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.
March 25, 2012 at 11:20 am
Thanks for investing the time into this site, it’s a really great resource. I’m scheduled for surgery in 5 weeks and it helps a lot to read about others’ experiences so that I’m better prepared.
At first I was shocked when I clicked on “How much does jaw surgery cost?” to see $2500 to $5500 – then I remembered you’re Canadian! Here in the U.S. it’s more like $20k and it’s very difficult to get an insurance company to cover it!
March 21, 2012 at 11:56 am
Hi Graham!your blog is great I have been reading it since before I started my process of double jaw surgery 2 weeks ago. Although it has only been two weeks, it feels like it has been a month already. I am going back to school on Monday and I am extremely worried about being able to do my school work. I am in college for biomedical engineering/pre-med and i have been trying to catch up and study during my recovery but I just can not seem to focus. Engineering professors are of no help really and I’m expected to take the rest of my tests with the class as scheduled. Part of the reason studying is a problem is the fact that I really can not sleep at night. I’ve tried heatpacks for my face that likes to move around at night like a Mexican jumping bean… fail. I have also tried liquid benadryl, but I still wake up halfway through the afternoon even with alarms. Do you have any suggestions for this predicament?
March 19, 2012 at 5:07 pm
Hi Devon,
I don’t fully understand your situation, so it’s difficult to provide recommendations to you, but I’m a huge advocate of going through with surgery so that you can fix the problem once and for all. You’ll have to make you to ask your orthodontist if the surgery will be successful with your jaws continuing to grow at different rates afterwards.
If you want to learn more about double jaw surgery, I would search around the Internet and ask your orthodontist for information.
The spasms usually only last a second, so they’re more of an annoyance than anything.
Best of luck in your decision!
March 19, 2012 at 3:43 pm
I recently went to the orothodontist who said that my underbite is because my botttom jaw is growing faster than the top and i was given two choices…i could wear a face mask 12 hours a day for a year and a half or get oral surgery. The catch is that there is a chance that the face mask might not work, so i mightt end up getting the surgery anyway.Which choice should i choose? And what is double jaw surgery? And how long do these “spasms” last? A couple of seconds? thanks
March 12, 2012 at 6:33 pm
Nice to meet you, Jennie! You’re a trooper for surviving back-to-back jaw surgeries while being a mother. I certainly respect that!
You must be seriously excited to have your braces removed. I look forward to hearing about your fancy new smile!
March 12, 2012 at 6:25 pm
Eric, my advice is to stop smoking weed for at least 80 years following surgery. Your lip will heal over the next month or so. Have patience, my friend.
March 12, 2012 at 10:39 am
Hi Graham
What a fab blog, wish I’d seen it before my surgery.
I had double jaw surgery on 18 November 2011, which I was told 3 days later wasn’t full successful and I would need further surgery. On 12 December I underwent surgery number 2.
My recovery was difficult, especially as a mum to 3 young children, and I was off work for 10 weeks in total.
On my latest orthodontic appointment I received the surprising news that my braces can come off in 4 weeks!! But will have to have retainers fitted.
So nice to read other peoples stories.
Thank you
Jennie (UK)
March 11, 2012 at 3:36 pm
HI GRAHAM 4 DAYS PASSED SINCE LOWER JAW SURGERY DOCTOR PUT IN A TITANIUM PLATE WITH SCREWS SWELLING WENT DOWN A LIL BUT BOTTOM LIP STILL FAT A BIT LIP AND CHIN STILL NUMBED AND NOW I FEEL A BURNING TINGLEY SENSATION AROUND BOTH LIP AND CHIN WAT TO DO ? U THINK I CAN SMOKE WEED? I NEED SOME GOOD ADVISE GRAHAM PLEASE HELP ME
March 10, 2012 at 12:03 pm
I honestly can’t say. Perhaps her body doesn’t react by swelling like some do.
What’s important is that she’s lucky to be able to eat soft foods after only 10 days. (Secretly, I’m a little bit jealous.) =)
March 10, 2012 at 12:01 pm
I think hers was double jaw as well. Would her lack of swelling after taking her wisdom teeth (all four at the same time) be any indicator?
March 10, 2012 at 11:40 am
Hi Eric,
I had a friend who was eating pasta and other soft foods within two weeks of his surgery as well. It’s not common, but if the surgery was less invasive, the patient will be able to eat again quite quickly.
Just make sure your girlfriend is mindful of what she eats. Soft pasta, mashed potatoes, and soup are all fair game, but I wouldn’t try to be a superhero and eat anything tougher.
It sounds like she’s going to get through this with no problem!
March 10, 2012 at 11:07 am
Yo graham
My girlfriend had surgery on feb 28th 2012 and she’s been on a soft diet for a week. How is that possible? Should i make her go back to a liquid diet? (she got the clear from the surgeon, but im still not convinced).
Swelling has gone down, with cheeks and lips puffy. I dont understand how this is possible, she looks nothing like the other bloggers at this stage. Should i be concerned?
