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 5, 2011 at 4:47 pm
weighed myself today and im almost down 15 pounds
March 3, 2011 at 6:08 pm
yea last night on the left side when i was sleeping the elastic broke didnt know until i woke up im wondering if i lost anymore weight so tomorrow im gonna buy a scale
March 3, 2011 at 1:32 pm
I’m getting much better with the elastics too. I had to change one at work today after it broke and got it first time. Sadly I’m beginning to gain a little bit of weight back, must put a stop to this so will be walking to work and back instead of taking the car!
March 3, 2011 at 1:24 pm
So far ive lost 12 pounds and with the elastics i got them on in less then ten mins pretty easy when you get use to it
March 3, 2011 at 6:37 am
It’s real weight because your body is burning calories at a much more rapid rate each day to facilitate healing.
You’ll likely gain most of it back quite quickly once you’re able to return to your regular diet. Your body is pretty good at maintaining its natural weight so long as it’s not trying to recover from something (like, say, jaw surgery).
If you’re keen on dieting, my advice is to begin your diet as soon as you can eat solid foods again. Mix that in with as much exercise, sleep and water as you can take in and it’ll make a pretty fantastic new beginning. 🙂
March 2, 2011 at 11:34 pm
(And then you gain it back again)
March 2, 2011 at 11:34 pm
Okay, thanks guys! Will definitely keep your advice in mind. The weight loss happens fast, but is it actual weight loss or more water weight?
March 2, 2011 at 12:29 pm
This Morning took me 10 mins to put them on have to put them on 3 teeth alltogether would put on one hook then have to strech it and it would fall off i dont even want to take them off anymore but have to so i can eat haha yea weight loss happens fast i had some mac cheese for dinner last night only swallowed it though can still only have mushy foods
March 1, 2011 at 11:38 pm
The weight loss happens crazy fast, eh? You’ll get better with the elastics, too. My “elastic time” went from about 10 minutes to 10 seconds in a matter of a week. And then, soon enough, you won’t even need them. Awesome.
March 1, 2011 at 8:09 pm
Got Elastics today and splint out 😀 elastics are a bitch to put on and today found out ive lost 10 pounds in 12 days
February 28, 2011 at 11:46 am
o wow im not there yet haha maybe in 10 days :d day 11 for me now called oral surgeon today to ask if i could have oatmeal and he said yes 😀 so then i can be full and finished my meds this morning so no more gross tasting
February 28, 2011 at 9:12 am
Well, I’ve been doing it effectively since about day 3, in the hospital they gave me rice krispies to try for my breakfast but more ended up on me and the bed than in my mouth! I got better at it as time went on, sausages I found were best early on. I’m managing most things though, I even had cheese on toast last night!
February 27, 2011 at 5:55 pm
Hey Jenny your only 10 days ahead of me im day 10 hear and so since your surgery you have been cutting up food and just swallowing it ? i did that last night with bread from tim hortons i didnt care lol i wasnt chewing so it was fine
February 27, 2011 at 1:54 pm
Michelle, I agree. You don’t want to go depriving yourself of eating properly beforehand, it’s unbelieveable how much you miss eating when you can’t do it. As to weight loss, I’ve lost nearly a stone after my surgery, although I’m lucky in that I’m not on a liquid diet, basically as long as I can cut food up small I can just put it in my mouth and swallow. I really miss chewing though although I’m trying to do it lightly so as to build up strength. I’m day 20 post op and can’t wait for the day I can chew something properly again!
February 27, 2011 at 11:19 am
so last night at tim hortons i fonnd a loop hole with soup and bread haha i swallowed th chicken and broke up the bread with in small peices and just swallowed :d lol
February 27, 2011 at 12:18 am
Michelle, I’d hold off until after surgery. You’re going to want all the energy you can get for this surgery, and you’re going to lose weight from your liquid diet, just like Tyler said.
On top of that, your body won’t be operating normally for about 3 months following surgery (by that, I mean you won’t be eating quite the same meals as before and your body will be using all of the calories you give it to heal).
I’d stay where you are so that your body has those extra energy stores to repair itself following surgery. Then, once you’re feeling up to it, you can start your diet post operation.
It’ll be interesting to see how much weight you cut immediately following your date with dental magic. I put on about 15 lbs prior to surgery and immediately lost 30 lbs following it, but my metabolism is unnaturally high.
Let me know how it goes!
February 26, 2011 at 5:11 pm
i would hold off liquid diet for 2 weeks its day 8 for me and my pants are getting to loose lol
February 26, 2011 at 2:24 pm
Hey Graham!
I’ve been dropping by your blog since June of last year since I started the whole process with orthognathic surgery–you have no idea how much your daily posts have helped me become more comfortable and relaxed!!!
I was just wondering what your (and anyone else’s) opinion is on weight loss prior to surgery. (I plan on talking to my doctor about it as well.) I’m of “average” weight, but in respect to my normal weight, I should be 20 pounds lighter. Do you think it’s okay to begin dieting/exercise in this month and a half before surgery or should I hold off?
February 26, 2011 at 11:47 am
i have no stiches on my lip just in my mouth
February 25, 2011 at 6:21 pm
Make sure you don’t force them out too early or your lip might, ya’know, fall apart again. Your body is pretty adept at getting rid of these things when it’s ready.
Enjoy your newfound freedom!