my end. I’m so sorry you’re feeling miserable, we know that feeling all too well. Have you discussed pain management with your surgeon? This is one of the best things for you to do, as it’s possible what they are giving you now is just not hitting the pain where it should.
I know it’s not easy to believe, but the pain WILL get better, as will the pressure you’re feeling in your face. I promise that your face will NOT explode :). Give it another week or so – I remember having serious pressure for the first two weeks and then it will finally begin to subside and slowly go down.
Discuss your pain meds with your doctor, keep your head elevated and use ice. This will often help with the feelings of pressure. I’m not sure if you had your septum repaired or not, but if so, a personal humidifier is very helpful.
Again – so sorry you’re feeling poorly but there IS hope, and it WILL get better. Do you have some hobbies or things you like to do? Find a good book or a game or something that will give you something to think of other than your face. This should help 🙂
Good luck!!
February 20, 2016 at 2:03 am
HI Aimee,
I’d just like to say thank you! That message really helped me make it through those really tough few weeks. Again thank you! x
January 19, 2016 at 3:14 pm
I’ll also add my $.02. I’m 3 weeks in. Those first 3 days were EASILY the worst. As soon as the pain starts to die down (which should be around now for you), life will definitely get easier. I would communicate with your surgeon about the pain, though.
January 19, 2016 at 3:14 pm
I meant as soon as the swelling starts to die down, but the pain should follow suit too.
January 17, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Hey,
what happened to the screws inside your mouth? Were they removed at some point or did you just left them in place? I wonder if that causes the airport xrays to go off.
Anyways, very interesting blog, thanks for that!
January 17, 2016 at 6:42 pm
Jim, I still have all of my screws and plates and have not had any issues with them. They do not trigger airport scanners, so it’s business as usual when you fly. 😊
January 23, 2016 at 5:34 pm
Hi Graham, I just came across your blog and find it very interesting and helpful. At age 52, I had braces put on . 21 months in, I underwent double jaw surgery in May 2015 to correct an under bite. In September infection set in in the lower right jaw. The infection cleared somewhat but returned. I just had the screws removed in that area last week. My surgeon said it doesn’t happen often that screws need to be removed, but it would be my luck my body rejected them. The procedure took a bit more than an hour and I honestly didn’t have much pain afterwards. However, my chin and lip are extremely numb on that side. I am hoping the feeling comes back 100% as it was almost back to normal prior to this happening.
Likewise, I have no regrets having had this surgery. I am just looking forward to everything being healed and getting all of my sensation back. Thank you
January 25, 2016 at 8:54 am
Debbie, thanks for sharing your story — it’s very interesting that you are one of the few who had to have your screws removed! I’m happy to hear it was relatively painless and I hope you don’t have to deal with any more infections. 😊