Recovery Timeline

Following is a brief timeline of important events regarding recovery from double jaw surgery. If you only had a single jaw operated on, your recovery will be much quicker than this.

Keep in mind that every person recovers at a different pace, and also that every surgeon has their own agenda during the recovery process. This is simply the sequence of important events that took place during my personal recovery.

Day 0 (Surgery)

  • You’ll be eating/drinking through a syringe
  • You’ll be unable to sleep very much
  • You may be freezing all night long due to the ice packs wrapped around your face
  • You’ll feel extremely weak
  • You won’t be able to talk
  • You will drool constantly (but you’ll have the suction tube in the hospital to take care of that)
  • Lots of blood will be churning up inside your nose, mouth and throat
  • Your jaw will randomly spasm (and it will be painful)

Day 1

  • Swelling will begin

Day 3

  • Swelling will peak
  • Your bowels will start working again around this time

Day 5

  • Feeling will begin to return to parts of your face
  • Swelling will start to decrease

Day 7 (1 week)

  • You’ll be able to move your mouth a bit easier, so your talking will become more understandable
  • At your 1-week appointment, you’ll be able to brush your teeth, both inside and out (and it will feel amazing)

Day 10

  • Drooling won’t be as rampant any longer
  • You’ll regain slight control over your lips

Day 14 (2 weeks)

  • Most of the swelling will be gone
  • You’ll be able to start drinking from a cup (although it may be messy at first)
  • You can probably remove a few of the elastics clamping your teeth together, so talking will become infinitely more simple
  • Sleeping through the night should no longer be a problem

Day 15

  • Your elastics will start snapping daily, due to your rapid increase in speaking

Day 18

  • Your breath will become bearable again, due to the fact that you’ve been eating different foods and brushing more often

Day 21 (3 weeks)

  • Your energy will start to come back. Take advantage of it! Go for walks and take your bike out for a spin.

Day 22

  • You’ll be receiving substantial feeling back in your upper lip and cheeks. Your nose, lower lip and chin, however, will remain completely numb.

Day 28 (4 weeks)

  • Talking will hardly be an issue any longer. If you have a splint/bite plate in, you’ll sound ridiculous, but people will be able to understand you.
  • Your desire to be social and spend time with people will return in full force. Make sure you take advantage of it, and remember that your friends are not judging you.

Day 29

  • Feeling will begin to return to your lower lip and chin. That feeling will come in the form of pins and needles, but you’ll appreciate it regardless. If no feeling has returned to these parts yet, don’t worry. Surgeons say that it make take up to 90 days for feeling to begin coming back.

Day 31 (1 month)

  • If your elastics are off, you’ll be able to speak quite well by now
  • You won’t drool or spill any longer while eating

Day 32

  • You’ll have most of your normal energy back by now
  • You’ll begin to feel like you’re ready to take life on again. Be warned though: you’re not quite there yet. Give it another month before you go crazy.

Day 38

  • More patches of feeling will return to your chin and lower lip
  • You should no longer have to wear elastics during the day

Day 42 (6 weeks)

  • You should be able to drink through a straw quite easily by now

Day 45

  • Most of your stitches should have dissolved by now

Day 49 (7 weeks)

  • If you had a splint in, it should definitely be removed by now
  • Be prepared to readjust back into the world of orthodontics

Day 56 (8 weeks)

  • You should be able to eat with a small spoon or fork again
  • Licking your lips should be no problem at this point

Day 58

  • You’ll most likely be allowed to blow your nose again. Be gentle, though, because you don’t want to pop a blood vessel.

Day 70 (10 weeks)

  • If you haven’t been able to eat solid food yet, start now. Even if the task of eating involves mashing soft food up against the roof of your mouth, do it anyway. You’ll never gain your strength back on liquid alone.

