Common Questions
Following is a list of the most common questions I’ve received about double jaw surgery. If your question is not answered below, feel free to ask about it in the comments and I’d be happy to respond there.
Before the surgery:
- Why should I get jaw surgery?
- Is jaw surgery painful?
- How long does it take to recover from jaw surgery?
- How much does jaw surgery cost?
- What should I buy to prepare for recovery?
After the surgery:
- Will I look different after jaw surgery?
- How much weight will I lose after jaw surgery?
- Will I experience numbness after jaw surgery?
- Will I get all of my feeling back after jaw surgery?
- What can I eat after jaw surgery?
Cries for help:
- Help, I’m experiencing pain!
- Help, my breath is terrible!
- Help, my teeth are no longer touching!
- Help, my jaw movement is not returning!
- Help, I don’t look like myself anymore!
Why should I get jaw surgery?
There are several reasons to undergo jaw surgery:
- To be able to chew with all your teeth
- To speak without a lisp
- To speak without spitting
- To stop your mouth from hanging open
- To stop breathing through your mouth and start breathing through your nose
- To change your appearance (side profile)
These reasons are all explained on the Reasons to Get Jaw Surgery page.
Is jaw surgery painful?
Jaw surgery is usually not painful. This may be difficult to believe, but since your nerves become bruised and numb during the surgery, you don’t actually feel any of the pain. By the time feeling returns to your face, most of the pain is gone.
Granted, you’ll experience a bit of pain when you yawn, sneeze and cough. It’ll also hurt when your jaw spasms (and it will spasm for the first month), but for the most part, you should not experience much pain at all.
How long does it take to recover from jaw surgery?
It will take 90 days (3 months) for a full recovery after jaw surgery. Most of your feeling and energy will be back after 2 months, but it takes a full 90 days for your bone to fuse back together. A full range of motion in your jaw will return depending on how much you’re moving it around, so make sure you follow the exercises your surgeon gives you.
How much does jaw surgery cost?
Jaw surgery costs roughly $5000 in Canada, but that price may differ significantly in other provinces and countries. If your surgery is deemed cosmetic (instead of “medically necessary”), the cost will be higher because you’ll be required to cover the hospital bills. Sadly, patients in the US have seen jaw surgery bills in excess of $50,000.
What should I buy to prepare for recovery?
You can find a full list of items that with help you through the recovery at the Must-Have Recovery Products page.
Will I look different after jaw surgery?
You will notice subtle changes in your appearance following jaw surgery. Your overbite/underbite will no longer be present and your cheeks, nose, and chin may take on a different shape as well. My cheeks filled out a lot as a result of my surgery.
How much weight will I lose after jaw surgery?
Most people lose between 5–10 pounds during the first month of their recovery. The general rule of thumb is that you will lose weight until you reach your natural body weight.
Will I experience numbness after jaw surgery?
Yes, you will experience extreme numbness following jaw surgery. During the operation, several nerves in your face and chin have to be moved around. When you move a nerve, it becomes bruised, and when a nerve is bruised, it stops providing sensations, thus giving you that numb feeling (more on this in my Day 20 post).
Will I get all of my feeling back after jaw surgery?
70% of patients regain full feeling, while 30% may experience slightly numb areas in their cheeks, chin and lower lip for the rest of their lives. The feeling you have after 6 months post-op is likely what you’ll live with for the rest of your life.
What can I eat after jaw surgery?
You’ll be on a strict liquid diet following jaw surgery. Buy lots of Boost, Ensure or Carnation supplements and learn to make smoothies, because these will be your staple foods for at least the first 2 weeks. I had to eat them for 8 weeks, but my surgery was a bit more invasive than most. You’ll probably have to administer your food through a syringe for the first week as well.
Once your surgeon gives you permission to start chewing again, you can begin to eat soft foods such as pasta and mashed potatoes. During the weeks following your re-entry into the realm of chewing, you’ll be able to eat whatever is comfortable. Don’t expect to tear into a steak as soon as you’re allowed to chew again, though.
If you have the following implements, you should survive perfectly fine:
- A reliable blender (this is extremely important, as you’ll be blending almost everything)
- Smoothie materials (ice cream, yogurt, milk, bananas, strawberries, granola, peanut butter, honey, etc.) — Recipe
- Soup (you’ll have to blend everything except tomato soup)
- Ensure, Boost or Carnation (I drank 3 of these per day during my liquid diet phase)
- Prune juice (you’ll need the fiber in it)
- Whole milk (you’ll need all the calcium you can get so your bones heal back just as strong as they were before)
- Water (make sure you drink at least 1 L of water per day; drinking 2 L per day is a much better option)
The most important item on that list is water. If you don’t drink enough water each day, you’ll become dehydrated and sick, and your bowel movements won’t feel good because none of the fiber you’re eating will dissolve into your body.
Help, I’m experiencing pain!
If your pain is chronic (ie. consistent and throbbing), you may have an infection and should schedule a visit with your surgeon just to be safe.
