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.
December 3, 2013 at 5:16 pm
Hi Graham
I have just read your entire Blog as I am scheduled for upper and lower jaw sugery with genioplasty & septoplasty. It sounds like in Australia the surgery is very similar. They are making the splint in February 2014 and applying the wires & hooks etc. After that I will be undergoing the surgery.
Reading you BLOG has really helped me understand what to expect post operation and how to get through the difficult days.
I am lucky that a friend has gone through a similar thing and has been around for plenty of advice and tips also 🙂
I must admit I am slightly nervous however I am a few months off going in for the surgery yet!
December 4, 2013 at 8:57 am
Kristal, you’ll do great, no worries! You’ve still got a few months to relax before the surgery, so make sure you don’t lose too much sleep over it. =)
November 18, 2013 at 5:07 pm
Oh gotcha! No straws for me then…
Thanks again!
Daniela 🙂
November 17, 2013 at 4:24 pm
Hey Graham,
So I got my surgery done about 3 weeks ago and have been doing great! Got most of my strength and weight back and the swelling went down A LOT. I just hate this splint but I’m doing well so far.
Just quick question, do you know anything about using straws after surgery? I know my surgeon told me not to use it immediately after surgery but I’m not sure for how long. I don’t really know the main reason why it’s a risk to use it so I don’t want to do anything to compromise my recovery. Let me know if you got any info on that.
Thanks a lot!
Daniela
November 18, 2013 at 10:28 am
Daniela, the reason for not using straws following surgery is because they create a fairly intense suction inside your mouth. This can, in some cases, dislodge your blood clots, which will in turn cause you to bleed. I’d recommend avoiding straws for at least 6 weeks if at all possible. =)
October 29, 2013 at 4:58 pm
Hi Graham!
I currently have my jaw surgery scheduled Dec 9. I love your blog and it has opened my eyes on what to expect. I had another surgery earlier this year to widen my upper palette 7mm and I recovered quick. I went back to work the day after surgery. (from home though) My pain tolerance is pretty high but from reading people’s posts it sounds pretty common for it to take a week or two. I agree with the part of having to stay positive and active. However, I currently go to the gym 5-6 days a week. Would it be over doing it if I went maybe 3-4 days a week?
October 30, 2013 at 10:46 am
Eileen, I’d avoid the gym for at least 3–4 weeks unless all you’re doing is walking on a treadmill. You’ll be extremely lacking in energy for the first first weeks and you’ll want to be careful not to jar your face or tense up too much for a few weeks following that.
Let your comfort be your guide, but definitely don’t participate in any heavy lifting or intense cardio for a month. You’ll rebuild your muscle back quickly, I assure you! I returned to the gym at 6 weeks post-op and was back up to my pre-op weights within 3 weeks. =)
October 24, 2013 at 9:16 pm
Hey Graham!
I think it’s absolutely awesome you’re still keeping up with this after so long.
I’m also getting double jaw surgery tomorrow and am TOTALLY freaking out. Just spend the last half hour reading through this whole blog and it was super helpful.
Your results came out awesome and it just makes me excited to be done with the whole thing even though I have a long way to go.
Just wanted to say thanks on the tips and info! 🙂
Daniela
October 25, 2013 at 9:27 am
Daniela, you’ll do great tomorrow! Just remember to drink as much water and smoothies as you can and to go out for walks each day to soak in the natural sunlight. See you on the other side!
October 17, 2013 at 2:06 am
Thanks Graham. One week until my surgery and I’m already having some sleepless nights, although I feel better knowing I’m a bit more prepared now. I’ll try going for walks as much as I can, and I normally talk incessantly so I think I should be fine :p
Thank you for your advice! 🙂
October 14, 2013 at 9:45 am
Hi, I’ve just spent the best part of 2 hours carefully trawling through this blog, and I’m so glad I did! This has given me so much courage to go through with the surgery! I’ve had braces for almost 3 years now and I’m due to have upper jaw surgery and a genioplasty in 10 days time. This blog has been immensely helpful! I’ll be using my day off tomorrow to get all my preparation done…(buying baby spoons seems to be a good choice). I’m in England, UK, and going for a walk in the sun is not an option…even in Summer.>.<
Any suggestions as to an alternative exercise that is safe? I only have a small apartment :/
Also, I work in a Call centre, so talking is going to be important. I've managed to get 2 weeks off work but anymore isn't guaranteed. Any suggestions on how I can make the transition from silence to chatting a bit easier? They said that they wouldn't wire my jaw shut but a lot of guys on here seem to have some sort of wiring or bands.
One of my main concerns is bathing. Is it safe to wash my hair over the sink or having a proper bath? Or will I be better off taking a shower every time?
October 15, 2013 at 10:39 am
Hi Laura!
1) I still suggest going for walks as your main form of exercise during those initial weeks. Fresh air and movement are incredibly therapeutic.
