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.
December 25, 2015 at 1:29 pm
I just had my jaw surgery on December 21st and I’ve been suffering with breathing problems and hydrating. My lips are really swollen and it is hard to swallow and breathe because my nose continuously bled in the first few days. I am having trouble swallowing with the dried lips and there’s this nasty sensation in my mouth that tastes like phlegm which is stuck at the roof of my mouth. Is there a way to remove this without causing any pain? I also have trouble drinking water because my mouth is clogged and it is hard to breathe.
December 25, 2015 at 1:33 pm
I also want to add on that yesterday, I was taking a shower and I kept bleeding through my nose, i started to feel very dizzy and low on energy, after taking a shower, I went on my knees and I didn’t have much energy left to move around. I believe I was very dehydrated and I was very pale. The main problem I have is taking in my nutrients but it is difficult to handle the nasty taste that is in my mouth.
December 25, 2015 at 6:17 pm
Hi Xavier. I had my surgery December 1st… I felt exactly like you. The first week is the worst but you must hang in there. I time you feel helpless.. You must do your best to drink as much water as possible. I used a syringe and I hated but I had to use it.. I also use the syringe for Lipton soup.. Just the broth.. I also used the syringe for muscle milk.. That has lots protein. The taste in the mouth is what I hated so much.. I used non alcohol mouth wash(CREST). Also use the rinse the surgeon gives you. That helps… I had my mouth fully shut for 2 weeks.. It was impossible to spit.. Use must put water in your mouth and do your best to push out your spit with the water. That’s how I got the blood clots out threw my teeth and splint… And a hot shower is a must.. It loosens the clots in your nose and helps you breathe. Try not blow your nose.. However I did at times.. Use a q tip in your nose to remove blood clots… Just keep your head up.. Your first week is almost done..
December 25, 2015 at 6:23 pm
The first night I got home from the hospital I took a hot bath.. Bad idea. Must be a hot shower. My wife had to walk me to the bed because I felt I was going to pass out.. Your just weak from not eating… Do your best to stay hydrated . I know is hard…
December 27, 2015 at 8:49 pm
Hi Xavier, I actually just had double jaw surgery myself on Dec 21st! I had broth right away, and the salt helped kill off the blood taste. Also just force yourself to keep hydrated with the syringe. I fin it much easier to drink out of a cup personally or a water bottle. That is due to my lips being tender and still very swollen. Also if you can try different Ensures, this helps give you the calories that you need. Good luck!
December 27, 2015 at 11:26 pm
i had double jaw surgery 4 days ago, and everything you wrote, i’m experiencing. It is horrifying not be able to swallow and then it goes to the wrong pipe, then i cough hard, then it gives me severe pain for the next few hrs. My mouth is so dry and my throat hurts a lot. I can’t sleep at nights, it has been 4 days now. If I sleep, i feel like i’m gonna suffocate myself, not to mention continuous severe pain. it is so hard to breath after this surgery and it hurts a lot…
December 28, 2015 at 8:35 am
Hi Minitinana, I know the first week of this recovery is extremely frustrating, but I encourage you to hang in there. You’ll be able to sleep much more soundly after the first 2 weeks have gone by. To pass the time right now, try going for walks outside a few times each day. Another good way to pass the time is to find a good TV series and watch that. If you need to share what you’re going through on here, feel free to do so. All the best. 🙂
December 29, 2015 at 8:16 pm
Hi Graham I been reading your blogs and found them to be very helpful.. I have a question I’m 3 weeks from double jaw surgery and I develop a rash on my face and when I get the spasams on my jaw it feels like my ear is going to pop and it hurts a lot!! It’s that normal?
December 30, 2015 at 10:10 pm
Hi Rachel, while having jaw spasms is perfectly normal at this point (including the pain, unfortunately), I’m not sure about the rash you mentioned. It may be a reaction to a certain medication you’re taking to deal with the pain. If the rash is causing you pain, I would give your surgeon’s office a call and ask about it.
