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.
February 25, 2011 at 3:03 pm
Turns out the stitches are finally coming out! I was playing with my lip last night to see how much I could move it (as you do) and one came off on my finger, so I tried the rest of them on my lower lip and it’s now free of stitches! I haven’t been brave enough to try the upper lip yet though but I’m guessing surely they’ll come out too!
February 24, 2011 at 8:03 pm
he took them out on the outside inside are most likley the dissolved ones and my lips are fine not swollen at all and my bruising is good to i can hardly see it thinking about going to a movie tomorrow been inside too long
February 24, 2011 at 7:40 pm
Ah, the stitches! Mine just dissolved away on their own, but I’m not sure if every surgeon uses the same type of stitching. It’s a good day when they’re finally gone and your lips can begin healing!
February 24, 2011 at 1:34 pm
I want my stitches gone! I’m 17 days post op and I think I can safely say the stitches are the worst thing, and I’m sure they’re restricting my lip movement, which is not helpful when I need to change my elastics every night. I think they’re also irritating the gums a bit, I feel like I want to chew on my gums, though sadly it’s not physically possible, I can’t chew a sandwich, let alone the inside of my own mouth!
I was lucky with the bruising too, it came and went within about four days. The bruise on my hand where the anaesthetic went in is still there though!
February 23, 2011 at 1:35 pm
Got the stiches off my face today and now the brace for my head is gone same with the ice 😀 not much bruising at all just need to shave sometime soon
February 22, 2011 at 6:48 pm
i have the splint in i think there putting elastics on tomorrow but also taking the stiches off my face
February 22, 2011 at 5:55 pm
I wasn’t able to talk clearly for about a month following surgery. After that, I was very lispy and I had to speak quite slowly, but I was able to carry on with life as usual.
Since you only had lower jaw surgery and probably don’t have a splint in, you’ll be able to talk clearly sooner than I was.
February 22, 2011 at 4:06 pm
how long was it before you could talk normally again? i know you had double surgery but just wondering if you knew how long i would be able to talk normal again for lower jaw surgery?
February 21, 2011 at 11:05 pm
ah yea im being carefull about it trying to clear it lightly but not working
February 21, 2011 at 10:58 pm
Just be gentle about it so you don’t throw your face outta whack. Once again, let your pain be your guide. 🙂
February 21, 2011 at 10:33 pm
what happens if you blow your nose with a broken Lower jaw ?
February 21, 2011 at 10:31 pm
Oh yea haha i only had my lower jaw done on friday and its tingling right now its and its pretty annoying hopfully i get the ice and stuff off in a couple days when i go for my appointment and get the stiches off my face from the metal plate
February 21, 2011 at 9:19 pm
Haha, I had a pea stuck under my splint for about 2 weeks. It felt so gross!
For some reason, you don’t get cavities, despite being unable to brush well for such a long period of time. Just do what feels alright. Let your pain be your guide.
I went out to a movie within my first 2 weeks, but I had to bring a cloth with me because I was still drooling. Classy, I know.
February 21, 2011 at 6:36 pm
how long did it take you to go out after to to a movie ?
February 21, 2011 at 2:44 pm
was it hard for you to brush your teeth ? i can only brush the front and when i try to get into the back it hurts abit so i stop and start using the syringe and i got a peice of chicken in the splint been trying to get it out using the syringe but not working any suggestions ?
February 21, 2011 at 9:30 am
Indeed! I never wanted to go out in public at first either, but my friends reassured me that, when it all comes down to it, the people who care about you really don’t care what you look like (or at least they shouldn’t). That proved to be entirely true on my end–everyone was very supportive.
Most of the issues we have are conjured up inside our own head. Once we’re aware of that reality, we’re able to fight them down and go on living life again!
February 21, 2011 at 9:27 am
Hello Graham,
I know it was an eassy, I’m sorry about that. Just really happy I found a site that was active and helpful to my problems.
I’m still swollen around my nose, and from the corners of my lips to the bottom of my eyes. It’s kind of two circles on my cheeks. I try hard to close my lips, but I can’t yet. It’s really strange. Maybe because I am trying to get used to my new bite?
Alright. I went out with my friends again for a social get together like we used to before my surgery. I had a little pity party when I looked in the mirror. I was scared to go out, but my friend who was over forced me. I was feeling really bad about my looks since I believe the swelling makes me look like a child. Until a friend showed me a picture she took of me. It was beautiful! So I think your right on how it will just take time to get used to it. Thanks. =)
February 21, 2011 at 7:45 am
Hey Tyler,
I didn’t have much bruising either. It’s normal. Some people’s skin just doesn’t bruise too easily.
I’d use heat or ice packs until your swelling begins to subside. I used them for about a month.
February 20, 2011 at 8:47 pm
Hey i just had lower jaw surgery friday and i have no brusing is that normal ? or does it show up later and ive got a stuffy nose which sucks and alot of Saliva After drinking and it sounds like i can growl lol do you have to ware the ice pack for a week ?
February 18, 2011 at 9:26 pm
Indeed, Josh! A pity party is pretty unhealthy regardless of your situation, but it’s especially taxing when you, ya’know, can’t do much of anything else (including eating, talking and sleeping).
You’ll be good to go once summer gets here. How exciting is that?!