Common Questions
Following is a list of the most common questions I’ve received about double jaw surgery. If your question is not answered below, feel free to ask about it in the comments and I’d be happy to respond there.
Before the surgery:
- Why should I get jaw surgery?
- Is jaw surgery painful?
- How long does it take to recover from jaw surgery?
- How much does jaw surgery cost?
- What should I buy to prepare for recovery?
After the surgery:
- Will I look different after jaw surgery?
- How much weight will I lose after jaw surgery?
- Will I experience numbness after jaw surgery?
- Will I get all of my feeling back after jaw surgery?
- What can I eat after jaw surgery?
Cries for help:
- Help, I’m experiencing pain!
- Help, my breath is terrible!
- Help, my teeth are no longer touching!
- Help, my jaw movement is not returning!
- Help, I don’t look like myself anymore!
Why should I get jaw surgery?
There are several reasons to undergo jaw surgery:
- To be able to chew with all your teeth
- To speak without a lisp
- To speak without spitting
- To stop your mouth from hanging open
- To stop breathing through your mouth and start breathing through your nose
- To change your appearance (side profile)
These reasons are all explained on the Reasons to Get Jaw Surgery page.
Is jaw surgery painful?
Jaw surgery is usually not painful. This may be difficult to believe, but since your nerves become bruised and numb during the surgery, you don’t actually feel any of the pain. By the time feeling returns to your face, most of the pain is gone.
Granted, you’ll experience a bit of pain when you yawn, sneeze and cough. It’ll also hurt when your jaw spasms (and it will spasm for the first month), but for the most part, you should not experience much pain at all.
How long does it take to recover from jaw surgery?
It will take 90 days (3 months) for a full recovery after jaw surgery. Most of your feeling and energy will be back after 2 months, but it takes a full 90 days for your bone to fuse back together. A full range of motion in your jaw will return depending on how much you’re moving it around, so make sure you follow the exercises your surgeon gives you.
How much does jaw surgery cost?
Jaw surgery costs roughly $5000 in Canada, but that price may differ significantly in other provinces and countries. If your surgery is deemed cosmetic (instead of “medically necessary”), the cost will be higher because you’ll be required to cover the hospital bills. Sadly, patients in the US have seen jaw surgery bills in excess of $50,000.
What should I buy to prepare for recovery?
You can find a full list of items that with help you through the recovery at the Must-Have Recovery Products page.
Will I look different after jaw surgery?
You will notice subtle changes in your appearance following jaw surgery. Your overbite/underbite will no longer be present and your cheeks, nose, and chin may take on a different shape as well. My cheeks filled out a lot as a result of my surgery.
How much weight will I lose after jaw surgery?
Most people lose between 5–10 pounds during the first month of their recovery. The general rule of thumb is that you will lose weight until you reach your natural body weight.
Will I experience numbness after jaw surgery?
Yes, you will experience extreme numbness following jaw surgery. During the operation, several nerves in your face and chin have to be moved around. When you move a nerve, it becomes bruised, and when a nerve is bruised, it stops providing sensations, thus giving you that numb feeling (more on this in my Day 20 post).
Will I get all of my feeling back after jaw surgery?
70% of patients regain full feeling, while 30% may experience slightly numb areas in their cheeks, chin and lower lip for the rest of their lives. The feeling you have after 6 months post-op is likely what you’ll live with for the rest of your life.
What can I eat after jaw surgery?
You’ll be on a strict liquid diet following jaw surgery. Buy lots of Boost, Ensure or Carnation supplements and learn to make smoothies, because these will be your staple foods for at least the first 2 weeks. I had to eat them for 8 weeks, but my surgery was a bit more invasive than most. You’ll probably have to administer your food through a syringe for the first week as well.
Once your surgeon gives you permission to start chewing again, you can begin to eat soft foods such as pasta and mashed potatoes. During the weeks following your re-entry into the realm of chewing, you’ll be able to eat whatever is comfortable. Don’t expect to tear into a steak as soon as you’re allowed to chew again, though.
If you have the following implements, you should survive perfectly fine:
- A reliable blender (this is extremely important, as you’ll be blending almost everything)
- Smoothie materials (ice cream, yogurt, milk, bananas, strawberries, granola, peanut butter, honey, etc.) — Recipe
- Soup (you’ll have to blend everything except tomato soup)
- Ensure, Boost or Carnation (I drank 3 of these per day during my liquid diet phase)
- Prune juice (you’ll need the fiber in it)
- Whole milk (you’ll need all the calcium you can get so your bones heal back just as strong as they were before)
- Water (make sure you drink at least 1 L of water per day; drinking 2 L per day is a much better option)
The most important item on that list is water. If you don’t drink enough water each day, you’ll become dehydrated and sick, and your bowel movements won’t feel good because none of the fiber you’re eating will dissolve into your body.
Help, I’m experiencing pain!
If your pain is chronic (ie. consistent and throbbing), you may have an infection and should schedule a visit with your surgeon just to be safe.
