Recovery Tips
Following is a summary of the most important things I learned during my recovery from double jaw surgery.
- Drink lots of prune juice and water. Your toilet time will be far from enjoyable for the first couple of weeks because you’re likely to be severely dehydrated. The prune juice will provide your body with the fiber it needs to work those bowels properly, but fiber is useless without water because it won’t dissolve in your body. I recommend a bare minimum of 1 L of water per day. Drink 2 L per day as soon as you can.
- Before you attempt to pull any dead skin off of your lips, be absolutely certain that it’s not a stitch. I learned this the hard way.
- Start using medicated lip balm immediately following your return to your own home. If you don’t, you’ll end up with flaps of dead skin that are half an inch in diameter, and I promise you they won’t feel good when they catch on your braces.
- Apply heat to your face 3-4 times per day for the first 5-6 weeks to help with the swelling. The heat will also help you fall asleep.
- Begin each day at a decent time. If you sleep most of the day, you won’t be able to sleep at night, and you’ll hate yourself for it. Get out of bed, shower, eat some breakfast and brush your teeth and you’ll enjoy each day a lot more. (This is good advice for any day of your life, but it especially applies when you’re on the verge of depression from having jaw surgery.)
- Go to bed on time. Yawning will cause you quite a bit of pain, so prevent it by getting the right amount of sleep during the proper hours.
- As soon as you’re able to talk clearly enough for friends and family to understand you, call people and be social. Go outside and enjoy nature. Whatever you do, ensure you don’t fall into a trap of loneliness and self-pity.
- Start drinking from a cup as soon as you’re physically able to. Your upwards trek back to having full energy begins the day you can throw your syringes in the garbage.
- Eat solid food as soon as your surgeon gives you the go-ahead. It’ll be a slow, tedious and frustrating process, but you need to go through with it in order to build your jaw muscles back up and learn how to chew properly once again.
- It may take some time to get used to your new smile and your newly structured face. Don’t be ashamed of yourself. You don’t look funny at all. You’re simply not used to looking like you’re supposed to.
- And lastly, don’t worry about your looks, bite or facial feeling for at least 6 months. You may have an open bite, but you’ll wake up one morning and your teeth will have migrated back together. You may be completely numb, but feeling will return almost overnight.
If you have any questions about the recovery process, or perhaps have other pointers to share with upcoming jaw surgery patients, feel free to jot them down in the comments.
November 14, 2012 at 12:42 am
please let me know my upper and lowe jaw is break and iam very concious about my looks
Doctores stiched my jaws for 6 weeks
please let me know when they will open my mouth after 6 weeks,my face will be alike prevoius?
November 14, 2012 at 1:51 am
Lamia, your face will look almost the same once the swelling goes away. The shape of your face may be a little different, but you will still look like you. =)
November 13, 2012 at 11:29 am
Hi everyone!
I posted on this blog back in March when I had my surgery. I am now 8 months post-op and have no regrets. To anyone doubting whether to get this surgery – DO IT!
I was probably not the typical patient…I got the surgery as I was born with a Cleft Lip and Palate. This resulted in my under-bite. The surgery fixed this by moving my upper jaw forward but as a result, my speech is more nasal as the gap in the back of my palate is wider.
I am meeting with the surgeon this week to discuss a date for a Pharyngeal flap surgery.
Has anyone had experience of this? Would be grateful for any tips or advice. Thanks 🙂
November 13, 2012 at 11:18 pm
Sinead, I’m so happy that you found the surgery worthwhile! Always brings a smile to my face when I’m reassured others have also benefitted from this experience. =)
November 13, 2012 at 10:59 am
I’d like to add that congenital defects that lead to over or under bites, where surgery will allow for a normal (balanced) appearance -are now covered under most insurances. Prior, these types of surgeries for conditions such as ours were considered cosmetic and not covered. Check the exclusions and/or call the insurance. Good luck!