To help decrease the frequency and severity of your spasms, try laying a hot pack on your face several times each day for 10–15 minutes each time. The heat should soothe the nerves in your face. 🙂
December 15, 2015 at 8:11 pm
hey guys quick question
I’m about 8 weeks post op from double jaw surgery to fix my underbite. I saw my surgeon twice after the surgery and he cleared me and yesterday was my 2nd orthodontist appointment. My orthodontist was very worried with the results because my teeth are not lined up perfectly… when i close my teeth , my top front teeth are pretty much touching the bottom front teeth (not over lapping like they should)… should this be something I’m worried about ? , do you think the orthodontist will be able to fix this problem ? , did the surgeon mess up you think and not bring my jaw back enough?
let me know
very worried thanks
December 17, 2015 at 9:52 am
Eric, these surgeries don’t always result in a perfect bite, unfortunately, but your orthodontist may be able to make the final adjustments. If your front teeth are touching when you bite, your orthodontist may be able to use braces to tilt your bottom teeth toward the back of your mouth, resulting in your top teeth closing ahead of them.
To reassure you, my molars did not touch on either side after my surgery, but with 9 more months of braces, my orthodontist was able to bring them back together.
I would certainly recommend asking your orthodontist what your options are when you see them next. It would be best if they could solve this with a few more months of braces.
Good luck and let me know what you find out!
December 14, 2015 at 12:36 pm
My daughter is 16.5 years old and having double jaw surgery next week so she has two weeks of recovery time before second semester starts. She has many of the same issues others have cited – compromised chewing, mouth breathing, slight lisp – and of course can’t stand her smile or profile. To say she’s excited about the surgery is an understatement! We have read a lot about the surgery and she has visited many blogs so she feels she has a good handle on what is going to happen and the steps she needs take to manage her recovery. One big question I have is the bloody/stuffy nose side effect I have read about here. She knows she will be congested but the bloody nose part is new to me. Is the bloody nose a side effect due to the upper jaw surgery in general or does it occur when people have additional “work” with their nose during the surgery? Just trying to manage our expectations, thanks to anyone who can comment on my question!
December 14, 2015 at 2:36 pm
Think it depends on the type of person as i never had a bloody/congested i as i can remember was puking blood though as i came round from the surgery this is normal though and only happened about 3/4 times
December 14, 2015 at 8:15 pm
Hi Sharon, nearly all patients who have their upper jaw operated on will have blood clots in their nose. This is because the surgeon has to reshape the septum to fit with the new shape of the upper jaw.
To ensure these blood clots do not break, your daughter should not blow her nose for at least a full month after the surgery. If she is feeling overly congested, try rubbing Vaseline under her nose as the menthol can help alleviate some of this congestion.
Hope this helps. Good luck with the surgery next week!
December 15, 2015 at 6:15 pm
Tomorrow is day 7 of my post-op double jaw surgery! The bloody nose will occur due to the fact that the surgeons insert a tube into the nasal cavity in order for the patient to breathe while working in their mouth. The bloody nose drips should subside after about 3 days.
December 19, 2015 at 3:53 pm
Tomorrow is day 3 of my post op. I’m in horrible pain and cannot really manage any liquids. I can tolerate the not eating part, but when will the pain start going away? I’m a 17 year old female. Also, when can I expect feeling to return to my lower lip?
December 19, 2015 at 5:23 pm
Hi Kendall, sorry to hear that you’re in pain. Try laying down on your back and placing a hot pack on your face a few times each day to sooth your nerves. Also, did your surgeon prescribe any pain medication for you? I would highly recommend taking this medication if you have it. (For reference, I was given Tylenol 3 to manage the pain.)
As for feeling returning that usually takes anywhere from 3 weeks to 6 months. I know that’s a big range, but it depends on how bruised your nerves are. That being said, you should notice some feeling returning by the 3rd week.
Hang in there! The first week of recovery is really tough, but I promise it gets better after that!
December 16, 2015 at 5:03 pm
Hi Sharon! My name is Taylor and I’m 18. I just had double jaw surgery yesterday for just about all of the reasons you cited above, plus a couple of more. The bloody/ stuffy nose is just a side effect of having the tube up your nose during surgery. The surgeon should prescribe you with a couple of nasal sprays to help with that problem. How every, a problem that I encountered but didn’t really read about on any blogs was the amount of trouble I’m having swallowing. It might be just a me thing, but nevertheless tell your daughter to expect it. The suction tool was my best friend during my post op stay at the hospital!
Your friend,
Taylor
December 22, 2015 at 3:07 pm
Ditto on swallowing and the suction for your throat.. My dr let me keep a suction system at home for a couple of days. Very helpful! He also met me at his office a couple of times to suction my bloody nose. Good luck!! 3 weeks post op and counting. I can see a tiny light at the end.
