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.
January 9, 2016 at 8:43 am
I’m at day 20 (3 weeks) and I’ve been doing well so far. The only problem is that I am running out of the mouth wash my doctors gave me. Do you know any other mouth wash techniques that are just as effective as the mouth wash besides rinsing with warm water with salt?
January 9, 2016 at 6:23 pm
Hi Xavier, if you still have open wounds in your mouth, you’ll probably want to avoid most over-the-counter mouthwash brands. However, if your wounds have already healed at this point, any mouthwash should be okay. I would give your surgeon’s office a call and ask if they have any recommendations. 😊
January 10, 2016 at 1:32 am
Oh 🙂 you had the surgery done 5 days after me.. Are you having your weekly appointments? I got the elastics removed after 1 week or so had passed from the surgery and the surgeon gave me a really soft brush to brush my teeth so I was able to clean them..
January 7, 2016 at 11:51 am
hi,
i am going to have this surgery but i am getting so nervous so, can anyone tell me is thee any sides effect of that surgery , should i opt this or not ???
waiting for suggestion 🙂
January 7, 2016 at 8:10 pm
Hi Saani, please read through my page on common questions about jaw surgery. Hopefully it answers your questions!
http://doublejawsurgery.com/common-questions/
January 11, 2016 at 12:25 am
Hi Saani, My name is Angel and I had double jaw Surgery Dec 17th 2015. I was really nervous too, even tho I knew I would be fine. My surgeon prescribed me some Xanax. I only took half a pill a few days before the surgery to test it and wow! It really helped! I took the other half the night before the surgery and felt totally fine. My energy was normal but my worries were gone. Hope this helps:)
January 11, 2016 at 11:10 am
i am still afraid of that could i be able to recover or not 🙁 but its also must for me actually i am from pakistan thats why i am afraid wheather my surgery woul be successfull or …. you just tell is there any side effect of this surgery or not ? I just wanna get my confidence back about this surgery , suggest me please …..
January 11, 2016 at 6:57 pm
Saani, potential long-term side effects are covered in the “After the surgery” section of the common questions page, but the only thing you really need to consider is the possibility of having small permanently numb patches in your lower lip and chin. This occurs in roughly 30% of patients, according to my surgeon a few years ago.
January 13, 2016 at 1:14 pm
Hi! I had double jaw surgery on Dec. 17th too. How is your swelling?
January 5, 2016 at 10:34 am
I had double jaw surgery on the 17th of December 2015 so I’m coming up to 3 weeks now. The doctors say that I am very fortunate as I have recovered much faster than the average person. I have been eating foods like lasagne and macaroni for over a week now (really recommend these!) I just wanted to ask how long it normally takes for the swelling to go completely as I’m getting feeling back if my upper lip but it still seems to be very puffed up? Thanks a lot and good luck everyone
January 7, 2016 at 12:08 pm
Hello! I had my double jaw surgery on the 14th of December. I am still swollen as well. My doctor said it could take a couple months for it to be completely gone! I’m hoping it goes away soon!
January 7, 2016 at 7:59 pm
Hi Brandon, most of your swelling should be gone by the 6-week mark, but it can take up to 4 months for residual swelling to go away. It sounds like you’re recovering much more quickly than most people, though, so you may be in better shape sooner than us!
January 11, 2016 at 10:47 pm
I had my surgery on Dec.7. My doctor told me the majority of your swelling will go away. But that there will be a little bit that will hold on up to 6 months after surgery.
January 5, 2016 at 8:45 am
Hello!
Recently I had double jaw surgery (December 14th 2015) two bone graphs, my top palate widened, and an artificial jaw put in. If I could express this surgery in one word it would be “emotional”. I am only 20 years old and a college student. I am a very outgoing girl, have tons of family and friends and is always down for a good time. With my mouth being wired shut for 6 weeks I was very restricted. It was hard for me to cope emotionally due to I could not talk (because I had a splint put in) or socialize with the people I love. I also was restricted to activities, even daily tasks . Showering was tiring and even going to the grocery store and walking up and down the isles felt like I was running a marathon. A lot of this lack of energy was due to my low calorie in take (another struggle of mine was not eating all my favorite soup). As the days went on I was slowly regaining my strength and I was gradually getting my emotions back on track. Physically, at my 1 week appointment the doctor was very impressed with my appearance. My seeking was bad but not as bad as they thought it would be. I am 22 days into recovery now and I can finally see the results I have been dreaming of. I was hospitalized for 3 days and was on morphine for pain. After I left the hospital I stopped taking painkillers and went straight to Motrin. It wasn’t as strong but it tasted a lot better and was easier for me to swallow.