November 11, 2012 at 3:29 pm
Hi Graham, I stopped using braces three days ago. Now I have to use retainers for one year. I have retrognathism and my orthodontist suggested me to have an orthognatic surgery. To have the surgery, I have to go to another city where I don’t know anyone and that scares me. I often ask myself about the importance of this matter, and have many doubts, not exactly fears. Things like where I’m going to stay the next four weeks after the surgery, the risks of the surgery, how many exams I have to take before the surgery, if my health insurance is going to cover the expenses, and things like that. Anyway, I’m still a minor and I have to be an adult to receive the surgery. I hope everything goes well.
Sorry for my bad english.
Best Regards,
Christian
November 11, 2012 at 11:12 pm
Hi Christian,
This all sounds daunting at first, but do your research and approach it slowly. These things don’t all happen at once. The exams prior to surgery are usually just a few x-rays and they’re spread out over time. Within a few days of surgery, you’ll be able to travel back to your hometown to spend the remainder of recovery with your family. And if the procedure is medically necessary (for problems like TMJ and sleep apnea), insurance will generally cover most of it.
All in all, just remember to take one day at a time. Go for a consultation and ask the surgeon all of these same questions and see what they say. If you truly require the surgery, it will still be worth it in the end.
Best of luck, my friend. =)
November 10, 2012 at 9:58 am
Hey there!
I had lower jaw surgery about six days ago. The swelling has amazingly gone way down and i really dont have much pain. My mouth is completely wired shut and im on a liquid diet. The part that bothers me the most, though, is the numbness in and around my chin. It really drives me nuts. When can i expect to have feeling again?
November 10, 2012 at 11:59 am
Morgan, feeling usually begins to come back after 3–4 weeks, at least from my experience. So you’ve got a few weeks before you should be expecting that gift. I’m happy to hear your swelling is going away quickly and that you have virtually no pain so early in your recovery. Be happy about that—definitely a bonus!
October 31, 2012 at 10:02 pm
Had my double jaw surgery 4 weeks ago. My tip is to eat ice chips in the first couple days to ease swelling in the mouth. I found it also helped relieve nausea, for some reason.
Also, a prescription for Atavan helped me through my anxiety the first week+.
It helps to talk to the professionals when you’re feeling emotional/anxious about the recovery. Don’t let yourself go on an emotional bender. I called my orthodontist and jaw physio on a Saturday evening when I was an emotional wreck, thinking the surgeon had erred. They really helped in a way that well-meaning family can’t.
Annnnd heres my question: I’m on a completely liquid diet, but…tonight was Halloween, and my question is: is sucking on chocolate (Aero bars)
a problem – – will it misalign the 8 plates and 36 screws?
Also, with all the hardware in your face, have you ever had any problems at airport security? 🙂
October 31, 2012 at 11:41 pm
Hi Christine,
Eating ice chips sounds like a cool way to ease the swelling! I couldn’t enjoy such a luxury because my mouth was completely banded shut, but if you’re able, that’s a great idea.
I had to call my surgeon a few times during recovery as well. I found, much like you, that a professional’s advice was more comforting than my own family’s.
As for chocolate, I’d say it’s okay as long as you don’t create too much pressure in your mouth. Chocolate is important, so I would give it a shot. As always, let your pain be your guide.
And the hardware in your face will not be a problem for airport security. I’m currently on a trip around the world, so I’ve been through countless airports over the past few months and have never experienced any issues. =)
October 31, 2012 at 10:14 am
The surgical methods they have now are quite amazing. The Dr. said that had I undergone the surgery back in the late 80’s, I would have probably had to have it redone … TWICE!? Ugh. Plus, I feel the original diagnosis was incorrect, as they were considering simply moving my lower jaw back to match my upper … I would have been Chin-less Brü Guy!
As was stated prior in this blog by you and others, the first few days after surgery are just plain awful and uncomfortable, but mostly painless… then the days get exponentially better as they go.
Update on my recovery, my sinuses have stopped bleeding a few days ago, my nasal breathing is awesome! I just have to be patient with the remaining swelling. Time.
October 31, 2012 at 11:33 pm
I guess it’s a good thing that you had the foresight to wait until now, then! Funny how that works out, isn’t it?
I’m happy to hear the bleeding has subsided and you’re able to breath again. Stay positive!