December 25, 2015 at 9:09 pm
We are two days post surgery now and the bloody nose issues are pretty much gone now. The swelling though is crazy! I knew she would swell but wow it looks as if someone pumped her face with air to the point where she looks like a pumpkin. I assume this amount of swelling is normal but having a hard time determining when to stop icing. I have seen recommendations to discontinue icing anywhere from 48 to 72 hours post-surgery and switch to warm compresses. What is the right timing?
December 26, 2015 at 7:47 am
Hi Sharon, each surgeon seems to have a different answer to this question. Personally, I used ice packs for the first 3 days of recovery and then used heat packs after that. I found the heat packs to be a lot more soothing, so I would recommend that approach.
As far as I’m aware, the swelling will decrease naturally over time regardless of what you do and heat will likely provide a bit more comfort for your daughter. 🙂
January 2, 2016 at 4:15 am
Hi Sharon ! My name is Lecia and I am your daughters age. I just had the surgery about a month ago on November 30th. Right after my double Jaw surgery My nose was pretty much immediately stuffed the next day. It fills up with dried blood and it is very difficult to breathe. I highly suggest (if she is still stuffed up) to get a humidifier! literally saved my life.
July 10, 2020 at 10:14 pm
Hello, my jaw surgery is coming up! And I can’t breath through my nose right now! Am Only a mouth breather! How will that work
December 13, 2015 at 5:24 pm
I’m 47 and having upper jaw surgery Jan 5th. I’m terrified of many things like getting sick while banded shut, returning to work, my jaw never healing completely, etc. I am planning on retuning to work after two weeks. Is this realistic? Also, what is expected weight loss? I don’t have a lot to spare.
December 14, 2015 at 6:53 am
Hi Angie, I recommend taking a minimum of 3 weeks away from work. You’ll likely have difficulty speaking clearly after only 2 weeks and you may not have enough energy to make it through an entire work day at that point.
The expected weight loss is generally around 10 lbs unless you have extra weight to lose. For example, if you are overweight, you may lose upwards of 30 lbs.
For what it’s worth, I’ve met many people who became sick while banded shut and they all said it turned out to be more of an inconvenience than anything serious. Try to think positively about the experience and you should be okay.
All the best as you have the surgery in the new year!
December 16, 2015 at 9:52 pm
Angie I am also having surgery on the same day!!! I am also afraid of getting sick… What if I need to constantly cough and sneeze and all .. So I found that I am going to use this time to really drink my vitamin c and at least try to eat healthier.
As far as returning to work I have found many blogs and people who have needed more time off. I personally don’t think 2 weeks would be enough but I know many have returned around that time frame (I know I’m not one of those , I get a papercut and I feel like passing out lol)
I am also very concerned with bad outcomes 😩
As far as the weight I can’t wait to start the weight loss
Good luck with your surgery! I hope you don’t mind that I jumped into your question w Graham I just found it great that we would have the same surgery date 😀
December 22, 2015 at 3:12 pm
I’m in your boat with weight loss. I’m at the 3 week mark. 5’7″ and weighed 116 before surgery. Weighed 108 2 days ago. I look very boney and skinny but my dr said as long as I get enough protein I will be fine.
December 22, 2015 at 3:13 pm
I’m not sure about working after 2 weeks. I couldn’t have done it but I may be a slow healer/wimp.
December 25, 2015 at 4:09 pm
How is it going? My surgery is Tue 29 I am the same age as you good luck
December 26, 2015 at 12:06 am
Hi Angie, I the same age and having double haw surgery at the end if January 2016. I gave same concerns as you but I know way more people are happy afterwards with outcomes than not happy. I would recommend more than two weeks off. My surgeon recommended at least 4 weeks as your body needs all if it’s strength to heal and grow together bones.
Keep us posted.
Shawn
December 26, 2015 at 12:08 am
Forgive my spelling, typing phone
December 11, 2015 at 8:34 pm
Just went through double jaw surgery on the 9th. I have super bad anxiety as it is & then having moments when I cant breathe through my nose due to the dry blood makes it worse. Did you experience phlem while recovering because I seem to have some and it causes me to cough and panic that im choking. I keep reminding myself to breathe because I know it only gets better from here but it’s frustrating.
