Jaw Surgery Recovery Timeline

Surgery Day:

• Expect to be eating or drinking through a syringe or straw depending on your surgeons instructions
• When you wake up from surgery, you will most likely have a sore throat because a nasal tube was passed through the nose and down the throat for oxygen/anesthesia
• Weakness, drowsiness, and dizziness is not uncommon after surgery since the effects of the anesthesia can last up to 2-3 days
• Sleeping is difficult because of the discomfort and pain in the face (Pain meds can help) and also because you will have to sleep with your head up to reduce the oncoming swelling
• Muscle spasms near the jaw region could occur which is known to be painful
• Get used to wearing ice packs around your face
• Speaking is not advised so you probably won't be talking that much directly after the surgery 
• You will be drooling a lot
• Blood might come out from your nose and mouth for up to 3 days post surgery
• Expect to be numb on the cheeks, lips, chin, and gums
• You will be on a clear liquid diet after surgery until 2 days post op
• You won't be able to brush your teeth before you sleep after the surgery

Week 1: The Hardest Week of Recovery

• You will definitely need someone to help take care of you during this first week
• You will be visiting your surgeon for your weekly post-op check up
• During check-up, the sugeon will give you elastic bands to place in your mouth to keep you from opening your jaw very wide and could be very uncomfortable at first
• Swelling peaks 2-3 days post op
• Ice packs are usually used for the first 72 hours post op and then you switch to warm packs (very soothing)
• Speaking will require some effort for the first week
• Laughing is very painful and will be painful for about a month
• Drooling should be lessened greatly compared to the day of the surgery
• The bowels will be normal at 2-3 days post op since a pure liquid diet is stopped and thicker liquids can be ingested instead although the pain medication can still cause constipation
• Eating is done purely by liquid and getting used it is difficult 
• Pain and discomfort will still persist so pain medication should still be used
• Some feeling comes back to the face but numbness will still be there
• Oral hygiene is difficult since the lip is numb and your facial muscles are really stiff but must be kept up (follow surgeons instructions on this one!)
• Between days 6-7 you should have much more strength and become more active in doing things on with less help

Weeks 2-3: Way Easier than the First Week!

• More feeling and mobility should come back to your face
• Sleeping should not be a problem anymore
• You could return to work since most of your energy will be back between the 2-3 week post op time frame (walking and being active is recommended because it helps with recovery)
• Swelling should be noticeably going down
• Diet is still liquid but the surgeon may allow you to eat soft foods such as mashed potatoes (or anything you could blend with a blender!) with a spoon if he/she thinks it is okay to open the jaw
• Residual surgery pain should not be a problem anymore starting at around week 2

Week 4: 1 Month Has Passed!

• More of the swelling should be down
• Diet is still liquid and/or soft food based
• Energy should be fully returned 
• Elastics will be snapping because the jaw should have more mobility to open wider 
• Talking is much easier 
• The pain caused from laughing should be greatly lessened or not exist at all
• You might start having the pins/needles feel around your face which indicates that the numbness in your face is starting to go away

Weeks 5-7: 

• Swelling should be noticeably less but not completely gone
• Diet will still be liquid and or soft foods 
• Stitches in your mouth should be fully dissolved
• Numbness should almost be gone but remember that for some people it could take up to a year!

Week 8: 2 Months Have Passed!

• .This is when the day of all days happens! Your 2 month post-op appointment with the doctor results in an x-ray of the jaw which leads to his or her approval to eat SOLID food again! 
• Most if not all swelling should be gone but as with numbness swelling can take up to a year to go away
•  Lip mobility should be normal now which means you will see your full smile post op

Weeks 9-11: 

• Your extremely happy that you can finally eat SOLID food again!
• Swelling should be completely gone 
• Eating solid foods results in the strengthening of the facial muscles
• You'll be able to open your jaw more 
• Did I mention you'll be happy to be able to eat SOLID foods?

Week 12: 3 Month Mark-The Jaw Surgery Journey is Finally Over!

• Surgeon gives you permission to make an appointment with the orthodontist to continue orthodontic treatment (although this could occur after the Surgeon gives you the okay to eat solid food)
• That's all folks! If healing has gone normally, then you should be completely done with the jaw surgery experience!