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.
July 18, 2013 at 12:26 am
I had both upper and lower jaw done which moved my uppper jaw forward. This is a week after the surgery and I was wondering how I could help cure the very dry mouth with severe sinus blocking. I have been up for a full 26 hours trying to keep my breathing regular and the back of the throat feels as bad as the jaw itself!
I have NO idea what I should do I need youre advice!
thanks
Seamus
July 18, 2013 at 8:36 am
Seamus, the best way to cure your dry mouth is to drink water. As for your sinuses, there’s really not much you can do beyond taking standard medication and waiting it out. We all had to deal with this same issue for the first few weeks, and I assure you your nose will clear up soon. Once you make it through this next week, everything will start getting better. =)
July 12, 2013 at 2:37 pm
Hello again Steve,
I used a nasal spray for my stuffy nose and keep a lot of Kleenex handy. DO NOT blow your nose! At least for three weeks or talk to your surgeon. I saw my surgeon every week for the first three weeks and then two weeks and am now going back in three weeks. I ask questions often and find him and his staff very helpful. The only thing my surgeon said that wasn’t helpful was “avoid sneezing” ………ummmm how do you do that?!
Sheryl
July 12, 2013 at 1:10 pm
Thanks for the reply. Just wondering what you guys did for your stuffy noses? What are the. Definite no’s and what did you find worked?
July 11, 2013 at 6:19 pm
@ Steve,
Thought I would give you my 2 cents worth…..brush your teeth as well as you can but also use a rinse/mouth wash to get rid of anything you can’t get with a toothbrush. As for soft food I would hold off for at least a week! Have some protein shakes, soup, jello, pudding or ice cream. You will know when you are ready for soft food such as scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes and other really soft food. I am 5 weeks out and am finding in the last 2 weeks that I can handle pasta and chilli and other such foods. Good luck!
Sheryl
July 11, 2013 at 4:52 pm
Hi guys, on day one after the surgery and the doctor told me I can start lightly brushing and eating soft food. I had my bottom jaw brought back and my top brought forward.
Does this sound right? Or too soon? Also I am talking a fair bit. Will this cause more harm than good at such an early stage?
Thanks
July 9, 2013 at 2:15 pm
Also I have spent all my hospital time with an ice pack applied to my face, how long did you spend with packs constantly applied?
July 9, 2013 at 2:12 pm
Hi,
I am on my second day of recovery after both upper and lower jaw surgery as well as genoplasty. I am out of the hospital tomorrow and back home. I was just wondering how long it took you to get back outside for a walk, I’m lucky to have some great friends who have offered to hang out with me and take me on walks and I just want to know when we can get started doing that!
Thank you so much for posting your story, found it one day after surgery and it has givin me a great understanding on what to expect!
July 10, 2013 at 9:34 am
Hi Palmer,
You should be able to go for walks beginning today. You may find yourself lacking in energy, but don’t let that stop you. Getting outside, breathing fresh air, and being in the sun is an important part of maintaining a positive attitude during this part of the recovery.
As for ice packs, I only used them for the first couple of days in the hospital. Following that, I used heat packs on my face every night for approximately 5 weeks.
You’ll do amazing, don’t you worry… Now go play in the sunshine! =)
June 29, 2013 at 11:17 pm
We are on day 3 of my 12 year old daughters surgery. She had her top jaw raised, bottom jaw brought forward, and 6 molars removed (4 that weren’t in yet and 2 that would no longer line up after surgery). I am questioning if I made the right decision for her. She is barely drinking due to throat pain, swollen past recognition, and can’t feel her nose, lips, and jaw at all. She is banded and changing the bands has tested my parenting skills to the max! I think I could disarm a bomb now!! I so appreciate your site. I’m not sure who is more depressed, her or myself, as I lay beside her watching the clock counting down the hours, that will turn to weeks to finally see some recovery.
July 2, 2013 at 9:39 am
Krisie, I’ve never heard of a 12-year-old undergoing this operation—what a trooper! She will still recover at the same rate as any of us because she’s young and has lots of energy (albeit perhaps not at this precise moment). Life will remain difficult for the next week and a half, but it will become considerably easier after that. Make sure you get her outside for a walk each day, set her up with movies to watch, and prepare smoothies and soups for her, and she’ll be back on her feet soon!