If I could give tips on how to recovery the best it would be to prepare yourself emotionally. Have a great support system . Surround yourself with positive people and with people who understand what you are going through. Another tip is when you get to start eating again, I suggest blended up soups/chowders. It is much ore filling and will last you longer than a smoothie or breakfast drink.
This surgery was worth it even if it took a toll on me. I would do it again if I had too.
Good Luck everyone!
January 7, 2016 at 7:58 pm
Hannah, thanks for sharing your experience! I totally remember that incredible lack of energy. During the first few weeks, it took me about 20 minutes just to muster up the energy to take a shower and remain hygienic, hehe!
January 4, 2016 at 4:36 pm
I’m due to have double jaw surgery because of an underbite this summer in England. I am 19 and I have always struggled with bullying and difficulty eating some foods so have been on a countdown for the last God knows how long waiting for this surgery! I’ve been on the NHS list since I was 10 as orthodontic treatment couldn’t start until I had stopped growing! I know I lack confidence because of my jaw and can’t wait for the surgery. My only concern is permanent nerve damage and how this will affect day to day activities such as eating and drinking…
This blog has been so helpful and comforting to know I’m not the only one going through all this! I wish you all the best in your recoveries!!
January 7, 2016 at 7:51 pm
Hi Emily, I’m happy to hear you have found the courage to go ahead with the surgery. It should certainly solve your chewing problem and will undoubtedly help with your confidence as well. I know it helped me in both of those regards.
Remember that permanent nerve damage only occurs in 30% of patients, so you have better chances of getting all of your feeling back. However, in the event that you do end up with permanent nerve damage, your body will quickly adjust and it should not negatively impact your life longterm. I have nerve damage and the only time I’m aware of it is when someone asks about it. 😊
December 30, 2015 at 8:51 am
Hi All,
I had double jaw surgery and my chin moved up 2.5 cm, my doctor told me I was a pretty extreme case. I had a really bad over-bite and when I smiled all my gums showed on my upper jaw. I had surgery on October 29 of this year so I am 8 weeks out. My lower lip and chin are still pretty numb and always have a tingling feeling. Also, the right side of my mouth I can’t really feel when I’m chewing. I’ve been eating quite a bit of different food but still can’t open my mouth too far so I pretty much just use my tongue to mash food up and chew a tiny bit. If I can say anything about the surgery is that it is just frustrating. I’m still not completely satisfied with the way I look, but I am still swollen and it was such a big change for me. I know its not all about looks, its about functionality, but its just hard. I have good and bad days and sometimes I just feel that my face is huge. Reading this blog has helped me understand that everyone heals differently and what you said about the 6 month mark really helped me because it tells me I still have time to heal and for the swelling to keep going down. I think once all that happens and I can actually open my mouth up again and eat regular food easily I will be a lot more happy about it. This blog has definitely helped me, so thank you so much!!
December 30, 2015 at 10:13 pm
Stephanie, thanks so much for reading through my ramblings. It sounds like you’re recovering a bit more slowly than average, but I assure you I was also on the slow side of recovery. It sounds like you’ve educated yourself and are aware of the timelines, so I hope you’re able to remain positive while your body finishes doing its thing. Good luck! 🙂
December 29, 2015 at 9:44 am
Hey, I had double jaw surgery and 4 wisdom teeth taken out on November 20th. I don’t have any pain, but I have trouble opening my mouth. I’m almost at 6 weeks now and I can still only open my mouth up an index finger. I’m worried that I won’t be able to fully open my mouth again like before surgery. I tried starting to chew things like bananas and soft bread which isn’t a problem but it frustrates me because not being able to open my mouth wider makes it harder to chew. Anyway, other than that I’m doing pretty good. I’m still a little numb on the left side of my bottom lip and chin.