October 30, 2012 at 9:11 am
It has been two weeks and two days since my surgery, and as Graham said, the benefits far outweigh the negatives. I’m am breathing better and my bite has been corrected from extreme underbite and recessed upper, to a perfect bite.
Currently, my numbness covers my lips, and cheeks and chin. From what I’ve heard, most, if not all will come back. Others have said they have patches of numbness, but they don’t even notice it, really.
Oh by the way, I was supposed to have this surgery at age 19, but because of fear (and finances), I waited…until I was 42 to have it. 23 years… now that that is painful.
October 31, 2012 at 12:23 am
Bru, I can’t believe you still underwent the surgery 23 years later! I’m happy to hear you’ve found it beneficial and I home you can encourage others to face their fears and come to the realization that the recovery is just a small amount of time in the grand scheme of things. =)
October 29, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Hi! I am 34 and I have severe bite and TMD. I get dull pain and pressure in my left ear due to a bad jaw and TMD. I have known since 2006 that I have needed jaw surgery, possible double jaw surgery, and let me tell you, I am completely afraid to have it. In late November, I will have a phone consultation with an oral surgeon. I have read some good stories and lots of horror stories too. I see the benefits and the risks. I am particularly concerned about the numbness/facial paralysis after the surgery and if this surgery will actually make my TMD pain better. Thoughts?
October 30, 2012 at 3:49 am
Hi Sheila,
The risk of permanent numbness frightens many people away from this operation. As someone who was left with permanent numbness in half of my lower lip, I can testify that it is still very much a profitable surgery. It corrected both my bite and my breathing. I can honestly say that I don’t even notice the numbness anymore. It’s incredible how quickly the human body adapts to a small loss of feeling.
That being said, there is only a 30% chance of being left with permanent loss of feeling, so the odds are in your favor. Most people enjoy the return of all of their feeling.
I highly recommend the operation as the benefits far outweigh the consequences (in my opinion).
October 27, 2012 at 1:25 pm
Yes, my upper jaw was so underdeveloped and recessed, when they shifted it forward, the had to fill that void and bulk up my cheek area – they did this to make me proportioned. Two-weeks into my recovery and it is going well, I snagged some helpful hints from your blog, the nose rinse is helping big time. The basic saline spray just wasn’t doing the job. The only meds I’m on now are generic decongestant and ibuprophene. Cruisin’.
October 25, 2012 at 9:31 am
I had double jaw (primarily upper advancement) with bone graphs harvested from my hip on Oct 13. I feel like I’m cruisin’ now, though the sinus swelling and bleeding is lingering. My energy is back primarily because I focused on getting my diet up and running. Graham, you are the right man for this job, thanks for all your effort on this site. I’ll be back. – Brü
October 26, 2012 at 2:50 pm
Glad to have you along for the ride, Brü! Having bone graphs taken from your hip sounds intense. Keep us posted regarding your recovery!
October 19, 2012 at 6:05 am
Thankyou for the reply Graham, can’t wait to have if done! I’m so excited. I’m happy I now know what to expect. Your a great help! 🙂
October 17, 2012 at 9:43 pm
Graham, Thank you for your site. I’ll have upper and lower jaw surgery. I am very nervous, but I am ready for it. My surgery will be on Oct. 31th. 13 dys from now. Reading your post you mentioned the heating pack, did you use the cold-ice-pack before using the heating-pack? I want to make sure I’ll be using the right stuff after surgery.
Can you please guide me on this one?
October 18, 2012 at 6:31 am
Ceci, I used an ice pack for the first two days (while in the hospital) and then began using a heat pack from the third day onward. The ice pack will help keep your swelling under tabs while the heat pack will provide a soothing sensation for your face. Good luck with the surgery!
October 16, 2012 at 4:10 am
I got my surgery date !!! I’m so excited. They will be moving my top jaw forward and my lower jaw back. When the date left the scheduler’s mouth (DEC.5TH.2012) my stomach dropped and was full of nerves. It’s so surreal now. Lol. Whelp, on a countdown. Ill let you guys know how my recovery goes. 🙂 thanks for this awesome blog !!