December 11, 2015 at 8:38 pm
Hey Jenn
Yes unfortunately there was lots of phlem. Also I didn’t have much anxiety but i did have awful nightmares a few nights where I woke up in the middle of the night covered in sweat. The phlem went away in about 3 weeks … I’m at about 7-8 weeks now and am feeling much better, almost normal . Good luck with your recovery
December 13, 2015 at 12:22 am
Hey jennifer, i went through surgery on the 10th so i can completely understand what youre going through, its good to know that someone else is going through the same things that i am 🙂
December 13, 2015 at 1:41 pm
Oh wow, yeah it’s definitely comforting knowing you’re not alone during this process. Good luck with your recovery!
December 13, 2015 at 1:53 pm
I did too Wednesday the 9th still very swollen… My lower lips feels like I get butterfly kisses here there so hopefully be good sign my feeling be coming back full throttle once all heals…. I am starving but don’t really want risk try anything else than clear til stitches heal going my doc tomorrow my left ear feels like I’m under water and hurts hope not infected any one else had ear feeling?? Hope everyone feels better soon
December 13, 2015 at 7:44 pm
Try shakeology with water, ice, a scoop of peanut butter and put it through a strainer to make sure there arent any chunks. It’s the best thing in the world for me, also tried out campbells chicken noodle soup blended and strained, which also tasted amazing. My left ear does sort of hurt & i am scared its an infection but I really hope it isn’t, im seeing my surgeon on wednesday so I’ll ask him about it then. Good luck with your recovery!
December 16, 2015 at 10:32 am
I am purée chick fil a noodle soup this has been heaven…. Ear really started popping bad and woke me up from dead sleep several times. My doctor said if it continues he was going give me muscle relaxers which after yesterday and last night I’m telling him need this bad… Doing protein shake arbonne with water and almond butter yes it is good but try soup you will need baby spoon be best use hope feeling better
December 16, 2015 at 5:10 pm
Yes! I just had my jaw surgery yesterday, and the worst thing about all of this is the phlegm! I can’t swallow it, and it often feels like I’m choking, which causes me to panic, too. For some reason, I haven’t read about this problem on other blogs, so it’s kind of good to know that I’m not the only one experiencing this.
December 16, 2015 at 6:56 pm
I had never read about it either, luckily the phlegm i felt went away after three days! I couldnt swallow anything either, I would put water in my mouth and felt like even if i gulped nothing went down. That’ll go away in a few days, I can basically chug out of a bottle now 1 week post op. I wish you the best with your recovery! (:
December 20, 2015 at 4:57 pm
I just had my jaw surgery on the 15th (bilater-sagital split osteotomy orthognathic double jaw) too, and I agree about the phlegm being horrible! It was really frustrating going home and not having something to suck the saliva/phlegm from my mouth whenever I need to. It seems so gross that I’m swallowing all this saliva but I guess it’s normal and part of the healing process. But I can’t wait to have the bands loosened so I can breathe easier and spit normally.
December 9, 2015 at 12:48 am
Hey
It’s been about 6 weeks post op and have been reading slot on this blog , was wondering if anyone else had no feeing return to there bottom jaw like my self V itsnonlynon the left side of my chin but I’m starting to get worried because I know that some people never gain the feeling back after surgery. How long did some people take to gain the feeling back ? Can it take up to a year or so ? Let me know and thank you
December 9, 2015 at 10:52 am
Hey Eric,
I had my surgery almost five months ago and my entire bottom lip and chin are still numb. Im fairly certain it is normal, my doctor advised me that it could take up to 18 months for full feeling to return.
November 21, 2015 at 11:56 pm
Hello All,
My name is Lecia Stover. I am 16 years old and will be having double jaw surgery to correct my under bite. The surgery is about a week away. I guess one of my biggest concerns is waking up from Jaw surgery, Since i read you will most likely be very congested, Is it hard to breathe? And how long does the bleeding last ? Any tips would be great, thank you !
November 22, 2015 at 7:28 pm
Hi Lecia! Waking up after the surgery can be a bit frightening, but I promise you’ll be okay. You will be quite congested and may taste some blood in your mouth, but this is perfectly normal and you’ll have nurses available to keep you informed about what’s going on.