2) If you need to talk excessively at work, I highly recommend taking a full month off after the surgery. I know this is tough to do, but I think you’ll have extreme difficulty talking for an entire day during your first few weeks of recovery. The best way to learn how to speak again is, quite simply, to talk a lot at home. =)
3) You can bath however you like. I would advise against hanging your head upside down because you might get lightheaded and fall over, but a regular bath or shower should be fine.
This will be a frustrating time for you, but once it’s over, it’s over. Just stay strong, make sure you get some fresh air every day, and you’ll do great!
September 13, 2013 at 11:43 am
Hello, I have a double jaw operation on the 15th November this year and I am really scared of waking up in pain or even worse on the operation table.
September 16, 2013 at 9:20 am
Jen, you’ll be under anesthetic, so you need not worry about waking up on the operating table. You’ll also be quite numb when you wake up, so you really shouldn’t feel any pain at all—only discomfort from the swelling. Think positive and you’ll do great! =)
August 22, 2013 at 9:21 am
Thank you so much for your tips Graham. I just got out of the hospital yesterday and reading your blog has helped me so much!
August 12, 2013 at 10:36 pm
It’s worth it. And honestly six weeks goes by so fast as long as you keep yourself occupied… I recommend Netflix 🙂 And Game of Thrones…
August 12, 2013 at 7:00 am
I am considering having my underbite surgery.
But i am literally the biggest mardy ever when it comes to even thinking about operations. But i feel self concious and after reading this i bet it is really worth suffering for 6 weeks rather than the rest of your life..
Anybody want to give me any kind of messages to reassure me of the process?
August 19, 2013 at 8:38 am
Simon, I’m on Meghan’s side—keep yourself occupied with good television series and go for daily walks. Recovery will fly by and you’ll be happy you took on this surgery!
August 10, 2013 at 7:28 pm
Hi everyone! I had upper and lower jaw surgery almost four weeks ago and thought I would share my story for anyone who has a similar condition 🙂 I have (well I guess now it would be had…thank god) TMJ and was unable to close my mouth completely which meant I could only chew with a few teeth so because I wasn’t able to masticate, I also had trouble digesting food and have been plagued with upset stomachs my whole life… And because of my condition my jaw joint had almost completely deteriorated because of the constant misuse… The surgery lasted close to eight hours (the surgeon had to shave some bone off my jaw and made three different cuts to my jaw to help my crossbite) and I spent the first night in the ICU (as a procaution but one that I appreciated because of how great the nurses were) and I was in the hospital for another three days 🙁 I am completely wired and rubberbanded shut so I’ve been on a liquid diet. My greatest advice to anyone about to get this surgery or one similar is to place a ziplock bag of ice over mouth for the first three or four days following the procedure… My surgeon said he had never heard of anyone doing that before but he also said my swelling went down faster than any of his other patients… He was literally baffled by how fast the swelling went down!!! Hopefully (HOPEFULLY) on Friday I will be unwired, unbanded and unsplinted so that way I can start the soft food diet already!!! But for anyone thinking about getting the procedure done, just go for it… It’s going to feel like the worst couple weeks of your life but in the grand scheme of things it’s just a bump in the road 🙂
Sorry for the novel lol
August 19, 2013 at 8:29 am
Meghan, your excitement regarding recovery makes me smile. It’s always a pleasure to cross paths with someone who has such a positive and hopeful outlook. Stay happy and you’ll be smiling proud so soon!
August 8, 2013 at 12:55 pm
Well my orthodontist said if my braces don’t work I will have to get jaw surgery and I saw a video about it and I’ve been reading and I’m just nervouse and have few questions like can you talk at all after surgery how many days will you stay in the hospital after the surgery stuff like that
August 9, 2013 at 8:52 am
Malia, you won’t be able to talk clearly for a week or two following surgery and you’ll likely be in the hospital for 2–3 nights, but you’ll heal quickly and be glad you went through with it. =)
August 5, 2013 at 10:21 pm
Hi Graham. I had surgery for a Croantula Fistula and a punctured sinus. It’s been 111 days now and I am going crazy because I am a smoker. How long before I can have a cigarette?
August 8, 2013 at 9:17 am
Dave, I would advise against smoking until you’ve made it through the entire 3 months of recovery. Your gums will be sensitive and your mouth surely has stitches at the moment, so there is a high risk of infection if you smoke cigarettes. If you’re going crazy, ask your surgeon for their honest thoughts on the matter. Best of luck!
August 4, 2013 at 6:48 pm
Hi everyone, I’m day 7 post double surgery for my underbite. One of my biggest complaints is that my face and head are constantly hot and heavy. My body is always content or cold but I can’t get over my face and neck heat. I’ve been sleeping as upright as I can but finding it very uncomfortable (I’m a side-sleeper). Any tips for the heat? I’ve been icing constantly but the second I take it off I immediately recess to the heat. Also, any tips for a better night sleep or appetite. I’m a 16 year old girl and so far the most I’ve drinken other than water is a couple sips of frappucino or milk shake. Glad to find this blog, really hoping for some tips. Thanks!
