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.
March 15, 2012 at 1:26 pm
I absolutely remember you, CJ! That’s great to hear that you’re feeling much better now. I always feel somewhat heartless when I tell people that life will be better soon, so it’s always nice to hear that my advice is actually ringing true!
Enjoy your new smile, my friend!
March 15, 2012 at 7:20 am
Hello i’m Beth and from England. i am just 17 and i am currently on fday 17! I have no pain no swelling and a tiny bit of numbness on my chin! The worst part for me is not eating i am sick of frickin soup!! Also my braces are cutting into my gum badly and my tounge keeps getting sstuck in between my metal rings and ooouuuuccchhhh it’s painfull! Also when i drink it feels like my teeth will fall out but they are still with me so i think it’s me over thinking things i tend to do that:/ but enough about me i just eantrd yo say that you blog has been such a masdive help so thank you! Xx
March 14, 2012 at 7:19 pm
hey graham i was on here a little over a month ago and i was doing pretty bad back then but now ive got my split out nothing in my mouth except for my braces and a small retainer but im feeling a million times better and just wanted to say this page helped a ton and you were right about the numbness im not all back quite yet but im alot better so i just wanted to say thanks alot you helped
March 13, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Hi Lauren,
I’m seriously impressed that you’re eating 1800 calories each day! I don’t know how you manage. I don’t think I was even hitting the 1000-calorie mark during my first few weeks.
I have no idea if the foods you eat have any effect on your swelling. You’ll have to consult the Internet for that question.
As for sleep, I can honestly say I wasn’t able to sleep through the night for the first 2 – 3 weeks. You’ll be a lot more comfortable in the coming weeks, though. It’s just these initial two weeks that are so frustrating!
March 13, 2012 at 4:37 pm
This website is helpful at this frustrating time. I just had surgery, (March 8th). It was an 8 hour surgery where they moved my upper jaw upward and forward 3 cm, moved my bottom jaw forward 5 cm and sawed off “bone spurs” the doctor called them.
I am so frustrated at this sleep situation! Everything is pretty much numb from my eyes down, yet I can still feel pain. How did you guys sleep?
Also, I have only lost 2 lbs because I am forcing myself to eat my 1800 calories a day to not lose weight… but I feel like all the milky boost, protein powder and milkshakes are making me more filled with mucous. Any good suggestions for what to eat? Will eating something with a ton of salt make me swell worse?
By the way, thanks for the site, it helps keep me sane… I think I am way ahead of the healing curve as of now.
March 13, 2012 at 12:30 am
That’s in barely over a week, Jil! I’ll be sending healthy thoughts your way on the 22nd.
If you’re already fairly light, you likely won’t lose too much weight. Make sure you get enough food and water into your system to aid your body in recovery during those first few weeks!
March 13, 2012 at 12:24 am
I’m so glad I found this site!! i’m getting double jaw surgery on march 22nd! I’m getting really nervous!! I’m 5′ 7” and 115lbs!! I can’t afford to lose much weight! also i’m expected to return to work after 2 and a half Weeks! i’m definitely going to do some research before surgery for tips and shakes so I don’t lose too much weight! Thank you for making this awesome website!! 🙂
March 5, 2012 at 1:27 pm
Hi there Ella!
I remember my lopsided face as if it were only yesterday. My advice is to not judge your appearance until at least the two-month mark. Swelling does an amazing job at throwing your face out of whack.
I promise that as soon as your swelling goes away, you’ll have a face that makes sense again. =)
Stay happy, my friend!
March 5, 2012 at 5:18 am
Hey Graham
Omg this site has helped me heaps through my recovery so thanks so much 🙂 i’m about 35 days post op and my surgeon told me that I did swell a little bit more than expected but my face has been looking quite slanted and lop sided. Did this happen to you and if so how long till your face looks semi normal again haha?
Thanks again, without your blog I would have been so confused during the 1st few weeks
March 4, 2012 at 7:40 pm
Ashley – have you ever tried raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar for colds and allergies? Don’t know how it works but it does. I have been able to keep my allergies under control and in NM we have been having some major wind with dust. Also, no colds. It really does help.
March 4, 2012 at 7:26 pm
Thank you so much Graham for starting this blog and maintaining it. For the person who is concerned about exercise, go to Walmart to walk if you need to. My son, 15, had surgery on Wednesday, went to a birthday party for an hr on Friday and then to a friends house for 2 hrs today. He is very swollen, cute little (204 lbs) chipmunk he is. He takes along his ice packs. I think that it has done him good to get out. He was getting depressed at home. I plan on starting him on schoolwork tomorrow for a little bit. Plus one of his friends will come by 3 times a week to help with geometry. This biggest thing is keeping up with the pain meds and ibuprofen for the swelling. He is also mildy OCD and if sitting around he starts to obsess about the teeth not matching up right now.
March 4, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Hi Elise,
Fighting the swelling is, unfortunately, a waiting game. It will go away on its own, but it will take time.