On the other hand, if your pain comes in small bouts, it’s likely your nerves reawakening or your teeth being pulled by the elastics. In this case, just be patient and the pain will subside in due time. If you were prescribed pain medication, that may help as well.
Help, my breath is terrible!
At times, your breath may be indicative of the fact that you are not allowed to brush your teeth or floss during the first several weeks of recovery. To aid in freshening your breath, try gurgling with warm salt water a few times each day. Soon enough, you’ll be given the go-ahead to brush and floss again.
Help, my teeth are no longer touching!
An open bite is a common problem following jaw surgery. Fear not, however, because your teeth will naturally grow until they encounter opposition (in the form of your other jaw), so this problem will slowly correct itself over time.
Help, my jaw movement is not returning!
If you have been given the green light to resume eating regular food, but the movement in your jaw doesn’t seem to be returning, try whistling and chewing gum each day. Whistling will help to break up scar tissue, while chewing gum will stretch the muscles in your jaw.
Help, I don’t look like myself anymore!
This is perhaps the most common fear people have following jaw surgery. Remember that swelling takes a minimum of 3 months to go away, so try to avoid judging your appearance until that point.
Also, keep in mind that you are your own worst critic because you’ve been seeing your face in the mirror every single day for most of your life. While the subtle changes in your appearance seem drastic to you, most people will not even notice that your face changed shape.
May 14, 2011 at 10:38 am
I’ve just noticed your final post was day 90! I’m only on day 16 and I feel like I will never be normal ever again:( I’m having a bad time sleeping upright. I still need my pain killers. I’m still having a problem with all the mucus & I’m so tired all the time….lol I could go on for ages lol. Please tell me it gets better 🙂 Your pics look good
May 13, 2011 at 9:11 am
I would highly recommend wearing your elastics despite the pain they cause. If your jaw is jarred in the first month, the consequences could be pretty drastic because your bone still hasn’t fused back together.
There was a lot of tension in my face from those elastics as well, but they’re more or less your “jaw armor” right now.
Don’t take my word for it, though. Call your surgeon and ask them personally. That’s part of what you’re paying them for. 🙂
May 13, 2011 at 3:41 am
Hi. Thanks for your quick reply. So wearing the bands is very important then? I have tried to keep my teeth closed so that the jaw is in its correct place but I am still finding the bands very hard to wear. I think I am just going to have to wear them and start taking the pain killers again.
p.s can’t wait to start brushing my teeth once again 🙂
Kind regards
Sarah (uk)
May 12, 2011 at 8:59 pm
Yikes Sarah, sounds like you’re off to a rough start. Here’s hoping you begin to heal quickly and that you’re able to get those elastics on so your jaw is protected!
I had to return to my surgeon a couple of times in the first month because my bands were hurting and my teeth were rubbing against each other in a painful fashion. They were both just results of my jaw settling into place.
All the best!
May 12, 2011 at 12:23 pm
Hi. I had double jaw surgery 2 weeks ago and apart from having to be go back into hospital a week later due to a very bad bleed 🙁 and de hydration I think things are starting to get better. I was told to wear the bands on my front teeth but have not been able to so far as the pain was BAD. I’m hoping to start wearing then tomorrow. Having a bit of a bad time with the mucus build up at the moment though.
May 10, 2011 at 5:58 pm
Hi Tara! You have nothing to worry about. Being put to sleep is actually a blessing because you won’t have to experience any part of the actual surgery. =)
Your appearance won’t change drastically–it will be very subtle and you and your friends and family will quickly grow to appreciate it.
The permanent numbness only affects about 30% of patients and it’s never all that bad. I have a small part of my lip that is permanently numb and I don’t even notice it anymore.
Cheer up, pal! You’ll be totally fine!
May 10, 2011 at 4:51 pm
hi graham,
im 21 and im due to have jaw surgery soon but im so scared.. i dread the part where they put me to sleep and i dont know if im going to look better or worse afterwards.. the only thing im really scared about is if i cant ever feel my lips or chin again… im petrafied! please help me i need help 🙁
May 6, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Thanks for the quick feedback Graham. The swelling seems to be a result of the elastics that my surgeon had me wear. I removed them for 24 hours and when I got out of bed this morning the pressure in my ear was significantly reduced.
Of course the elastics aren’t optional so I will have to put them back in. I am hoping the pain won’t return but if it does I will try applying heat to that side of my face like you suggested. And if that doesn’t work it looks like I’m back to the waiting game :(. Thanks again for your help!
May 4, 2011 at 10:46 pm
Hi Alexander,
I didn’t experience any ear pain myself, but other people have reported having pressure build up like you have.
I think your surgeon is correct: it’s just a waiting game. Most of the swelling has usually dissipated by the 2-month mark, so I’d imagine it should start going away any day for you now.
Are you applying heat to your face at night to help with the swelling? I kept that habit well into the second month of recovery.
May 4, 2011 at 8:59 pm
Hey Graham,
Thanks for setting up this site and for keeping it going even after you recovered.