December 30, 2015 at 2:20 am
Hi Melanie
I’m no expert but I think you sound amazing. I had my surgery on the 19th November & I’m still on liquids-water consistency.with a lot of effort I can open wide enough to pop a tablet painkiller passed my teeth.
Weldone 🙂
December 30, 2015 at 10:06 pm
Hi Melanie, as Lyndsey mentioned, you sound like you’re right on track. The movement in your jaw won’t return fully until you’re eating solid food on a regular basis again. Once you’re able, try whistling and chewing gum several times each day. The simple movements involved in chewing food, chewing gum, and whistling will help break up scar tissue and stretch the necessary muscles out. 👍
December 28, 2015 at 6:42 pm
I’ve had my surgery on December 21 and I’m pretty stable right now. I’ve been drinking protein shakes(with mint creamer depending on what flavor it is), vitamin boosts, water, and fruit juices like apple juice. I’m just wondering if this will be an okay thing to do to keep me stable in the next couple of weeks until I am able to eat food. Will it ruin my health if I drink more protein shakes than the other types of drinks? I’m mainly drinking protein shakes and sometimes some water. I usually drink water after I’m done drinking protein shakes.
December 30, 2015 at 10:02 pm
Hi Xavier, the most important things to focus on regarding your diet are water and calorie intake. Your body certainly needs water to stay hydrated and heal muscle and tendons that were damaged during the operation and it also requires a high amount of calories because it will be in full healing mode at this point.
Since the liquid diet is temporary, the exact makeup of those calories is less important than the amount of them. Protein shakes, meal supplements, and fruit smoothies should be more than adequate to keep you happy and healing properly during the first month. For reference, I survived on fruit smoothies, Ensure drinks, and blended Chunky soups for 7 full weeks during my recovery and did not experience any problems with that diet. 🙂
December 27, 2015 at 12:55 pm
I had my lower jaw done , why am I so tired ? This was in nov 12 , pain is starting to be controlled…. I’m reading some posts and I’m like why and I exhausted and why do my ears feel like explosion going off
December 28, 2015 at 8:27 am
Hi Tab, if you’re feeling exhausted at this point, it’s possible you are dehydrated. Make sure you’re drinking at least 2 liters of water each day and try to eat healthy foods to keep your energy up as well. 🙂
December 24, 2015 at 11:06 pm
I had upper and lower jaw surgery on the December 10th. That’s two weeks yesterday. I’ve read over your timeline and it really seems like you got the worst of it.
My first week was similar to a lot of people in the comments. But I only had four elastics total holding my mouth/jaw in place. The worst about the first week was the old blood that I was coughing up constantly. But it was good that I was on full fluids by day one so I was having protein shakes by then and I was drinking from a cup. I was only using saline rinse to clean my mouth during the first week.
Now that I am at week two, I had my elastics replaced and I only have two elastics in (one on each side). I am now able to replace the elastics whenever I want and my doc told me to take them out to eat. My diet currently is soft foods (e.g. Mashed potatoes, soft fish). I also have pretty much full sensitivity in my upper jaw (lips) and pretty high sensitivity for my lower jaw (lips, chin). My surgeon did mention to me that he didn’t have to cut the nerve in my lower jaw which is why I’m getting the sensitivity back so fast. It’s currently quite uncomfortable for me to open my mouth, but I’m trying to exercise my jaw muscles to get them back to normal. I can’t open my mouth that wide yet.
December 25, 2015 at 8:53 am
Daniel, it sounds like you’re healing up nice and quickly. Consider yourself lucky that you get to enjoy soft foods during the holidays! 😀
December 27, 2015 at 3:00 pm
Hi! I had my double jaw surgery just over 3 weeks ago, the past 10 days I’ve felt unwell with a head cold so I feel wiped out. I can not wait to get my energy levels up, your blog has been a real comfort to me so I want to thank you for that xx
December 28, 2015 at 8:27 am
Hi Kaylou, that’s unfortunate to hear that you’ve had to fight through a head cold on top of recovery. Just think of how good you’ll feel when all of this is behind you! 😀
December 20, 2015 at 4:30 pm
Hi,
I had double jaw surgery 4 weeks ago. I had 4 wisdom teeth out,a bone graft and cartiledge removed from my nose.I had to wear a splint for the first 2.5 weeks post surgery and now have alot of elastics in. I have to say that pain is almost none existent. I found the drooling n speech impairment to most uncomfortable things.but I’m only 4 weeks in and iv been back to work one week.I’m also breastfeeding my one year old daughter.and iv really been fine.