Day 84 (12 weeks)

  • You should enjoy the freedom of eating just about anything you want by now
  • Consider practising whistling in order to break up the scar tissue that’s sure to be keeping your upper lip from enjoying its full range of motion

Day 90 (3 months)

  • Your three months have finally come to an end! Enjoy eating, breathing and smiling to their full effect.
  • Changes will be fairly slow from this point forward. The results you find yourself with at the 6-month mark will most likely be the results you’ll live with for the rest of your life.

Want to connect with other jaw heroes?

Recovering from jaw surgery can be lonely. That's why many of us hang out in a Facebook group where we support each other leading up to surgery and during recovery. There are hundreds of people from all over the world chatting right now and it's free to join.

Join the Facebook group

(example of a recent conversation)

1740 Comments

  1. Hi Everyone
    I had double jaw surgery on December 18th. I had upper jaw surgery, chin cut and moved forward and later an implant put in about 25 years ago. It is rare for the lower jaw to move back again, but I am one of the unlucky ones. I had developed severe sleep apnea from it as well. I was worried being older how I would do, but I am doing ok. My swelling is gone 70% my lips were a wreak and I got those all healed. My advise is ice ice and more ice. I am still using it because it is comforting. I kept my lips washed and used lots of Triple Antibiotic ointment. I can’t use a straw but I can drink from a cup and eat some foods like mashed potatoes and gravy using a small spoon. Tomorrow will be 1 week. If you take really good care of yourself it makes the process go much smoother. Good luck everyone and Merry Christmas

    • Terri, so happy to hear you conquered this style of surgery for the second time, wow! Enjoy your holidays and I wish you all the best in the new year!

  2. I just want you to know how wonderful your blog has been in my recovery. I had double jaw surgery on December 13 and my first four days were a nightmare. Coming back here has kept me going and looking forward to the progress ahead! Now if I could just figure out how to get enough calories I would be set 🙂 Happy Holidays!

  3. I had surgery at 12:30 yesterday. I just got home a few hours ago. I have an ice pack on my face, my face is very stiff, and my nose is very stuffy. My mom said the worst time will be when I hit 72 hours. What do you think?

    Thank you,
    Stephanie

    • Stephanie, apologies for the delay, but I was driving all over the country in the name of Christmas! 72 hours marked the peak of your swelling, so in theory, each day should be a bit easier following that. Now that you’re nearly 2 weeks in, everything should be looking up for you! =)

  4. Hi Graham,
    I had double jaw surgery a week ago today and I’ve been on your blog daily just to make sure that my recovery process is going the right way which it is! Although all but one of my elastics have broken today from a cough I’ve gained as a result of breathing through a closed mouth, frustrating! So I’m to go and get them replaced tomorrow. But I’d just like to say your blog has helped tremendously over the past week!:)

    • Billie, I’m always happy to help out. That’s crazy that you snapped nearly all of your elastics in one go—that must have been quite a feat! Stay strong for this next week and then life will become significantly easier for you. =)

  5. Hi Graham,
    Thanks for the positive feedback. I know I won’t heal over night from having my lower jaw moved. My lower lip and chin are now feeling very cold even if I put heat on it. Do you know if this is a sign of healing? or how long should this last? The nerve was not cut just moved so I have a lot of swelling. I didn’t know if you or anyone else reading have experienced the “frozen” feeling. I am only day 5 into healing and this is the only “pain” I am having.

    • Eileen, I can’t speak to the cold feelings because I didn’t experience them myself. The fact that you’re just 5 days into recovery tells me you should try not to think about any of these things for at least another 2–3 weeks. You likely won’t be able to recognize any superficial progress until around the 1-month mark, so try to enjoy this downtime while you still have it. =)

  6. Hi Graham,

    I’m 20 and having my double jaw + chin surgery in 3 days! I’m really really scared. I have a few questions.
    I was wondering, how many mm did you have your top and bottom jaws moved? Also, my surgeon told me that vomiting after surgery is pretty rare (1 in 60 patients) now compared to earlier years because of advances in medicine but it seems like a lot of people here experienced vomiting after surgery! Is it painful for your throat or jaws when you vomited? And was it difficult to vomit because of the elastics on your teeth? Sorry my questions are kinda gross but I’m really concerned about the possibility of vomiting after the surgery!