On the other hand, if your pain comes in small bouts, it’s likely your nerves reawakening or your teeth being pulled by the elastics. In this case, just be patient and the pain will subside in due time. If you were prescribed pain medication, that may help as well.
Help, my breath is terrible!
At times, your breath may be indicative of the fact that you are not allowed to brush your teeth or floss during the first several weeks of recovery. To aid in freshening your breath, try gurgling with warm salt water a few times each day. Soon enough, you’ll be given the go-ahead to brush and floss again.
Help, my teeth are no longer touching!
An open bite is a common problem following jaw surgery. Fear not, however, because your teeth will naturally grow until they encounter opposition (in the form of your other jaw), so this problem will slowly correct itself over time.
Help, my jaw movement is not returning!
If you have been given the green light to resume eating regular food, but the movement in your jaw doesn’t seem to be returning, try whistling and chewing gum each day. Whistling will help to break up scar tissue, while chewing gum will stretch the muscles in your jaw.
Help, I don’t look like myself anymore!
This is perhaps the most common fear people have following jaw surgery. Remember that swelling takes a minimum of 3 months to go away, so try to avoid judging your appearance until that point.
Also, keep in mind that you are your own worst critic because you’ve been seeing your face in the mirror every single day for most of your life. While the subtle changes in your appearance seem drastic to you, most people will not even notice that your face changed shape.
June 3, 2012 at 5:26 am
Hi Kim,
You’re in the exact same situation as I was: class III occlusion (underbite). You’re going to love the results of this surgery!
You can avoid depression by simply knowing what to expect. The most important thing you can do during the first 2 — 3 weeks is to keep yourself busy. Find a good TV series to watch. Go for walks multiple times every day. Take in some sunshine.
Your appearance will change as far as your friends and family are concerned, but it will be gradual for you so you may not notice as quickly as they do. Do not pass any judgement on yourself until at least the 3-month mark. The swelling will have your face out of sorts until that time.
Good luck in December!
June 3, 2012 at 5:22 am
Barbara, I’ve not sure what you mean by your “disc” slipping. I usually associate discs with a person’s back.
In any regard, hopefully you’re able to have the corrective operation and heal up just as quickly as everyone else.
Best of luck with whichever route you decide to take. =)
June 3, 2012 at 5:20 am
Hi Stephanie,
I wouldn’t worry about the pain following surgery. Most of your face is numb during the moments that would be painful, and by the time your feeling returns, the pain has largely passed.
Good luck next spring!
June 2, 2012 at 11:19 pm
Hello,
I have had braces on now for almost 13 months, however it feels way longer!
I have a grade III under bite, I’ve been told I’m looking at dec-january for my surgery.
I just want to know what to expect?
I’ve also heard about feeling dow/depressed etc, does this affect everyone?
And in terms of my appearance, is it noticeable immediately the change after surgery? Or should I wait for swelling to go down before making any judgments?
I am actually really eager to get my surgery, even after reading blogs, watching videos of it being performed I am as keen as ever.
Can’t wait to be able to bite into food properly! And not have th breathe through my mouth constantly.
May 21, 2012 at 7:44 am
hi my name Barbara I soonhad upper and lower jaw surgery on april 23 april soon after I knew something was wrong I had severe pain in my left jaw down in my ear my doctor said I had to have anothe surgery because my disc had slipped after m my second surgery almost two Weeks still filling some burning in ear wondering if this is normal.
May 18, 2012 at 7:06 am
Hi. I am getting jaw surgery (I forgot what it’s called) either next summer or next spring. I am a sophomore in high school. I am getting braces on the top and bottom next Wednesday. I’ve had braces before so I’m not scared about that. I got my wisdom teeth out in February. I am scared for my surgery of course, but I want it to be done. I have an under bite. The only thing I’m scared about is the pain and how I will be after surgery. I’m not getting wired shut but I’m getting screws instead. My lower jaw will be pushed back and my upper jaw will be pushed a little further and a little down. I remember seeing a picture of me in the future after the surgery and I look a little different. Thank you for this website I find it really helpful.
May 15, 2012 at 9:30 pm
It’s a frustrating few months, isn’t it, Karen? You’re almost at the one-month mark, so you’re in good shape. You’re going to be back to speaking normally fairly soon and, once that awful splint is removed, you’ll regain the strength in your jaw quite quickly.
You’d better start jotting down a list of restaurants you want to crash once you can chew solid food again!
May 15, 2012 at 9:27 pm
Lindsey, since your boyfriend isn’t having his jaw completely reconstructed, he’ll most likely heal quite quickly. He may be slightly swollen at your prom next week, but he should be able to smile and dance with you without too many issues. All the best!
May 15, 2012 at 8:32 pm
I had jaw surgery April 19th of this year, and it’s been 25 days since the surgery. It feels like an eternity! When do the days begin to fly by? I get my splint removed on the 6th weeks.
May 7, 2012 at 2:27 pm
My boyfriend broke his jaw during a rugby game. He has to have reconstructive surgery, there going to cut open his gum where the break is and then a plate is screwed into the jaw and one of the screws might have to go in by cutting open the outside of his cheek and get screwed in from there and then it’s getting rubber banded shut. How long will it take for him to heal? Our prom is in 2 weeks and i’m wondering if he’ll be ok by then, and is there anything I can do to help him through this?!