The main thing is using the pain relief provided and keeping hydrated. I havnt eaten in over 4 weeks and it will be another few b4 I move to soft foods. And honestly it’s so manageable. Once you have a blender/liquidised you will be fine. Like people are saying it’s absolutely worth it.
I feel like I had a massive surgery and 4 weeks into recovery people wouldn’t know anything was up with me (except for the elastics)
Thanks for the blog!
December 22, 2015 at 8:55 am
Thanks for sharing these encouraging words, Lyndsey! It’s always inspiring to hear from someone who has approached this recovery from a positive mindset. Glad to hear you’re doing well and Merry Christmas! 🎄
December 18, 2015 at 2:10 am
One thing I would like to say if about pain in the first week. If you follow exactly what the hospital say and overlap the paracetomol, Ibruprofen, codeine and take your antibiotics then you should not feel any actual pain. Just uncomfortable. My son had a double jaw operation and wisdom teeth taken out on 1st October and even though still slightly swollen can say the first 3 days were the most uncomfortable i.e dribbling and needing to rest and be waited on but hardly any pain. I wrote down (like they do in hospital) what drugs and when they can be taken next as I had to get up in the night a few times to change his ice packs and give more pain relief. The ones I mention can all be overlapped but obviously you must read the instructions as only certain amounts within a 24 hour period (ask the hospital before you leave). Ice packs were key for him. I bought four ice pack (gel flexible filling). Two in the freezer and two on the face then just kept swapping over as they defrosted. If you can’t get a headband to hold them under your jaw just buy a long crepe bandage and wrap it around your jaw and tie on top of your head to hold the ice packs in place. Definitely helped my son.
Mary
December 23, 2015 at 10:07 am
Hi Mary, I’m having double jaw surgery and wisdom teeth removed in 3 weeks. I was wondering if you’re son was recommended to take anything pre-sergery (I’ve heard Arnica if taken before and after really helps). I’ve also read online, but not been told by my orthodontist, that having wisdom teeth removed at the same time runs a big risk of the jaw cracking. I’ve searched this website for anything regarding wisdom teeth but couldn’t find anything. Any information on this that could help would be greatly appreciated 🙂
December 24, 2015 at 4:35 am
Hi Jonathan
My son also had 2 wisdom teeth taken out. To be honest with regard to the pain this didn’t really make alot of difference as he was taken pain relief for the jaw anyway. He was not recommended to take anything before or after but I am sure it wouldn’t hurt if it was a professional telling you to do so. He did rub Arnica face moisturiser into his face alot as with dribbling and putting the ice packs on his face it made the skin fairly dry. This also apparently helps with the bruising and swelling. Worth a try. He had his braces off this week and got retainers top and bottom. Only had pain the first week (but really not that bad more uncomfortable because the teeth were banded together top and bottom). He had it done on 1st October 2015 and still has slight swelling and the nose is slightly wider but all in all a marvelous operation and results. If you would like to know anything else please do ask. Good luck with the operation and there really is nothing to worry about. 🙂
December 16, 2015 at 10:31 am
Hey. I was wondering if there are any big risks i should consider? I need double jaw surgery, because i have a pretty big underbite. Reading all these great stories comforts me. Altough, the journey towards the surgery is pretty scary but also exciting! I don’t care about the pain, it’s temporary ofcourse, #optimism 😛
December 17, 2015 at 9:54 am
Dani, optimism is key, so you’re off to a good start! The only important risk that I’m aware of is permanent nerve damage in your lower lip and chin, which will result in a loss of feeling in those areas. This occurs in approximately 30% of patients. In other words, the odds are in your favor! 🙂
I was one of the “lucky” 30%, so I have a few small numb patches in my lower lip. However, I can honestly say this change does not negatively impact my life in any way.
December 21, 2015 at 9:30 am
So the bad news is that there is a 30 % chance on nerve damage.