As for your voice, it’s likely sounding different due to congestion right now. Your voice won’t change at large. The only difference may be that any previous lisp you may have had will be gone.
Keep being patient with your swelling. I promise it will go away!
March 4, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Hi Sinéad,
I think you’ll be able to study perfectly fine after three weeks. If I were you, I’d still write the exams. You’ll be able to focus by that point and it’ll provide you with a more stress-free summer knowing you don’t have to head back to exams in the fall.
March 4, 2012 at 11:56 am
Hi Graham,
I just discovered your web-site while trying to determine how much longer the swelling in my face will last which I find very annoying. What a great forum for jaw surgery with lots of useful information. Thanks so much.
I am 5 1/2 weeks post op after upper and lower jaw surgery along with having the turbinate bones removed from my sinuses and my deviated septum fixed. I had the surgery to correct sleep apnea. My upper jaw was brought forward 1/2 cm and my lower jaw was brought forward 1 cm. I finally started sleeping through the night after 5 weeks. I had night sweats for about 3 weeks and overall discomfort that woke me up every night.
So I see from your comments that it can be 3 – 4 months before the swelling is gone. I will hang in there. The swelling is mainly under my nose and in the sinus areas of my cheeks. I have some numbness on my chin and can’t feel the middle of my bottom lip yet, but hoping that feeling will come back soon.
I was wondering if anyone has found their voice changed (lower or higher) after the surgery. Right now mine is a bit nasaly, but I think it is because of the congestion.
Thanks again for the great information!
Elise
March 4, 2012 at 11:54 am
I have my surgery in two weeks – so excited but nervous at the same time. I’m from Ireland and we do things differently here! I won’t be wired but the doctor will be using elastics instead. One thing that is concerning me mostly though are my exams. They start 5 weeks after my operation. I’ll be missing 3 weeks of lectures and 2 weeks of study period. Do you think I’ll be fit to study after the 3 week mark?? Or would you recommend deferring them till Sept. when I can sit them again.
March 4, 2012 at 11:33 am
I honestly have no advice regarding colds and allergies during the recovery. I was lucky enough to remain healthy throughout, but I have met people who had to deal with sneezing and vomiting while they were still wired shut. Most of them said it was more of an uncomfortable inconvenience than anything else.
I would just try to drink as much water as possible and think positively. If you end up having to deal with illness during your recovery, ask your surgeon what they recommend.
I’m following you on Twitter. Looking forward to hearing about those initial few weeks!
March 4, 2012 at 11:08 am
Thanks so much, Graham!
I’m currently making my last shopping list and will begin planning my wonderful menu for caloric requirements later today.
I’m hoping I can find a way to track how much I’m eating and drinking without having to keep a physical log. Being so small, I don’t have a lot of weight to lose.
Also, I was wondering if you have any suggestions for having a cold/allergies while recovering. I’ve been fighting off a nasty bug the past week or so, and I do have seasonal allergies. Sadly, vitamin C hasn’t helped much, but I’ve been taking it twice daily for the past week for good measure.
Just a thought, I think I might use Twitter to boast or rant about my recovery, should anyone be interested in following and offering support or suggestions.
Again, thank you and I cannot praise you enough! You’re awesome!
Ashley (@ashii_)
March 4, 2012 at 10:31 am
Hi Ashley,
The worst part of your recovery is going to be boredom, in all honesty. Despite the fact that it’s cold outside, I still encourage you to try and go for a walk each day. I had my surgery in March as well, and it’s cold here in Edmonton at this time of year.
The most important thing you can do is get food and water into your body and rest. Your body will heal naturally, but it will do so more quickly if it has the nutrients and hydration it requires.
I’m not sure how long you’ll have to “shy away” from your significant other. You’ll likely be quite swollen and numb (and tired) for the first 2 – 3 weeks, but you’ll have to play it by ear. I started seeing friends and regaining my energy after the first month. It sounds like a long time, but soon you’ll be back in action with a smile you can’t contain. =)
March 4, 2012 at 10:24 am
Hi Debbie,
Your son can rest assured that he’ll be alright. Hardly any of my teeth touched during the first couple of months. However, they’ll all meet up again further down the road. Teeth will grow until they encounter opposition (in this case, the rest of your teeth), so your son’s open bite will close naturally. It may take the better part of a year as mine did, but it will happen! =)
March 4, 2012 at 9:58 am
Ashley – you will have good days and bad days. We are on day 5, surgery was on Wednesday. Mitch was able to take care of himself while in the hospital overnight. He pretty much wouldn’t let anyone help him. Thursday was a good day. Friday he thought he could do anythign and Saturday he watched movies all day. Today he is sleeping. The dr said it would be like this. He has taken a shower everyday. The most important thing is the ice packs. USE them faithfully. I have recieved ideas on how to make them with alcohol and water(they leak). The best thing so far is frozen peas or hot/cold packs from the store. Going to go buy more today. Keep a towel and tissues handy also. Your nose might bleed and you will drowl. Good Luck.