October 16, 2012 at 11:54 am
Happy to hear your surgery is actually happening, Shay! You’ve still got lots of time before that day approaches, so relax and enjoy life until then. =)
October 13, 2012 at 9:45 pm
I had my surgery 9 months ago and I am so happy I did it. While I was in the process of recovery, this website helped me and kept me from feeling down plenty of times. Having jaw surgery is not the most fun thing to do and it gets hard during recovery but having positive thoughts and a good attitude makes the time go by a little faster. This type of surgery pays off in the end. I am happy I came across this site. It was helpful in every way it could have been.
October 14, 2012 at 12:57 am
Kiana, I’m glad to hear that you’re fully recovered and life is back in order for you again. Keep smiling!
October 13, 2012 at 8:00 am
Graham,
Wow, thanks for the fast response. I didn’t even know I needed surgery until this year. I have had braces on for exactly a year but no dentist growing up ever referred me to even get braces. So of course my parents never thought I needed them. I have always been struggling with my smile and the confidence that comes from it. I am trying to be pretty positive about the surgery… I have had very good feedback from the surgeons at Fort Gordon.(my husband is active army) I am probably going to read your blog everyday I am in recovery to remind me this is ‘doable’! 🙂 While your sense of humor is wonderful your spirit always seemed up. I am sure you have touched more lives than you have realized with this blog. Thank you for being so encouraging. Oh and your post op results look great.
October 12, 2012 at 10:18 pm
Graham,
First, I would like to say thank you for such a great and informative blog. I have seriously been reading it on and off all day. I have great respect for you for continuing the blog for said people like me. I am scheduled to have double jaw surgery on Nov. 8th to correct a mild overbite a few other things. How old were you when you had your surgery? I am 28 and feeling like I might not recover as fast as I would have being younger. I am super nervous but all of your wonderful tips are going to come in handy. Thank you so much.
Jenna
October 13, 2012 at 2:28 am
Hi Jenna! I was 24 years old when I had the surgery. I would have liked to have had the operation sooner, but I had to wait until my jaw stopped growing. I have, however, met people in their forties, fifties, and even sixties who have had the surgery, and they all recovered at nearly the same pace as I did. So at 28 years of age, you’ll be perfectly fine. Good luck! =)
October 10, 2012 at 5:03 pm
well its offical im getting surgery on the 16 this month and im really scared because i dont want to look different when i go back to school!And was just wondering how long i will have to miss school and remember im only getting my top jaw expanded so its really scary!i was just wondering if you could help.
thank you,
barinder
October 11, 2012 at 2:23 pm
Barinder, I wouldn’t worry about looking different. The change in the shape of your face will be very subtle. Most of your friends probably won’t even notice.
I also recommend taking 3 weeks away from school. For the first 2 weeks, you’ll be too tired to make it through a day of school work. After that, you can ease your way back into it.
You’ll do great, my friend. Fear not!
October 10, 2012 at 7:07 am
Hi all. I am due for a double jaw surgery on 12.11. And let me tell you after reading some of the comments on here i am freaking out. It sounds a lot worse than what ive been told. The scariest of all is not being able to breathe properly and most depressing swelling fir a ling time and looking horrible :((( im not sure if i should be excited or not
October 10, 2012 at 3:31 pm
Fear not, Jasmina! The recovery is a mere three months, and while that may sound like a long time, it will pass by quickly and you’ll enjoy the benefits for the rest of your life. If you have a supportive family and 3–4 weeks away from school and work, you should be perfectly alright. =)
October 9, 2012 at 6:44 am
Hey Graham, my name is tiana and I’m due to have my 2 jaw surgery soon. I’m a little nervous about it but I’m more excited for the end results. Just a few questions, how long until the swelling isn’t too visible because I have been told you stay swollen for a year. I hope that’s not the case! And how much weight did you loose durring your recovery period? Hope to hear from you soon!
October 10, 2012 at 3:41 am
Tiana, good to hear from you! I assure you the swelling will be gone long before a year has passed. My swelling was non-existant by about the fourth month. I lost a full 30 lbs during my recovery, but that’s because I intentionally put on weight before the surgery. I only dropped about 10 lbs from my natural weight. Good luck with your surgery! =)