June 16, 2013 at 1:32 pm
Hey Graham,
So I’m about 18 days or so in… and oddly enough the last day or so I’ve started to feel more pain than I had the last couple of days. That includes a bit of achey-iness in one of the sides of my jaw and the lower chin area. It’s not like a sharp pain–it’s weird to explain. Is that normal at this point? I can’t really describe it–but it’s not fun.
I also tried to take a walk and had enough energy to do so. But felt exhausted when I get back. Finally, is it okay to leave wax in for the entire day or over night? I feel like it really helps (and the wires are causing me discomfort when I’ve tried to remove it)?
Thanks for all the help Graham. I think I’m better overall, but sometimes there are weird days like today with setbacks.
June 17, 2013 at 10:26 am
Corey, sometimes pain surfaces several weeks into recovery due to the fact that you’re talking more, which means the joints in your jaw are being exercised more. If it continues to bother you for a few more days, I’d give your surgeon a call and ask about it. Perhaps they can offer an x-ray to ensure the plates put in during surgery are still in place.
As for exercising, running out of energy during the first 6 weeks is perfectly normal. A lot of your daily energy is still being put towards healing, so you naturally have less energy to expend elsewhere.
Lastly, wearing the wax is not detrimental in any manner I’m aware of, so use it as you please! =)
June 13, 2013 at 11:17 pm
Hello all, I am one week post-op and feeling pretty lucky after reading some of these posts! I am able to open my mouth wide enough to eat yogurt, soup and drinks. I am even considering having scrambled eggs in the morning! The tingling from nerve regrowth is the only thing that is really bothering me and keeping me up at night! It is 1:15 am and I really need my sleep…..guess I better get off my iPad and shut my eyes!
Sheryl
June 12, 2013 at 2:45 pm
I had my upper and lower jaws moved and my chin reduced 6 months agoo now, I still experience alot of pain, swelling and lately I haven’t been able to smile, is any of these normal as I am getting a little worried now as I still haven’t seen my finished look, how long will this take? Please help
June 8, 2013 at 9:20 pm
Graham,
First off, I have enjoyed your honest portrayal of your experiences and it’s wonderful of you to continue to respond to people after three years!
I am on day 11 of lower jaw surgery. My jaw moved forward 12mm, and my condition has vastly improved the second week like you said. Most of the swelling is gone, and I have regained all feeling except my lower lip and chin. I was wondering if those tingling sensations in the numb areas are any indication that feeling will return? I sure hope so, as the thought of losing feeling in my lower lip permanently is very scary!
Also, I started taking progressively longer walks on day 4 and was feeling like most of my energy was back. The other day I was just utterly exhausted for no apparent reason. Did this happen to you?
Thanks! – Pam
June 9, 2013 at 1:52 pm
Pam, the tingling sensation you’re experiencing does indeed mean your nerves are waking up. You lose feeling because your nerves are bruised during the surgery, so as they heal, they begin to tingle. Being tired after a short walk is perfectly normal as well. You likely won’t have a full day’s worth of energy until 3–4 weeks have gone by. Keep moving, though, and you’ll be back to normal before you know it!
June 3, 2013 at 6:20 pm
Hey Graham,
Great blog. I just got the surgery done about six days ago–and I’m starting to feel alright. I was wondering when the numbness and pain should start subsiding?
I feel a great deal better today on Day 5 than yesterday but also have a low fever that keeps me feeling hot and cold. I think it’s from the medication. Lastly, I wondering if you had any advise in terms of a stuffy nose–I’ve mostly used Q-tips with a little bit of water and gently taken around the inside.
Oh–and finally is there an issue to showering too much? The heat really helps me feel better.
Thanks so much–the Internet has made this a lot easier. It’s hard to talk about with friends because very few people understand.