The most important thing is to remain calm and try to occupy your mind for the first few days until you’re able to go home. Try to go for walks around the hospital as soon as you’re able as well.
I recall bleeding only last for the first 2–3 days, so that should not be an ongoing issue.
Good luck next week and if you have any questions or need to rant to someone, don’t hesitate to post in the comments here or find me on Facebook. 😊
November 22, 2015 at 7:49 pm
Hey Lecia,
I am 17 years old and had the surgery this past summer. To be honest with you, when you wake up you will indeed be congested. But don’t worry about it!! It will only be temporary and once that fades you might even breath better than you did before the surgery (that’s how it was for me). The bleeding hopefully will not be bad for you. Remember that your fave will be numb, so even if you are bleeding, you won’t feel it.
Best of luck to you and if you have any more specific questions I’d love to help.
November 23, 2015 at 10:23 pm
Hey Lecia,
I just had jaw surgery two weeks ago and I am a 19 year old male. I was worried about waking up, too. But, really it isn’t bad at all. This is how it was for me… My surgery started at like 730 in the morning. When I first woke up I was still coming out of the anesthesia and I honestly just vaguely remember it, like seriously barely at all. I even threw up blood… I think… but it is so vague, all I can remember thinking was “Oh, I’m throwing up. but it doesn’t really feel bad… weird”. After slipping in and out of consciousness for a while they gave me some drugs or something and I fell sound a sleep. The next time I woke up it was night time, like 10 or midnight or something. I was a little confused when I woke up, but I felt thirsty. They have you hooked up to an IV that keeps you hydrated, but I still felt thirsty. So, the whole night was me being kind of loopy calling the nurse in, where she would help me get a drink of water, or stand up to go to the bathroom, and then I would fall back asleep.
Seriously, I was worried about waking up too. The whole not being able to breath thing was actually one of my biggest concerns. But, it was not nearly as bad as I thought. You will be able to breathe just fine. If not out of your nose, your mouth. They will have nurses watching over you until you go home and they will help you with anything you need.
For me, I went home the next morning, about 24 hours after my surgery. You might stay longer, or you might not. The bleeding I had after surgery was just a bloody nose. It’s not really that bad, and you probably won’t even notice it most of the time when it happens. It mostly only happens when you stand up.
My biggest tip, ESPECIALLY for the first week, is to drink lots of water. During the day, and through out the night when you wake up. I drank lots of water (through the syringe) and after the first week my swelling had gone down dramatically. The doctor told me it was drinking water that probably helped it go down so much.
Anyway, good luck with your surgery! Hope all goes well. Get past the first week and you’ll be golden! I hope you have netflix 😉 If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.
December 6, 2015 at 1:51 pm
any surgeon in California (LA or Orange county) that can refer?
December 6, 2015 at 5:06 pm
Jen, I’ll be adding a list of recommended surgeons based on our community’s experiences soon, but in the meantime, you may be able to find some useful information at http://www.healthgrades.com/ or https://www.ratemds.com/.
December 13, 2015 at 1:44 pm
Hey, I just had my surgery and i’m from LA. My surgeons name is James Bundy & he works at Kaiser on sunset & vermont (:
November 23, 2015 at 10:30 pm
Oh, another tip I just remembered. I suggest getting a water pick. It is amazing! I didn’t have one until day 7 and boy do I wish I had one sooner. I was told by my doctor to get one that had a soft setting. Trust me, you will love being able to clean your teeth with it. Just be sure to ask your doctor about when you can use it and how he recommends you use it, just so you and your doctor are on the same page.
November 24, 2015 at 5:35 pm
Hey Lecia.
I am post operation about 8 weeks now, from my double jaw surgery, and I feel 10,000,000X better then I did first and second week post-op.
When I first woke up post surgery, I was very groggy and very congested. I really wanted to blow my nose, but I was told I was not able to because of the stitching inside, and to not disrupt my nasal passage as the surgeon had to do work around my nose area. The nurses will give you all the medications you need to not feel excruciating pain, but you may feel tired and even nauseated – it really depends on the person – every person has different ways of coping with major surgery, and reacts differently to medication etc.
I had very minimal bleeding and I guess I was very fortunate. Like I said, my nose bled a bit, but it wasn’t too bad. I’ve heard others have a real bad time with bleeding, that they even through up so much blood. I hope that doesn’t happen to you.