I am 22 years old and underwent a double jaw surgery similar to yours exactly one month ago, on April 4th. I have been experiencing pressure in my right ear (it’s sort of like when water gets stuck in your ear after swimming) which my orthognathic surgeon told me was the result of swelling in my jaw joint. He assured me it will go away eventually, but it is REALLY annoying, like a 11/10 on the inconvenience factor. Have you heard of this problem before and if so do you know how long it takes to go away?
April 30, 2011 at 10:27 pm
Hi Eleanor,
1) Your surgeon will likely rebuild a large portion of your face during the operation. When they move you jaw around, other parts of your face need to be adjusted to maintain shape. The overall shape of your face will be different, but your distinct features will not change. You might not think you look different, but your friends and family will notice the contour changes. Make sure you give yourself time (a month or two) to adjust to your new face. It will be a little weird at first, but you’ll grow to like it. 🙂
2) I wore braces for just over 2 years before surgery and then another 9 months following it. I believe the average is a year pre-op and a year post-op.
3) Trust me, you’ll cut your losses and leave the house with a swollen face. Most of your swelling will subside within 3 weeks, but you’ll still be somewhat swollen for 2-3 months. Make sure you get outside and walk around in those first few days, and start hanging out with friends again as soon as you’re able so you can maintain healthy spirits! People care about your swelling a lot less than you think.
All the best in your upcoming adventure!
April 30, 2011 at 4:04 pm
Hey,
First off, I’m so glad I found this site! It’s amazingly helpful, but I have a couple of questions I’d like to ask:
1) How big was the change in your appearance after the surgery? I have a 4mm underbite, with my overbite 2mm behind where it should be, as well as a crossbite – so I’m having the full works! It really affects my self-esteem, so I was just wondering if the surgery alters other parts of the face as well (hopefully for the better!) My nose is sort of flat, and my cheeks are sort of deflated looking – a very strange side profile, let me tell you!
2) How long, on average, is it that you have to wear braces? I have my first meeting with my surgeon in a couple of weeks, and I’d like to have the surgery asap, but I understand how long it takes to move teeth into place!
3) How long does it take for the swelling to subside? I can’t bear the thought of staying inside for more than two days tops, but I’d never leave the house with a face like a beach ball.
April 20, 2011 at 8:32 pm
Darnetta, when I had my bands removed, my surgeon told me to continue following a liquid diet until they took my splint out. Much like you, I was totally stoked to start eating soft foods, but my excitement was in vain.
Just ask your surgeon what they recommend. My guess is that you’ll be stuck with liquids until you lose the splint though.
Best of luck!
April 20, 2011 at 7:17 pm
Graham,
Thanks for your feedback.I had lower jaw surgery on the 5th of April.I had no pain just uncomfortable. I have the tingling and the numbness in my lower lip and chin and most of my swelling is gone, I lost 10lbs and Im stuck on that number, I was hoping to lose more.I get my wires removed a week from today, will I be able to eat mashed potatoes with a spoon you think? I dont get my mouthpiece out until 3 weeks after that, Im hungry LOL.
April 18, 2011 at 8:43 pm
Make sure to eat a good meal tonight. 😛 (Unless, of course, they told you not to, in which case you should simply just sleep to your heart’s content!)
April 18, 2011 at 6:45 pm
Surgery is tomorrow!!! So excited, not nervous at all–I am so ready to do this thing! Couldn’t do it without this blog and all you fine people who frequent it! Thanks Graham and to all!
April 17, 2011 at 12:12 pm
Hi Brett,
Glad to hear you didn’t really receive any bruising from the surgery. I was fairly bruise-free as well.
I feel your pain with the bad breath, brother. (Wow, how’s that for alliteration?!) There’s nothing to worry about though! The moment they open your mouth up again, you can brush, floss and use mouthwash to your heart’s content. Your bad breath will go away as soon as you brush for the first time.
Your mouth will be a bit tender at first, but it’ll feel great to have minty fresh breath again!
April 17, 2011 at 8:03 am
Hey mate.
I had lower jaw surgery 5 and a half weeks ago. Had my jaw broken in 3 spots. I havent had any issues. Very minimal bruising. Just one little spot on my chin. Had more where the needles and bone graph from my hip actually. The swelling was a bit and went down to basically nothing in 2 weeks. I get my mouth opened up in 3 days. The only thing is my breath stinks I think. I never had bad breath before. How long do you think this will last with regular brushing and mouth washing? Not keen on having terrible breath.
Regards Brett
March 24, 2011 at 10:24 am
You’ll definitely be smiling when you get your braces off! All of a sudden your teeth will be whiter, your smile will be bigger, the sky will be bluer…
Good luck with the last month or so of your recovery!
March 24, 2011 at 9:00 am
Today is day 45 for me, so according to your doctor’s estimations I am officially halfway through recovery! Yay!
My own surgeon has made no such estimations, but then I haven’t seen him since before my surgery, but a friend of mine works at the unit at the hospital so he’s going to see if I’m due to have an appointment soon. My orthodontist has said the braces can come off in about six months, so looking forward to that now. And of course the day when I don’t need elastics any more 🙂