April 13, 2012 at 9:45 am
Hi Miranda!
I still have bits of scar tissue floating around my nose, but this is certainly a common thing. It will go away with time, but if you’d like to accelerate that process, massages and any kind of gentle, repetitive movement in that area will help. You simply need to break the scar tissue up. I got rid of most of mine by whistling, but that likely won’t help if your neck is what’s being bothered.
In any regard, you shouldn’t be worried about it sticking around forever. =)
April 13, 2012 at 2:09 am
Hi Graham! Nice to be able to connect with a fellow Canadian! (I’m from Vancouver B.C. 🙂
I also had double jaw surgery approximately seven weeks ago. I can totally relate to the murderous glares I shot to solid, actual food when I was syringe-ing mush down. I’m glad that the worst is over, but there’s an unusually firm piece of flesh between where my neck meets the back of my jaw. My surgeon says it’s scar tissue, and that a gentle massage will make it go down faster. Have you had a similar aftereffect? If so, did it ever go away?
Miranda
April 13, 2012 at 1:08 am
Henry, I should clarify that I am not going “Survivorman-style” and camping alone for that long. I’ll be with a small group of people. I’m just a regular guy. The monkeys would scare me out long before a month was up!
April 13, 2012 at 12:54 am
Thanks for the tips I will try them out.
And wow! A month in the rainforest! You must got some mad skills, I don’t think I would be able to survive there for that long.(Survivorman’s Amazon episode definitely scared off my confidence)
And that would be pretty cool if we crossed path where toilet water spins the other direction. Let me know, you got my email, I’m down to grab a drink with a fella Canadian if we are in the same region. I’ll probably need tips with how to manipulate my new jaw to drink anyways.
April 13, 2012 at 12:21 am
Hi Henry!
I feel your pain, brother. I found it incredibly frustrating being restricted in my exercise as well. The safest thing for you to do is go for walks. You’ll be able to do crunches and pushups as well, but I wouldn’t try anything more strenuous than that. You certainly don’t want to knock anything out of place by putting too much pressure on yourself.
You’ll get a lot of energy back over the next three weeks. I was back at the gym by about week six, but I recommend waiting until that point.
That’s cool that you’re going to be backpacking through South America and camping in the Amazon soon. I’m actually going to be down there in six weeks. I’m camping in the rain forest for a full month! How cool would that be if we crossed paths on the other side of the equator!
April 12, 2012 at 11:57 pm
Hi,
Great stuff you got here! Really glad I found this and found others with similar questions I have. I was wondering if there’s anyway for me to exercise or stay active during my recovery?
I am third week in for a class III underbite surgery. My jaw is hold together by elastics for 5 weeks. I have not been getting spasms like some others, I stopped taking painkillers 24 hours after the surgery and I was able to gain my weight back with a really power blender that can liquify regular food. However I am getting weaker as I am no longer active, I am wondering if you have any solutions to that? I am very limited to the kind of exercises I can do due to risk of hitting my jaw.
I’m fine if I’m not moving or moving slowly, but I have a lot of trouble breathing if I move more then normal, hence I can’t really exercise the way I would like to. For example when I try to lift weights or bike up the smallest hills I find myself having to stop and spend few minutes trying to breath. I will be doing some backpacking in South America and camping in Amazons right after I remove my elastics and get my braces adjusted. My oral surgeon is fine with me going but I personally believe I need to stay physically fit especially when I’m not used to the high altitudes and foreign bacterias.
April 12, 2012 at 4:22 pm
Amber, if your mother is suggesting you go through with the surgery, it’s probably an effort to prevent future complications such as lockjaw. I’d trust the judgement of both her and your orthodontist.
You’ll get through this perfectly alright. You’re just going to have to last through a few months of boredom due to not being able to eat and play quite as hard as you wish you could in the summer.
Remember that this is just a few months out of your entire life and you’re likely preventing a lot of future pain. =)
April 11, 2012 at 6:52 pm
I’m very scared right now, in the summer (2012) I’m having surgery on my upper jaw. I’m so scared I keep watching videos and that’s making me more scared. How can I not be scared? and the problem is that my jaw looks fine…. My jaw looks good and I don’t think I need surgery, but my mom said I do. What should I do?
March 25, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Abby, the prices I hear Americans quoting always frighten me a bit. 😛
It’s only reasonable in Canada if it’s deemed medical. People who undergo the surgery on cosmetic grounds end up paying between $20,000 – $40,000.
March 25, 2012 at 2:10 pm
Hi Kris,
That’s a difficult situation to be in. It’s certainly going to be tough to focus enough to study for engineering exams at any point during the first month of recovery. I wasn’t able to sleep through the night until around the fifth week.
I would obtain a note from your surgeon explaining that you should be allowed to write your exams during the make-up period and then hash that out with your department. They should definitely be respecting the fact that you just underwent a major operation.
Best of luck to you, and just remember that by summer, all of this will be behind you. =)