Good luck girl, I’m sure you’ll be fine. I wish I had my double surgery at your age, and not wait until I was 31 to get it done. But I have no regrets, and I love my surgeon – he’s the best – you will be in the best of hands so don’t worry !
November 25, 2015 at 8:48 pm
I just had mine today! The it’s easy to breathe, but trying to eat out of a syringe is an adventure. I’m 17 I just had my lower done to fix my underbite. The pain isn’t really bad my bottom lip is swollen and when I first woke up my tongue was swollen. Don’t be nervous they tell you exactly what there going to. I promise the little jaw pain I’m having tho is nothing compared to what I suffered before the surgery.
April 25, 2016 at 6:05 pm
Hey Ashley,
How are you progressing. I’m now about 7 months post op.
How are you feeling – do you have any numbness? I still have no feeling on my lower lip or chin – bummer. Do you have any pain in the jaw – any clicking? Have you regained back your weight (I lost weight when I had to go on my liquid diet)
I hope I regain slight feeling sometime soon in the coming months, or I guess it’ll be just permanent.
Anyways, no other complaints to report.
Hope you are recuperating well
October 28, 2015 at 9:46 pm
Just got double jaw surgery and worried about the appearance, i got the surgery 3 days ago and am worried about how ill look to correct my under bite…
does anyone here feel like there look got worse after the surgery?
thanks
October 27, 2015 at 3:53 pm
Hi! I had bimax surgery about 3 weeks ago. I brush my teeth a lot every day but my gums are incredibly swollen and I don’t know if that is normal or not. I don’t know who to ask since my doctor seems to avoid my questions and telling me anything. Can someone please help. Is this normal or should I worry?
December 13, 2015 at 1:07 pm
When did you start brushing your teeth?I had my surgery yesterday, but I am still having difficulties opening my mouth.
December 14, 2015 at 6:46 am
Sasha, you should avoid brushing your teeth for at least the first 2 weeks in order to give your swelling a chance to go down. Try gurgling with warm salt water a few times each day to get rid of some of the bacteria in your mouth.
October 17, 2015 at 4:07 pm
Hang in there everyone been just over year since double jaw operation best thing i have ever done in my life. Doctors say 6-8 weeks recovery but i was more like 10 weeks well worth it you will see results just be patient
October 17, 2015 at 12:43 pm
I had double jaw surgery on August 26, 2015. At this point I wish I had not done it. My face is still numb and I’m in my 8th week of recovery. Swelling is better but still hanging on. I’m still sleeping on the couch to keep my face more elevated to help with the swelling. I’m doing therapy at home with tongue depressors. It is the pits. I’m ready to regain my mouth opening like it did before. Think twice before doing the surgery. Maybe by December I’ll have a different attitude, but for now I wish I would have lives with my under bite. Good luck.
October 11, 2015 at 6:13 pm
I had double jaw surgery 4 years ago for sleep apnea. I hate the way I look. I no longer like having my picture taken. It made my nose a lot wider and my nostrils huge. My surgeon moved my nose in a little with another surgery ( more black eyes and swelling.) I’m numb all along my bottom lip and have no feeling in my chin. Everytime I eat I could food stuck on my upper teeth now so I can’t eat in public unless I don’t smile and head straight to the restroom to clean my teeth. Oh and I still snore’n
September 30, 2015 at 1:08 am
My carltlidge tip of my nose feels very soft? Anyone else?
September 25, 2015 at 3:36 pm
Hi, I’m having jaw surgery in two weeks time, but mine is to move my jaw slightly to the other side of my face by a little, it’s not your usual surgery of an over bite or under bite. Do you think everything on your page will be exactly the same like the healing process?
September 17, 2015 at 3:50 pm
Stephen and Stephen’s Mom, I had double jaw surgery five weeks ago and only spent one night in hospital, it’s fairly normal I think. I also had to have my palate widened. I could’ve had it done surgically but in the end it was easier that I had that done through orthodontics. The end result is the same though. In terms of eating, especially cheaply, I found home made soups very good, as well as smoothies. As Graham’s blog said, adding peanut butter to heavy cream and milk and ice cream is a good idea to get some liquid calories too. Hope it goes well.