    Last question, is it really difficult to breathe? Are we not allowed to clean our noses for a long time? Thanks in advance!

    • Hi Cassandra,

      1) I honestly can’t recall how many millimeters my jaws were moved, sorry.

      2) I also have no advice regarding vomiting because I was lucky enough to not be one of those cases. I’ve met others who vomited during recovery, though, and they said it’s more frustrating than painful. As long as you’re drinking water to dilute the acid in your stomach, you should be okay.

      3) As for breathing, it’s tough at some points during the first few weeks, but you simply need to be conscious of your breathing and slow it down. Breathe a little more slowly. Focus on inhaling and exhaling.

      You’ll get through this, no worries! Just remain calm, positive, and focussed! =)

  7. Well, my surgeon said it’s normal for my jaw to be moving like it is because there’s a small gap in the back i guess, so that’s the reason it moves. I’m gettin my braces off before 2014, so i just wanted to know if you think it’s safe get my braces off, since the othodontist will be doing some pulling to get them off and applying pressure probably. I told my doctor i’m getting them off and he said that’s good 🙂

  8. Hi, I got upper jaw surgery almost 3 months ago, and is still moves a bit when the doctor grabs and pulls down on the braces. I was just wondering how strong the plates are and how much pressure they can actually take. I have a little pain when he pulls, but do you know how hard you can actually pull without damaging anything? I’m just real curious 🙂

    • Victor, your jaw should be more or less fully healed by the 3-month mark. You may still have swelling and numbness, but the bone itself should be healed. If you think your jaw is actually moving during brace adjustments, you may want to ask your orthodontist to be a little more gentle so you don’t end up throwing things out of order. Sounds like a rough doctor!

  9. Hi Graham,

    I wrote you a couple months ago. I wanted to let you know that your blog has helped me stay sane and know that what I’m feeling is normal. All I need is to stay positive. I had my lower jaw moved forward on Monday, Dec 9 and since then I can’t feel my bottom lip and my chin underneath my lip. I can feel everything else (like cheeks, upper lip, and neck). I’m hoping I can get feeling back that’s what scares me. I am not wired shut as my surgeon used screws and put them in my lower jaw so I’ve been able to drink from a straw since the next day. So by reading through your day by day your swelling was gone by 2-3 weeks? That’s the part I want gone since I currently look like Professor Clump on Nutty Professor changing from skinny to fat. lol

    • Eileen, try not to worry about things like swelling, feeling, and appearance during these initial weeks. While a good amount of my swelling had disappeared by the 3-week mark, it took about 4 months until it was all completely gone. Do your best to enjoy this down time—read books, go for walks, take naps—and you’ll be in good working order in a few more weeks. =)

  10. Hey Graham, I am having surgery on both my jaws this Tuesday and I’m starting to get really nervous about it. The part I am most nervous about is when I wake up right after the surgery. I was wondering how you felt afterwards, so I know what to kinda expect. Hopefully knowing what’s going to happen will calm my nerves!

    Thanks!

    • Courtney, there’s no need to be afraid of waking up after the surgery. The worst part is honestly the discomfort from being cold and the boredom from having to just lay there. Try to get your parents or significant other to visit you a few hours after you wake up so you have someone familiar nearby at least on that first day. You’ll be able to go home on the second or third day and it should get easier from there. =)

  11. Hi Graham

    I had lower jaw surgery on the 19th of October
    I was in theatre for 3 & half hours when I came round from surgery I couldn’t see (off the sticky type) when I was admitted on the ward 1st thing I wanted to do was brush my teeth. The pain was unbearable at 1st I couldn’t talk or open me mouth, I was on a morphine drip & a steroid & antibiotic drip,

    I discharged my self from hospital on day 2 has my nan had died while I was in surgery & the nurse had no bed side manners so made my hospital stay uncomfortable & didn’t wanna be there, I was discharged with no medication.

