This is my first post to the board, been a lurker for a while. I learnt a lot from reading the various posts ... thanks for sharing your experiences/feedback. Much appreciated.
It will be four weeks (on April 11th) since my lower jaw (advancement) surgery and am happy to report that things have gone swimmingly well.
For starters, I had very little pain and was off painkillers from day #2. Swelling peaked at day #3 and has almost disappeared. I had two weeks off from work, but was able to work for a few hours from home from day #3 onwards. I was (finally!) unwired two weeks ago and have graduated to the elastic bands.
I have a few questions and wanted to see if others have the same experience as well:
1. I am unable to open my mouth to the pre-surgery extent.
2. There is still some residual swelling in my lower lip (not as much as Angelina Jolie's, but the swelling is a tad perceptible).
3. Whilst my teeth fit perfectly for the most part, I am unable to bite using the front teeth. The teeth go through the biting motion, but nothing happens! I noticed this when I was trying to bite off an edge of finger nail that the nailcutter missed.
4. I'm still on a soft-chew diet, but I find that there's some numbness in my lower jaw/lip after I'm done eating. This persists for a few minutes and then it's back to normal.
Cheers!
4 weeks post-op
Moderator: bbsadmin
Hi Trevor,
i dont think you need to be worried, im 6 weeks post lower jaw advancement, and i cant open my mouth as wide as pre surgery, but this is improving slowly every day,
i have been very lucky as i only had slight tingling in my bottom lip for about 2 days post op, then it was completely normal sensation after that,
and im still on a soft-chew diet too, not because i dont feel ready, but my OS warned me to take things very very slowly in case i bend the metal plates that have been inserted into my jaw, i think he was being very over cautious!
i dont think you need to be worried, im 6 weeks post lower jaw advancement, and i cant open my mouth as wide as pre surgery, but this is improving slowly every day,
i have been very lucky as i only had slight tingling in my bottom lip for about 2 days post op, then it was completely normal sensation after that,
and im still on a soft-chew diet too, not because i dont feel ready, but my OS warned me to take things very very slowly in case i bend the metal plates that have been inserted into my jaw, i think he was being very over cautious!
I would worry about some swelling still being present. I know that it can take afew months for all of the swelling to fully disapear. I still have some very minor swelling Midface 5 weeks on, but nothing to worry about.
Your full range of motion in the muscles will come back. I had a nightmare last week when I had the tight bands taken off at the hospital last week. They wanted me to brush my teeth properly, so the splint had to come out. They kept telling me to open my Jaw but the perception of feeling had gone completely. And I could only open about 1cm fully, the muscles felt pretty tight! So hopefully when slack bands go on things will be better!
Your full range of motion in the muscles will come back. I had a nightmare last week when I had the tight bands taken off at the hospital last week. They wanted me to brush my teeth properly, so the splint had to come out. They kept telling me to open my Jaw but the perception of feeling had gone completely. And I could only open about 1cm fully, the muscles felt pretty tight! So hopefully when slack bands go on things will be better!
HI TREVOR
IM 4WKS POST OP HAVING HAD MY LOWER JAW PUSHED BACK TO CORRECT A UNDERBITE. I TOO LOST A LOT OF FEELING IN MY BOTTOM LIP AND CHIN, OF WHICH ONLY FEELS 50%, GUESS YOU JUST GOTTA BE PATIENT. HAVE HAD A SPLINT IN SINCE THE OP WITH ELASTICS HOLDING MY BITE CLOSED, CAN'T WAIT TO OPEN MY MOUTH. MOST THE SWELLING HAS GONE.
DO U HAVE ANY IDEA HOW LONG BEFORE U CAN START CHEWING MEAT AGAIN?
IM 4WKS POST OP HAVING HAD MY LOWER JAW PUSHED BACK TO CORRECT A UNDERBITE. I TOO LOST A LOT OF FEELING IN MY BOTTOM LIP AND CHIN, OF WHICH ONLY FEELS 50%, GUESS YOU JUST GOTTA BE PATIENT. HAVE HAD A SPLINT IN SINCE THE OP WITH ELASTICS HOLDING MY BITE CLOSED, CAN'T WAIT TO OPEN MY MOUTH. MOST THE SWELLING HAS GONE.
DO U HAVE ANY IDEA HOW LONG BEFORE U CAN START CHEWING MEAT AGAIN?
hi thaii
For meats...well I gues that depends on how chewy or tough the meat is!
I'm in the UK also, and have tight bands of on the 6th week post op. I can then go onto soft foods. After the 8th week the slack bands come off. So who knows, but it might be awhile yet before the lovely steak can be cooked!
For meats...well I gues that depends on how chewy or tough the meat is!
I'm in the UK also, and have tight bands of on the 6th week post op. I can then go onto soft foods. After the 8th week the slack bands come off. So who knows, but it might be awhile yet before the lovely steak can be cooked!