September 2, 2015 at 3:23 am
I had MMA for my sleep apnea. I recovered relatively quickly and was on solid (soft foods) after only a few weeks and back to work after 5 weeks. Anyway 3 months later, I’m still in continous acheing pain in my upper and (even more in) lower teeth, they feel like someone is trying to twist and pull them out with pliers all day long.
Secondly in my left jaw I wake up with jaw ache every day, and think I’m gritting my teeth at night subconsiously to compensate for the third problem.
My lower and upper jaw teeth don’t align, and only the first molar on the right hand actually touches when I bite. The only way to compensate is to slide my lower jaw sideways somewhat.
Another side effect of this jaw mis-alignment is that the joint / cartilage in my left jaw socket is “crunching” whenever I open/close. It sounds like someone is grinding up marbles inside my face.
I spoke to my maxillofacial surgeon and he told me that my jaw is still going through “adaptation”, and it’s perfectly normal. He said that my teeth not touching was perfectly acceptable, and my lateral misalignment was not important, because I would adapt to having to bite slightly sideways even though doing so causes me acheing now.
Anyone else here ever experienced anything similar?
August 22, 2015 at 9:08 pm
I just had double jaw surgery and I was only on a liquid diet for a week, however I did lose 7 pounds in that week. I also got bruising down my neck to my chest is that okay? And is there any way to help the swelling go down more? I’ve also noticed many changes I think if anyone is getting surgery it’s definitely a good thing it does suck very much but the changes I’m seeing already in my smile to my nose and chin are great and I just can’t wait till I’m properly healed.
August 20, 2015 at 11:12 am
I am writing on behalf of my 17 year old son.He is going to have his double jaw surgery on Sept 23 .His doctor is using the new 3-d imaging during his operation.We go the first of Sept to find out more infor. and all,I plan to spend the night at the hospital with him,the doctor says he can go home the next day.Is that normal? His upper jaw was smaller than his lower jaw,and he had to have his palate stretched which he said opened his ears and helped him hear better.he also had 10 teeth remained as he had to many for his mouth.Because of the 3-d imaging being rather new we have to pay about $ 900 out of pocket.He knows the operation will be painful ,but he’s in pain now,so he knows it will help him feel better.I’ve been stocking up and freezing kale ,fruit of various types to be ready…..I’ve heard about 2 weeks worth 3x’s a day.Should I plan on more,we are rather low,low income and I will have to plan ahead for the food budget.Any information would be helpful at this point in the game.
Thanks, Stephen’s Mom.
August 19, 2015 at 12:44 pm
I just had double jaw surgery 4 weeks ago and I have good day and bad days. I am so tired of the liquid diet and eating mashed potatoes and oatmeal. The surgeon said I could eat scrambled eggs and pasta. I struggled with the scrambled eggs because I can’t chew and I am tired of mashing everything on the roof of my mouth.
I don’t have pain but the needle and pin prick sensation is the worst. The facial swelling is better but there are days where it seems to return and won’t let go. So ice packs are my best friend.
My surgeon said that I will be off of work at least 12 weeks. So I have picked up walking and experimenting with soups.
I have started a list of foods I cannot wait to eat when my healing is complete such as steak, shrimp, ribs, hamburgers, hotdogs, salad, fried chicken and the list goes on!
August 17, 2015 at 12:06 pm
Hi, I had double jaw surgery about a month ago. It is definitely a long and rough recovery, but so far for me it has all been worth it. After a month, almost all of the swelling is gone, my splint is out, I can eat very soft foods, and most importantly I can breath better than I have ever been able to out of my nose. My surgery was about six hours and I was in the hospital for five days. The first two weeks are the hardest, but once you get through the surgery (the scariest part!) you feel ready to conquer the recovery.
Jon, I noticed a difference in my hearing too. After the first week for me it went away. I think it is from the congestion and pressure created from being operated on near that area. I felt extremely congested and every time I would swallow it would put pressure on my ears. I could barely have the TV volume on because sound felt overwhelming to my ears. It has gotten so much better though.
Kavitha, do you have a splint in? I had the surgery a month ago and am still getting used to speaking properly. In the beginning it was very hard for me to speak, and very hard for people to understand me. Because the jaw is moved during surgery, I think the rest of the mouth has to get used to speaking in the new position. My speech has gotten a lot better, but I am still working on getting back to where I used to be. I also was very very congested, but hopefully that will clear up soon for you.
I hope this helps, please feel free to ask me any questions.