What It’s Really Like To Get Jaw Surgery | The AEDITION (2024)

FAQs

Is jaw surgery one of the most painful? ›

Jaw surgery is usually performed after the growth stops, which is around ages 14 to 16 years for females and 17 to 21 years for males. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia, so there is no pain during surgery. Patients usually experience pain after the anesthesia wears off, which can last for a few days.

Orthognathic surgery will stabilise the orthodontic treatment and reduce the risk of the teeth becoming crowded again, which is known as an orthodontic relapse. It also alleviates a redo of what can be a lengthy and costly orthodontic treatment.

The corrective jaw surgery can have adverse side effects like numbness, loss of hearing, extreme pain, and increased drooling. Moreover, corrective jaw surgery is ten times more expensive than non-surgical treatments for correcting malocclusions.

It is not uncommon to experience some pain or pressure in or around your jaw joint areas after jaw surgery. This may feel somewhat like an earache. It is due to pressure in the jaw joint area due to the new position of your jaw. This will usually disappear within 2 to 3 weeks.

Share on Pinterest Surgeries involving the bones tend to cause more pain than other types. In general, research has found that orthopedic surgeries, or those involving bones, are the most painful.

Swelling: You can expect swelling to be the worst in the first week after oral surgery. It's usually most noticeable from three to five days after surgery, then it gradually lessens. Bruising: Bruising often accompanies swelling, and it dissipates as the swelling subsides.

The rate of complications after orthognathic surgery is more than 40%; therefore, it is important that patients receive a detailed explanation on the complications related to orthognathic surgery before they decide to undergo the procedure5.

When do you perform jaw surgery? Often, the optimal time for jaw surgery is after the jaw stops growing, usually in the later teenage years—typically ages 17 to 21 for boys and ages 14 to 16 for girls.

Following your surgery and throughout the post-operative recovery period, especially if your jaw is wired shut, you could lose as much as 10 percent of your body weight.

If only an upper or lower jaw requires surgery, your surgery will typically last between 1.5 to 2 hours. If both upper and lower jaws need orthognathic surgery then the procedure will take between 3 and 4 hours to perform.

How long after jaw surgery do you look normal? ›

The swelling will occur mostly at the sides of the jaw in the area of surgery and will reduce significantly in 2 weeks. By 4 to 6 weeks postoperatively, the tissues will appear almost normal to you. The final definition is attained approximately 4 months following surgery.

Jaw surgery may sound scary, but today it's actually a rather painless and un-invasive procedure.

For the first 3-4 days following surgery please limit your activity. It is important that you not confine yourself to bed.

However, the extensive bone and muscle manipulation and various movements during surgery may result in postoperative pain, especially in the TMJ. Positional changes of the mandible, maxilla, or both jaws during orthognathic surgery can affect the TMJ, masticatory musculature, and surrounding soft tissue [5, 6].

Swelling and Bruising.

Tissue injury, whether accidental or intentional (e.g. surgery), is followed by localized swelling. After surgery, swelling increases progressively, reaching its peak by the third day. It is generally worse when you first arise in the morning and decreases throughout the day.

Surgeries that have high failure rates: Hiatal hernia which is intended to fix the problem of the stomach protruding out of the diaphragm space into the esophageal area. Hip resurfacing utilizes a metal cup that fits over the ball of the femur.

You will be completely numb on the jaw that was operated on, so there is not a great amount of pain. However, the swelling starts up immediately and there is some jaw stiffness to be anticipated. There is some soreness from the breathing tube that the anesthetist places and this soreness will also subside with time.

Depending on your type of injury or surgery the jaws can be wired shut for a period of 2-6 weeks.

Is it hard to sleep after jaw surgery? ›

After an oral procedure, you're likely to experience pain and swelling in your face and neck. Additionally, you may experience bruising and a sore throat, leading to disrupted sleep.

Normal recovery time lasts just a couple of weeks for minor surgery. For more complicated surgery, the initial healing phase can last about six to eight weeks. Complete healing of the jaws can take between 9 and 12 months.

Jaw surgery is a major surgery that can disrupt your life for several weeks and months. You owe it to yourself to understand how jaw surgery will affect your life. You also should understand what you can expect from your jaw surgery. Talk to your healthcare providers about your options and expectations.

As the bones have usually healed in full, taking out the plates out does not make the jaw weaker.

The best candidates for orthognathic surgery are typically people between the ages of 18 to 45 who are dealing with one or more of these problems. (The procedure is seldom performed on children under age 18 because the jaw has not stopped growing.

Preliminary consultations, the surgeon's fee, the facility charge, and materials, as well as follow-up treatment, are all included in the approximate $20,000-$40,000 cost of corrective jaw surgery.

Making a commitment to correct these conditions through surgery, and possibly orthodontic treatment, is an investment toward a life free from chronic jaw pain and dental issues. While treatment may take several years to complete, the results will last a lifetime.

Since the jaw is the primary foundation for your facial muscles, jaw surgery can improve the appearance of your face. For instance, moving the jaw backward or forward can change the contour, placement, and shape of your chin, nose, teeth, lips, mouth, and face. Jaw surgery can improve a gummy smile.

Your jaw surgery may be on either your upper or lower jaw (single jaw osteotomy), or both jaws (bimaxillary osteotomy). You are likely to be in hospital for 2 – 4 days, depending on your progress and how quickly you recover from the operation.

You will need to eat a soft diet which needs very little chewing for at least six weeks after the surgery. This diet sheet goes through meal ideas for a liquid, purée, blended and soft diet.