The good news is that it’s probably going to be on the places that won’t have a big impact on my face/life. It’s allright, i guess..
Let’s just hope!
Thanks a lot for your reply!
December 17, 2015 at 9:14 pm
Hi Dani,
tomorrow is my one year anniversary of my double jaw surgery and it was well worth going through! Having a good support system and time to rest is key!! It’s really a life changing surgery and you won’t regret it! I know I don’t! The healing process varies from person to person. The swelling and numbness was a little intense for me for about 2 weeks to the point that I couldn’t speak. I needed to talk so I actually found some great apps on my phone and iPad that talked for me!! I was also one of the “lucky” 30% and have one patch on my lower lip and chin that is partially numb. It never got past the pins and needles stage. But if that’s all I have to deal with it was so worth it!!
December 26, 2015 at 7:44 pm
Hi Danielle.
When you say that it never got past the pins and needles stage, do you mean you still feel these? I ask because although its only been 11 days since my surgery (both jaws and wisdom teeth removed) the tingling becomes tense enough to bother me regularly and I’m worried this won’t go away.
December 27, 2015 at 2:03 pm
I had my double on Dec 10. So it’s been 17 days. I still have pins and needles around my chin area. It gets pretty intense for maybe 2 hours everyday so far. I still have some feeling in my entire lower jaw area but the sensation is limited atm. I’m lucky in that my surgeon did not have to cut any major nerves while performing the surgery. The smaller nerves are trying to heal and adjust to the intensive surgery. The recovery really varies from patient to patient. Patience is key. You need time for your body to heal. Best of luck! Also, make sure to ask your surgeon. The people on these forums aren’t experts.
December 15, 2015 at 8:43 pm
I’m having surgery Jan 22 and I just found out and I’m freaking out. Any suggestions? I have many questions but it’s to many so I doubt you will want to answer them for
Me
December 16, 2015 at 12:58 am
I have done it 4weeks ago, be prepared that you will have to experience some difficult days but its totally worth it!Goodluck
December 16, 2015 at 5:46 am
I had double jaw surgery and removal of all 4 wisdom teeth (all heavily impacted so not fun) a week ago today. Honestly it’s not fun, it’s hard, it’s gruesome but I only really felt like it wasn’t worth it for the first 3 days. I am not good with pain (who is) and I am quite an emotional person so I did struggle. I did wake up the first few mornings crying wondering why I had put myself through this. But now just 7 days later I think it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. In the grand scheme less than a week or misery for a lifetime of a better quality of life?? Once you adjust and realise ‘it’s only temporary’ and you have to just get on with it that was the turning point to me. just do it as once it’s done there’s nothing you can do BUT get better! And it isn’t as bad as you think it will be, and if it is, it’s only temporary!
December 26, 2015 at 7:51 pm
I had my surgery just a day after you made this post. Currently 11 days into surgery. You have to remember the surgery is optional and it’s your choice. There will be an opportunity to ask any questions to your surgeon, make sure you use it. Maybe write down your questions; I didn’t and I ended up not asking everything I wanted to. I panicked when I found out the date but for me, once I’d made the decision to go through with it, the key thing was just doing it and not thinking about it. Everyone’s experience is different but your welcome to ask your questions to anyone. If I see them I will try and answer what I can, at least from my own experience.
December 14, 2015 at 4:30 am
Hi I had my surgery both upper and lower jaw 27days ago, my face is still a boit swallon , the pain is gone and I can talk more clearly. But I’m a little bit frustrated with the fact that I can’t open my mouth, it hard to eat and when I try to help my mouth to open I feel tired. Only my index finger can enter in my mouth. How long will it take for my mouth to open back to normal?
December 14, 2015 at 6:55 am
Maria, I wasn’t able to fully open my mouth until my tenth week of recovery, so there’s no need to worry yet. In a few more weeks, you will have less swelling and will be able to open your mouth wider as a result. Also, once you’re able to eat solid food, the movement in your mouth will return much more quickly due to it being exercised. 🙂
December 14, 2015 at 7:16 am
Thanks for your reply.I’m not worrying much about the swelling because it is not that big. I started eating just soft food pasta,omlette better than just liquid :p. So you think I will not be able to open it for christmas? Thanks again
December 14, 2015 at 7:03 pm
Tough to say at this point… you might be able to eat some of the softer dishes such as stuffing and potatoes. Only time will tell, though. 🙂
December 15, 2015 at 1:54 am
Will wait and see ..thanks alot
December 15, 2015 at 3:45 am
Another thing putting ice on my chin will it help the numbness to go away or it doesn’t make any effect by now?