June 4, 2013 at 7:48 am
Corey, welcome to the end of Week One! A lot of your pain should be gone by the end of next week, and a good part of your feeling will return by the end of the month. The unfortunate part about having a stuffy nose is that it’s simply a frustration you must deal with for a couple more weeks. Sometimes using Vaseline on your lips or burning mint-scented candles helps as the menthol helps clear your sinuses. Whatever you do, do not blow your nose. As for showering, that should not be a problem. Using heat packs on your face will offer you a sense of calm as well. All in all, it sounds like you’re doing incredibly well for this stage. Life will be much better in one more week! =)
June 2, 2013 at 8:19 pm
hello, your tips are quite helpful.
i should be getting the surgery in the upcoming weeks (june 10 around then), and have a trip to orlando on july 23. my surgeon said that the flight shouldn’t cause me too many problems (as its only 4 hours from where i live) but i haven’t had the chance to ask him about how i will be visiting the disney parks. it will be a bit over a month when i visit disney, but i assume that it still won’t be safe for me to get on roller coasters and such. do you have any knowledge about what i can and can’t do a month and 2 weeks after surgery?
June 3, 2013 at 1:34 am
Natalie, flying 5–6 weeks after surgery should not be a problem. As for visiting Disneyworld, you’ll want to be careful to avoid any rides that will put too much pressure on your jaw (such as rollercoasters that go upside down). As long as you stick to the calmer riders and ensure you don’t bite down too hard at any time, you should be perfectly alright. =)
May 20, 2013 at 9:08 pm
A couple of advice to regain sensitivity on your face to anyone that had to go through this – I’ve had double jaw done 3 months ago :
1) apply a cube of ice all around your face (including jaw, chin, cheeks etc…) followed by a splash of hot water @ 30 / 40 degrees) . Repeat the process 10 times (once or twice a day). cold/hot will stimulate facial nerves.
2) Get one of these electrical face massage “tool” and use it to stimulate your face muscles and bones – 2 to 5 minutes a day.
Got this advice a couple of months ago and it surely massively helped regaining 100% sensitivity back – almost there now.
Hope it helps you as well.
Graham, thanks for your positive energy and kickass blog – you seem to be a very genuine guy.
Cheers,
J.
May 21, 2013 at 10:02 am
Thanks for the tips, J. And welcome to life post-jaw surgery!
May 6, 2013 at 6:18 pm
Okay no liver and onions. Graham thank-you so much for all you share and know everyone appreciates you. I am so grateful to find others who have felt the same.
Had my follow up apt today and surgeon said I’m doing great. For me, widening the airway was a major success.
Now I just want to enjoy being off work for a month because I am in sales and talk for a living!
May 5, 2013 at 2:43 pm
I am on day 3 (had upper and lower done) and wow, I sure feel good except for the drooling and stuffy nose. Today I went outside and filled my birdfeeders and that felt great. One thing I’ve learned is use low sodium chicken broth to thin food. Last night I made a baked potatoe, then threw in the blender (yes with the nutritious skin) and a spoon of sour cream, and chicken broth until thin enough to drink from a cup. It was yummy.
May 6, 2013 at 9:23 am
Holly, isn’t it funny how excited you can get about a blended meal? Whatever you do, do not eat blended liver and onions. You’ll never forget it if you do. =)
May 4, 2013 at 5:23 am
Graham, I found a great product to use on your lips. It works better than vaseline, Carmex lip balm. It soothes, heals and protects all at once. It feels so good on your lips and has an external analgesic in it. Thought I could pass this along.
May 4, 2013 at 10:30 am
Thanks for sharing, Tammy. I wish I had known about that a few years ago!
May 2, 2013 at 1:10 pm
Graham,
I just wanted to thank you for all you have posted. Im the mom of a son having this done in June. It helps to read all the tips and be able to have him read this as well. Thanks again!
May 3, 2013 at 9:22 am
I’m happy to help, Lisa! All the best to you and your son next month!
May 1, 2013 at 4:25 pm
Hi Graham, just wondering was the swelling still pretty bad at week 3? I’ll be going for a crossbite surgery and am worried about how long I have to wait before I can take up driving lessons
May 1, 2013 at 10:38 pm
Annabel, your swelling will still be a hindrance during the third week, however you should be able to drive. You may have difficulty speaking, though. I started driving after my second week of recovery. =)