Can you talk after jaw surgery? ›

After Jawbone Surgery

Therefore, after your surgery, try to avoid strenuous activities. Bending, driving, or lifting may dislodge the clot and cause you to bleed. So, gradually progress the intensity of your movement, limiting how you talk, eat and drink for the first day after your oral surgery.

A patient will be asleep during the surgery itself. There are usually no scars present on the outside of the face because the surgery is performed entirely on the inside of the mouth. Wires, screws and metal plates are all used to secure the jaw into the proper alignment.

Oral surgery is invasive and takes long. Therefore, you might need to be asleep during the dental procedure. Your specialist will provide general anesthesia to prevent pain and offer comfort. When put under general anesthesia, you will be unconscious and won't remember anything after the oral surgery.

As you start to reconstruct your jaw and move things around, it can cause some vocal changes. You may experience speech and voice adjustments as these can be the effects of functional surgery. The difference in jaw positioning or shape can have an effect on voice frequencies.

Your doctor will wire your jaw together to stabilize the mouth and prevent the jaw joint from moving following surgery. Your doctor will attach bars to your upper and lower gums in the front and back of your mouth. These will hold the wires or elastics in place to keep your jaw shut.

Maxillofacial surgery can help you regain your lost self-esteem by bestowing you with a beautiful smile. Not only does this surgery helps in relieving you from jaw pain, realigning your jaws to improve chewing capability, correcting the quality of speech, but also improving the overall facial experience.

Your nasal passages will also be swollen resulting in congestion and difficulty breathing through your nose. Over-the-counter decongestants, expectorants and nasal sprays will help. A steam humidifier placed next to you at all times will also make you feel better.

Multiple IV lines will be inserted along with a suction to help minimize nausea and a catheter to help measure your fluid balance during surgery. Lastly, a breathing tube will be inserted to protect you during the procedure.

You may begin brushing your teeth the day after your surgery. Initially, you may want to avoid toothpaste, and simply use a toothbrush and warm water. Brush after each meal, and stay on the teeth and surrounding gums and avoid the incision sites.

IBUPROFEN (MOTRIN AND ADVIL) AND ACETAMINOPHEN (TYLENOL):

These medications are the most commonly used medications for management of pain or discomfort after oral surgery procedures. These will help not only to minimize pain but also aid in reducing potential swelling.

Will I look worse after jaw surgery? ›

2- After some days or weeks since your surgery: “I don't look like me!” as swelling subsides and the results of the surgery are more and more visible, you might start feeling like your face is not your own; that's completely normal after a major surgery such as orthognathic surgery, but keep in mind that it's only you ...

Do not blow your nose for 2 weeks. Do not rinse or spit for 24 hours after surgery. Try to keep your tongue away from the surgical area as to not disturb the sites and blood clots. Bruising is normal after jaw surgery and will usually last for 2-3 weeks.

Pain and swelling: Incision pain and swelling are often worst on day 2 and 3 after surgery. The pain should slowly get better during the next 1 to 2 weeks. Mild itching is common as the incision heals. Redness: Mild redness along the incision is common.

Post-operative pain may be acute the first 1 or 2 days after surgery as approximately 30% of patients will experience severe pain in the first 24 hours after even a minor surgery.

Is sleep after surgery important? The importance of rest after surgery is stressed by doctors because your body is going to do a lot of healing while sleeping. After all, your body does the majority of its healing while you're asleep. It's important that you're able to take a nap whenever you need to.

Jaw surgery is a major surgery that can disrupt your life for several weeks and months. You owe it to yourself to understand how jaw surgery will affect your life. You also should understand what you can expect from your jaw surgery.

Following your surgery and throughout the post-operative recovery period, especially if your jaw is wired shut, you could lose as much as 10 percent of your body weight.

Often, the optimal time for jaw surgery is after the jaw stops growing, usually in the later teenage years—typically ages 17 to 21 for boys and ages 14 to 16 for girls.

The best candidates for orthognathic surgery are typically people between the ages of 18 to 45 who are dealing with one or more of these problems. (The procedure is seldom performed on children under age 18 because the jaw has not stopped growing.

The most stable orthognathic procedure is superior repositioning of the maxilla, closely followed by mandibular advancement in patients in whom anterior facial height is maintained or increased. (If facial height is decreased by upward rotation of the chin, stability is compromised).

What happens if jaw surgery goes wrong? ›

Possible long-term complications of orthognathic surgery include: TMJ disorders. Permanent nerve damage, resulting in loss of sensation in areas that may include the chin, nose, lips, cheeks or tongue. Poor cosmetic outcome.

Jaw Surgeries Can Relapse As Well

This is a testament to the power of the tongue and the other oral and facial muscles. A systematic review conducted in 2010 found that up to 60 percent of patients who have had orthognathic surgery can experience relapse over the long-term.

Sleep with your head elevated on two pillows or in a comfortable recliner chair for the first week following surgery. Numbness in the lower jaw and chin will occur after a lower jaw fracture or surgery and in the upper jaw and along the nose and lip following an upper jaw fracture or surgery.

Your jaws will be wired together approximately six to eight weeks. This is the time it takes for the bones to heal in a good, strong union. During the time your jaws are wired together, you will find eating, talking and other daily activities somewhat difficult.

You are under general anaesthetic during the procedure, so no pain is felt. After the surgery, you will be given painkillers to help make the recovery stage as easy as possible. If you follow the correct recovery steps, you will recover in as little discomfort as possible.