December 17, 2015 at 9:42 am
As far as I understand, applying heat or ice to your face will decrease swelling, but does not aid in healing your nerves. I think that simply requires time. 🙂
December 27, 2015 at 5:52 am
Could you pls recommend skilled surgeon in NY please?
December 28, 2015 at 8:25 am
Mila, I don’t know of any oral surgeons in the New York area, but you may be able to find someone on RateMDs.com. Be sure to go for a consultation before committing to a surgeon. Luckily, many surgeons offer free consultations. 🙂
https://www.ratemds.com/best-doctors/ny/new-york/oral-surgeon/
December 14, 2015 at 2:31 am
Hi, I’m having double jaw surgery in exactly 1 months time and I’m feeling both excited and nervous. My boyfriend lives 5 hours away and he bought me train tickets to come and see him one month post op, for a week. Would I be able to travel that far and be away from home for a week just one month after surgery? I don’t want to let him down. Thanks for sharing your recovery, also 🙂
December 14, 2015 at 6:54 am
Hi Georgina, you will be able to take a 5-hour train ride after 1 month of recovery. As long as you have access to a blender so you can prepare soft meals, you should be perfectly alright. Good luck with the surgery next month!
December 15, 2015 at 5:08 am
Thanks for replying! And thanks for the good luck 🙂
December 11, 2015 at 2:31 am
hi, my son had double jaw surgery for an underbite on 3rd October. he has all feeling back but his jaw is still swollen and nose wider. is it normal for him to still be swollen and does the nose go back when swelling goes down. Thanks Mary
December 11, 2015 at 7:11 am
Mary, it is normal to be swollen for up to 4 months following jaw surgery, so your son’s swelling should be nothing to worry about. Even after the bone has fully healed at the 12-week mark, many people still look a bit swollen for yet another month.
December 14, 2015 at 3:43 am
Thank you for your reply. He is eating normally now and its been 10 weeks. All feeling back. Braces are coming off next week but swelling on both sides still very visible but thats put my mind at rest. Thanks 🙂
December 9, 2015 at 12:46 am
Hi, I’m scheduled to have a double jaw surgery next month (January 2016) for an underbite I have. Next year will be a very busy year for me and university starts at the beginning of March (so I got 6 weeks, or between 42-45 days of recovery).
About how many weeks, after surgery, can you drink alcohol? Me and my friends will be hosting a big party in March so I was hoping I can drink after six weeks without having significant adverse effects on my recovery haha.
What would you think I would be like at six weeks? Would I have enough energy to function all day? How about my eating capabilities, like would I be able to have chicken breast and bacon at around that time, or would I still be on the soft food/liquid diet? And how about my speech?
I really love your blog and I expect another quality response to my question~~~
December 10, 2015 at 1:55 am
Hey John! I wanted to reply to your comment about when you’ll be able to drink…. I had double jaw surgery In November but was not wired and didn’t have a plate in. I was drinking alcohol with my fam 2 weeks after surgery. As long as you are off your pain/anti-Infection medications you should be ok 🙂 it’s really just the medication that has side affects with alcohol you have to watch for.
December 10, 2015 at 8:10 am
John, as Jill mentioned, you can drink alcohol as long as you’re not taking any medicine and you have no open wounds in your mouth. That being said, remember that alcohol will inhibit your recovery, so I’d recommend avoiding complete intoxication. 🙂
As for eating, it really depends on whether you have a splint put in or not. If you have a splint in, you may have trouble eating chicken by the 6-week mark. If you don’t have a splint in, you’ll likely be eating solid food much sooner than that.
December 10, 2015 at 7:51 pm
Hi, I understand alcohol does inhibit recovery to an extent. Are the effects really that detrimental or would it be fine in moderation?