    Swelling came out almost instantly, I looked like the nutty professor ha. I was giving a zippy cup to drink from & was told I could eat mushed up foods or soups.. I my self got protein shakes as I weighed 7st something just to get the notarisations I was missing out on from normal foods.

    On day 2 I did try to eat a mcdonalds egg mc muffin. Didn’t go down well :(. I had loads of bruising to my face cheeks, chin & chest area ( like someone had kneeled on me) was told it’s because the neck muscles join to the chest muscles.

    I don’t have a spilt I do have bands & there such a pain. I change them 3 times a day. My mouth seems to feel unclean a lot so I wash with mouth wash 4-5 times a day aswell as brushing, I have to used dental wax for my brace but have devolved reseeding gums off it. Is that normal? I still have numbness to the left side of my lip & chin. I get very sharp shooting pains though my chin & pins & needles,

    Am starting to eat solid foods slowly & carefully. Am on week 3 now,
    Did anyone else have the feeling that one side of there face was drooping. As my left side feelings like it’s hanging down more then the right side.

    Thanks x

    • Louise, it sounds like you had a tough first few weeks, but you’re in the good part of recovery now, experiencing more progress each day. Using wax to keep your braces from poking the insides of your mouth is perfectly normal, and I recommend continuing to use it to avoid more bleeding and swelling. As for your face “drooping,” I wouldn’t worry about your appearance for another two months at least. Swelling can make us look very odd, but as it goes away, you should notice your face regaining some of its symmetry. =)

  12. Yes, you got that right. I feel better now. My throat is not dry as before. 🙂 I can talk a little now. I had this horrible cuts on the corners of my lips and it took this entire 2 weeks to heal but the right side is not bleeding at least. I can eat better now that the tape around my jaw is off. Don’t know how much exercise is recommended but I am definitely going to take advantage of this “diet” and reinvent myself. Thanks for all your support

  13. Thanks Graham!
    I double checked with my Dr. today and he said it’s okay. In fact I started with a bottle of Ensure today!! I’m happy and since he says everything is going well I feel relief. This journey has just started so I have to be patient and hope for the best! Thanks for the info 🙂

    • Maria, that’s great to hear! For some reason, us humans like to fret over every little thing, don’t we? I’m glad you’ve been reassured and are continuing in your recovery, woo!

  14. Hey Graham, I just had double jaw surgery on the 4th of December! Today it’s been 3 days since the operation, and I find it so hard to sleep at night. I have pressure in my ears, jaws, and with my jaw tied shut with elastics and that dreadful splint, I find that I can’t get much sleep at all! Also, I’m as swollen as a ball, but my surgeon didn’t give me any ice packs to reduce swelling:(

    What should I do, and how do I pass the time quickly?

    • Sarah, you’re in the most difficult two weeks of the entire recovery. I suggest drinking as much water and as many smoothies as you can to get calories and liquids into your body (so your body has energy to heal), laying down with hot packs on your face often (to sooth the swelling), going for as many walks outside per day as you can (to breathe in fresh air and get exercise), and finding a few TV series to pass the time with. You’ll honestly be surprised at your progress in a few weeks and you’ll miss this downtime. =)

  15. Hi Graham,
    I started reading your blog today. I had my jaw surgery 8 days ago. The swelling is going away every day my chin still numb I saw my surgeon twice since I left the hospital (2 days after surgery). I have been drinking fluids such as soups, juice, water. I still have a tape around my chin like holding my swelling “throat” (under my ears). I still have trouble drinking it feels like the soup stays on the splint before I can swallow. I was able to talk yesterday a little bit, but today I woke up with sore throat so I haven’t try to talk. So far, the blog and some other articles had help me a lot to understand what is going on with me. But, I do want to ask, can I drink yogurts and milk shakes/smoothies??? And what else can I drink? (Orange juice , lemonade, proteinshakes, etc ???) Thanks for all the info this blog is amazing and extremely helpful. I am looking forward to recover fast and hear from you soon!