August 8, 2013 at 8:56 am
Jordan, sleeping for the first few weeks is quite difficult. The only remedies I found were placing a heat pack on my face, attempting to sleep on my back, and taking pain killers before bed. I wasn’t able to sleep through the night for the first month, though, so it may be a game of patience. As for appetite, try making smoothies with peanut butter, honey, and oatmeal in them. Having a cool and sweet drink may make it easier to get a few more calories in. Stay strong and trust me when I say that life will be much better in a couple weeks’ time! =)
August 2, 2013 at 11:36 pm
Hey Graham,
I had my Double Jaw Surgery on Tuesday and things are very very different. Today I was able to drink out of a cup which made me super excited. How long did it take you until the bulk of your swelling went down? Another question I have is, what do you recommend for some breakfast foods? Stuff that can be blended I should say.
August 8, 2013 at 8:49 am
Kevin, the bulk of my swelling was gone within 6 weeks, but residual swelling took the full 3 months to dissipate. As for breakfast, I only ever had smoothies and Ensure, so I can’t recommend anything beyond that. Smoothies are delicious, though! =)
July 28, 2013 at 8:11 pm
Hi, my daughter had double jaw surgery and chin realignment four days ago. She’s dealing with all the dreadful anticipated effects (including the fact that she hates liquid medicine and was prescribed all liquids). A lot of patience required. What has made the whole scenario worse is that she caught a severe reaction and began getting red patches which turned into blistery sores with yellow fluids oozing out. The doctor immediately had me give her benedryl and also made her stop the antibiotic (Amococillin). Although today it seems like its drying up and is not worsening, we still are unsure what caused it? Have you experience or heard of this outbreak occurring on any of the JS patient postings? With prayer and encouragement, she will get thru this.
July 29, 2013 at 11:10 am
Angelica, I’ve not heard of anyone breaking out in a rash as a result of the surgery, so I’m guessing your daughter is allergic to one of the medicines prescribed by her surgeon. I would venture to say a reaction to antibiotics is quite common in general and I would expect her to clear up over the next few days now that she’s no longer taking the antibiotic. Try to be there for her and she’ll be able to put this all behind her soon. =)
July 21, 2013 at 1:52 pm
Thanks Graham! And did you ever regain full feeling everywhere or did some parts of your face stay numb?
July 22, 2013 at 7:58 am
Kelsey, I still have permanent numb patches in my lower lip and chin, but I’ve grown used to them and don’t even notice anymore. =)
July 21, 2013 at 2:31 am
Hey! I am 15 and will be getting double jaw surgery next summer. Bottom jaw back and top forward and down is the plan right now. Im pretty nervous as to how I will look after but at the same time excited because I currently have just about no cheek bones and my bottom jaw sticks out way to much making my profile weird and my bottom jaw much larger. Im highly involved with band and choir (I play the flute) and were getting it done so hopefully it’ll be healed enough before school starts. I will have about 2 1/2 months before I need to play again for school. Do you think this will be enough recovery time? (I will also need a little time before to reteach myself the mouth position). Also, how long did it take until you could use a straw? Thanks for the blog! Love it!
July 21, 2013 at 12:54 pm
Kelsey, it may take you 3–4 months before you’re able to play a musical instrument such as the flute at the same caliber as you can right now, but you’ll be able to get back to that point without trouble. As long as you don’t have any concerts to play during the first month of school, you should be okay.
As for using a straw, I believe it took me 3–4 weeks before I could actually form suction around a straw, but I could drink out of a cup in half that time.
Hope this helps! Keep making music—it’s truly a beautiful skill!
July 19, 2013 at 5:47 pm
Just found this site and it has been very helpful. My wife if 4 days out of surgery (top, bottom, and chin) and has the same problem with congestion, it bugs the crap out of her, a hot shower has helped but it comes back eventually.
Her lips are still really swollen but she can almost close them completely and her appetite has been really good today and she has been able to eat with very few issues. She can also drink from a cup almost perfectly but slowly.
I have seen numerous people mention a syringe but we found an option that works great if you just have rubber bands in like she does, we picked up one of the soft sided cooking bottles with a narrow spout that you might put oil or vinegar in. It is easily squeezable and has a narrow spout that is perfect for getting between the bands for drinking and holds so much more than the syringe. The one we got at Kroger for a couple dollars is the perfect size for a packet of carnation breakfast and the one cup milk.
July 21, 2013 at 12:47 pm
Joe, your cooking bottle tip sounds quite useful (way better than a syringe!). I wish I would have known about those 3 years ago! Your wife should be sensing forward progress each day within the next 10 days, at which point she’ll feel much better about the surgery. Keep encouraging her (and make sure she gets out for walks each day)! =)