Eric
March 10, 2012 at 5:52 am
Hi Eric,
It sounds like you’ve been through a fairly brutal ordeal! Know that your swollen lips are completely normal and they will heal over the next few weeks. For the time being, try to keep busy with movies, walks, reading, and whatever else you enjoy. Time will fly by and you’ll soon be back in action!
March 10, 2012 at 5:50 am
Hi Amy,
I must apologize for taking so long to respond. I missed your message and didn’t notice it again until now.
To answer your questions:
– It’s normal for your teeth to be unnaturally far apart at first. They will grow back together.
– You’ll be fairly devoid of energy until 2 – 3 weeks have passed. After that, you’ll notice you have a bit more energy each day. Right now, your body is using all of your energy to heal itself.
– The white packs that were on your face at the hospital were full of ice (to keep swelling down). If you’re at home, I recommend hot packs. They’re much more comfortable.
– Not being able to sleep at first is normal as well. It will take 2 – 3 weeks before you can sleep comfortably through the night again.
You sound like you’re having a tough time with your recovery right now, but I assure you it gets better (and quickly). You’re almost at the 2-week mark, and life will begin to look up at that point.
Try to get outside for walks and find a good TV show to watch until your energy comes back. I’m confident you’ll find this all worthwhile in a couple of months when you’re all healed up!
March 8, 2012 at 6:55 pm
hi graham janurary 6 i got hit in the chin with a brick that fractured my jaw on the right side jan 11 i got wired shut for 8 weeks. my doctor said i wasnt healing that there was still mobility on my jaw so yesturday which was march 7 i got lower jaw surgery by the surgeons puttin in a metal plate near the fracture now im all swollen up fat bottom lip chin numbed up is that normal and now im not wired but got bands holding me shut wat should i expect and wat to do buddy please help me
March 2, 2012 at 8:25 am
I also can’t stay asleep my normal hours (which usually mean from 4 am to 1 pm), and it’s gotten somewhere close to 1 am to 7 am? Crazy!! I’m the only one awake at this inhumane time of day but I can’t fall back asleep =/ do you have any tips on that?
My oh-so-attentive mom says I’m drooling as much as a big St. Bernard puppy (==), is there any way to control that? My lower lip isn’t really mine right now, I don’t even know its open most of the time or the water I’m drinking makes contact with my shirt. I feel so pathetic, it’s like I’m handicapped or something. How much more of this do I have to take before I’m back to my normal self again?
Yesterday I’ve been looking at old photos of myself, and honestly, if I knew surgery was going to be this hard, I would’ve never considered it in the first place. I’ve been told that I was quite pretty (even though I personally hated my side profile and would avoid photos if possible), but what I used to look like looks so much better than the excuse I’ve got for a face right now. I know that I should stay positive, but which St. Bernard drooling Quasimodo can say that about themselves? *sigh..
March 2, 2012 at 8:08 am
Hi Graham!
It’s good to know that you had a speedy and successful recovery, so cheers to that!
I’m currently starting my fourth day post op and I still don’t feel my best. My surgeon pushed back my teeth (or pulled forward my lips) so my teeth are a good centimetre from where they used to be? Is that weird.. or is it normal?? Just for the record, I had double jaw surgery done as well (lower jaw hacked back and upper jaw brought forward). Feels awful though, but I’ve been trying to stay off the painkiller as much as possible 🙂
I guess energy wise I feel better by day, but the energy dosen’t seem to last longer than two hours at a time. I was released from the hospital after one night and was told that I recovered fast, but why do I feel so bad still? I’m so frustrated, I really want a cheeseburger than anything else right now o_O protein shakes and frozen concentrated juice aren’t really doing anything for me, my stomach started growling when I was in bed last night..
Do you know anything about white paper bandages they put on your face to reduce swelling? It’s crazy tight and it’s hard to swallow with (because it goes around my chin and partly around the tops of my throat..) and are elastics standard for everyone who’ve been through jaw surgery? I think my splint comes out in a week, not quite sure. Only thing I’m sure is that it’s pissing me off, so uncomfortable T^T
Cheers! …… ugh *still suffering in bed…
February 26, 2012 at 10:06 pm
Hello Lily!
You sound like you’re well prepared for the surgery. If you remain as chipper throughout the recovery as you are today, I commend you! I definitely had a few downer moments during the first few days post-op, but someone like yourself may very well sail right on through them!
February 26, 2012 at 10:01 pm
Hi Jo,
That’s cool that you live in Vancouver. I drive out to your part of the country every summer to see friends and family. You live in a beautiful part of the country!
As far as exactly when you should undergo jaw surgery, I’d say the age of 14 is a bit too young. Your entire face is going to grow for another few years, so it would be a poor choice to set it a certain way at this point.
I’d wait until you’re at least 18 years old before considering it. If you decide to have the surgery, it only takes 3 – 6 months of your life away, so it’s not a life-altering recovery. It just means you’ll have one low-key season.
So keep enjoying life and look into it again (providing your bite is still bothering you) in a few years. =)
February 26, 2012 at 9:57 pm
Gilbert, if your actual jaw feels okay, I wouldn’t worry about it. I took both a football and a Frisbee to the face during my recovery and neither affected me beyond normal pain. I’d say you’re doing alright!