    • Maria, you can basically drink anything your heart desires. Milkshakes, smoothies, and yogurts are definitely fair game. The only things I’d stray away from are soda and alcohol because both can cause infections during these early days (not to mention they dehydrate you). Enjoy the smoothies! =)

  16. hello! I got upper jaw surgery 5 or 6 months ago and my cheeks are still a bit swollen, and they haven’t changed for months. It’s been like this for a long time and I’m worried it won’t go away. Is there anything i can do to help it?

    • Dino, I can’t think of a good reason that your swelling would still be hanging around. I’d give your surgeon a call and ask if they know of any other patients who had residual swelling this late in the game.

  17. Hi Graham!
    I’m 6 weeks out of surgery & am finally able to have soft foods!! It’s so perfect! I was wondering if you ever had any kind of popping in your joints by your ear?? My dr checked everything out & said all is great but it is the strangest feeling! It doesn’t hurt but always happens when I’m asleep…guess my jaw is relaxed then! My dr said it’s prob the tight muscles … Just wondering if anyone has had this happen! Also, how did you start opening wider?? I can barely open big enough for a spoon. I try wider but am still so tight! Thank you for your response!

    • Christy, that popping is perfectly normal for the first few months of recovery. As long as it’s not painful, you can rest easy and expect it to go away at some point during the third month.

      As for opening your mouth wider, I’d suggest chewing gum (to stretch out your jaw muscles) and whistling (to break up scar tissue) as often as possible. =)

  18. Graham, was it hard to regain your speech back? I’m on the 4th month after surgery and still find it hard to say some words correctly without sounding weird

    • Tommy, your difficulty speaking is likely tied to your swelling. It’s tough to form certain shapes with your mouth when the swelling and scar tissue get in the way. My advice is to start chewing gum and whistling as often as you can. Chewing gum will loosen (and strengthen) the muscles in your jaw while whistling will help break up residual scar tissue. Think of it as physio therapy for your jaw. =)

  19. Well I did it , on day 9 now. I do have to say having double jaw surgery and chin and wisdom teeth out was hard on me. After surgery I was so ill and was throwing up for 3 days. On day 3 hospital sent me home. Every time I had water or juice I was ill again . Day 4 went back to hospital and they gave me iv . Dr said I lost a lot if blood and was dehydrated. Stayed in hospital for a few more days . I am now home and weighed myself on day 7 and found that I have lost 15 lbs. crazy! Things are a lot better now the wire is now gone and dr said to eat soft food. Thank God! Oh ya I do have a question. How long did you use pain meds? Can’t wait to stop useing them. Thank you so much for sharing your story Graham it has helped me more then you will ever know:) shilo

    • Shilo, congratulations on coming out the other side of this! You have lost a ton of weight, wow! Regarding pain meds, I used them for the first 2 weeks only. I found that I could avoid pain by moderating the amount of talking I did following that. Stay strong, my friend!

  20. its been 6 weeks now since i had mine done but when i drink juice or orange soda it stings on both sides of my mouth. why is that

    • Devin, it’s possible that the flesh on the inside of your cheeks is thinner due to all the bile that was passing over them during the first few weeks. If you’re able to take a look and ensure your cheeks don’t appear to be infected, I’d just be patient with it for another week. If it’s still happening, you should ask your surgeon at your next appointment.

Leave a Reply

“Over the past several years, I’ve done my best to respond to every comment on this blog, but unfortunately I no longer have the time to do so. If you have questions about jaw surgery and want to connect with others on this journey, please join the Facebook group. Don't worry — it's free!”

*