How about my speech at that time? Would I be able to speak loud and clear, and maybe even sing? Or would I still have a hard time? Or does this really depend on the splint?
Once again, thanks for this blog, and for answering my question~
December 11, 2015 at 7:09 am
John, as long as you don’t have a splint in at 6 weeks, you should be able to speak clearly. My splint was in for 7 full weeks, so I could not speak clearly until it was finally removed. Singing may not be quite as easy since you will still be swollen, but as long as your friends are drinking, I’m sure they’ll think you sound great. 😂
Drinking in moderation should not be a huge problem after 6 weeks, but I recommend avoiding daily alcohol consumption until your bone is fully healed at the 12-week mark.
June 28, 2019 at 12:46 am
Hello, I had a quick question for the forum! I recently had double jaw surgery June 3rd and had my splint taken off June 18th and was cleared for soft foods on the same day. The Canada day long weekend is approaching and I was wondering if it would be okay to drink at this phase of my recovery already? It will be almost 4 weeks since the surgery. Thank you!
December 1, 2015 at 11:51 pm
I had lower jaw surgery two weeks ago (in Australia) and just wanted to say thank you for your blog!
I know it was a while ago you undertook your surgery, but it helped me greatly with what to expect and made me smile too.
It certainly is a long tedious road to recovery, and in a year I’ll be glad I did it. The most annoying bit for me is the numbness and diet restrictions, but it will all be worth it in the end.
Thanks again for sharing.
December 2, 2015 at 5:31 pm
Happy to hear my rants were helpful, Kelly! The first 2 weeks are the toughest, so the worst is already behind you. 😀
December 15, 2015 at 1:42 pm
Hi Kelly. I have just had lower jaw surgery as well in Aus, otherwise 7th December .
Just wondering how your recovery process is going and whether you have full feeling back in your lower lip/chin?.
I have the elastics in for roughly 4 weeks so very hard to talk clearly and eat anything, only soup through a straw. Not the best food intake.
Have bruising that went from my jaw right down my whole neck and chest. Looks quite terrible, but starting to reduce. Slight swelling around the cheeks and jaw line, but nothing to dramatic.
December 1, 2015 at 8:48 pm
My boyfriend desperately needs double jaw surgery but is really reluctant and nervous to receive it to due to the slow and painful recovery process. Any words of comfort that you are willing to share?
December 1, 2015 at 11:01 pm
Quinn, the important thing to realize is that the recovery is only 3 months, but the benefits of the surgery will last for the rest of your boyfriend’s life. The recovery is frustrating, yes, but 3 months of frustration and moderate discomfort for a lifetime of smiling and chewing and breathing properly is a pretty good trade. 😀
Also, for what it’s worth, the recovery is not actually that painful. It’s really more annoying than anything. Since your face is numb for the first few weeks after surgery, most people don’t feel the pain.
December 9, 2015 at 1:00 pm
I had double jaw surgery exactly 3 months ago and i would say its really not as bad as you think.I look totally different everybody notices the changes and i get compliments wherever i go.My lower left lip and chin is still a bit numb and my whole palet is still very numb.im sure with time i will regain all the feeling.It’really really worth it guys!!☺
January 1, 2016 at 2:44 pm
I am in need of jaw surgery as well but reluctant to get it. Has anyone had any issues with panic attracts ? I feel colostaphobic when I am confined in any way or feel my breathing is compromised. How do you deal with that, especially if your nose gets congested during the healing process. Thanks!
January 7, 2016 at 7:01 pm
Beth, I have met many people who were afraid of panic attacks during and after the surgery. Most of them went ahead with the operation and did not experience any problems, but I think mental preparation is key.
For the first month of recovery, your nose will be quite restricted and you will be very swollen — that’s a fact. However, as long as you’re aware this will happen and can remember it is temporary, you’ll be able to get through it. A good strategy is to go outside for a walk every time you feel a panic attack coming about. Physical movement and fresh air can do amazing things when it comes to calming your nerves. Going for walks should also help distract you from the congestion, and as odd as it may sound, distraction is one of the keys during those initial few weeks.
I have faith you can pull this off as long as you are prepared. Feel free to ask any other questions and we’ll do our best to give you honest answers about what to expect. 😊