On Thursday, August 23, 2018, I had double jaw surgery. This included a Le Fort 3 Osteotomy on my upper jaw and a Bilateral Sagittal Split Osteotomy on my lower jaw. This corrective jaw surgery (otherwise known as orthognathic surgery) was done to fix skeletal and dental irregularities I was born with. Read on to hear about my surgery and recovery experience two weeks post operation.
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Double Jaw Surgery: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Wow. Writing this post has been hard to start because I don’t even know where to start. As someone who’s only surgical experience prior to jaw surgery was getting my wisdom teeth removed, I feel like I was thrown into the deep end with this one. I’ll start by saying that jaw surgery is no joke. But I really, really hope it’s worth it.
The Backstory
All my life I knew something was wrong with my teeth. Aside from having crooked teeth, my mouth was incredibly narrow, I had an overbite, I was a mouth breather, my teeth and gums were receding prematurely, and I would sometimes just randomly start choking on air for no reason. I figured braces would solve all my problems, but we were poor growing up and my family couldn’t afford them. So I put that wish off for one day when I was older and could afford to fix my smile myself.
One of the few times I’ve shown my bottom teeth in photos. I normally self-correct and only show my top teeth when I smile to make my smile look better.
Enter two years ago. I was 25 and employed with insurance that covers orthodontia. I googled, “best orthodontist Omaha”, set up an appointment with Dr. Igel at Igel Orthodontics (who is the best, and I 1000% recommend), and figured I was a year to two away from my dream smile.
(This is where the record scratches in my story indicating things are about to veer off my perfectly mapped out plan.)
Turns out, yes, I do need braces. It also turns out, that while my teeth could really benefit from braces, my cosmetic smile was the least of my problems.
I was referred to an oral surgeon, Dr. Desa at UNMC to discuss my jaw in more depth. (Jumping forward a little bit, but Dr. Desa is AMAZING. If you live in Omaha and can have him for your surgeon, do it. He’s the head of the entire department at one of the top hospitals in the country.) I found out that I had jaw irregularities that no amount of time in braces could cure, and as I age I’d wear out my teeth and start to suffer from more and more breathing, chewing, and potentially choking problems.
Umm, definitely wasn’t expecting to hear that!! All my life what I thought was normal biting, chewing and swallowing, was me using my mouth in ways it wasn’t supposed to be used to accomplish those tasks. And my teeth and gums showed the wear and tear as a result. Surgery could fix that, and together with braces, give me the smile I always dreamed about.
So, I got my surgery pre-approved with insurance, set up a payment plan for braces, and started my journey. I was in braces for a year and a half before I had jaw surgery. Dr. Igel had gotten my teeth as perfect as possible before I had my jaw surgery. I’m really hoping that speeds up my recovery and time in braces post-surgery.
The Day Before Surgery
As it got closer and closer to having the surgery I started getting more and more nervous. I was willingly having someone break my jaw in five places. Jaw surgery is a pretty intensive surgery and I’m a hypochondriac so my mind was finding all the things it could to stress about.
Josh took me out for a nice last meal and I tried really, really hard to enjoy it but my mind was in a million places. I was worried about not waking up from the surgery, worried about the anesthesia not working and feeling everything, worried about the pain afterward, worried about the surgery going wrong, etc. etc. I tried to get some sleep that night but I was a nervous wreck and my thoughts were all over the place. Honestly, I think the day before surgery was worse than any of my days post-surgery. The anticipation and the unknowns were terrifying.
Surgery Day
I had to be at the hospital by 5:30 am, which I loved. If you have to have surgery and are scheduling it, always have surgery early in the morning. Science has proven this is the best time as doctors are fresh and clear-headed. There are fewer mistakes made and surgeries generally go better when conducted in the morning.
I waited in the waiting room for about 30 minutes before being called back to a pre-surgical area. I had to take a pregnancy test, change into a hospital gown, and meet with the anesthesiologist, surgeons, and nurses who would be overseeing my surgery that day.
The anesthesiologist gave me a nausea patch on my neck to ensure I wouldn’t have any problems with nausea. Because I didn’t eat or drink anything since 8 pm the night before, it was really hard for them to find a vein to start my IV. I appreciate that rather than poking and prodding, they numbed my hand and then put the IV in there.
Weirdly, once I was surrounded by all the Doctors in the hospital I started to feel really calm. They asked me what I was having done that day and I explained that Dr. Desa was breaking both of my jaws. I got to kiss Josh goodbye and then they wheeled me into the OR and had me scoot over onto the operating table. One of the Doctors told me it was time to start thinking about a happy dream.
The next thing I know I was waking up in a room with a woman screaming hysterically that she was going to die. I was so confused and didn’t know what was going on. It made me really nervous and I immediately asked to change rooms. I guess I thought I would have my own room so having to share was a bit of a bummer. That said, the nurses were great and had me moved pretty quickly into another room with a very quiet roommate.
From there I faded in and out of sleep as the anesthesia wore off. I found out I was in surgery for five hours and that everything went great. (Though they had to keep telling me this as the anesthesia made me forget everything as I went in and out of sleep). I was never nauseous, could always breathe, and my pain never went above a 4 on a scale of 1 to 10 (I’ve been told my whole life I have an incredibly high pain tolerance so that may be a part of it.).
I was freaked out because I could weirdly feel my entire face. They tell you after jaw surgery numbness is to be expected and for lower jaw surgery it’s virtually a certainty. For some reason, I woke up and could feel absolutely everything. My lips and chin felt different, but I had sensation everywhere.
My face looked like an absolute mess and I had blood and phlegm coming out of my mouth on a pretty constant basis, along with occasionally having to cough to get it out of my chest. I had a splint and was banded shut but not tightly. I mostly felt sore, swollen, out of it, and in mild pain. I asked for morphine twice during my stay in the hospital because I was scared it would get worse. (It never did.) It helped me sleep overnight, but with the nurses continually coming to check my temperature, blood pressure and to give me antibiotics and steroids to decrease swelling, sleep was very choppy.
Getting up to pee was the worst because I had an IV coming out of my arm and my foot, an oxygen tube running through my nose, and my whole monitor thing I had to wheel to the bathroom. Anesthesia makes you constipated but I probably peed five or six times while in the hospital.
Since I didn’t have my own room with a recliner or couch Josh went home to sleep overnight. My roommate was super quiet so I didn’t really know she was there other than when the nurses came in to check on us. Being in the hospital overnight is like an experience from The Twilight Zone. Time feels like it doesn’t exist and you’re in a different reality.
Day 1 Post Op
The next morning Josh came back to see me and I asked if I could have chicken broth. I was weirdly really thirsty and wanting broth. Josh fed me broth from a syringe and won all the husband brownie points. Also, it was the best chicken broth I’ve ever had.
I was tired and super out of it but feeling pretty good. While I was swollen, I was shocked at how okay I was feeling. I was able to feel and move my mouth and didn’t at all feel like my mouth was locked shut. I had expected to feel a lot worse at this point. The only way I can think to describe it is my mouth was a car and I was dealing with airbags instead of a seatbelt. I expected to be strapped together tightly and unable to move when really the only thing keeping me from moving was my puffy cheeks and lips. When the residents made their rounds to check on me I asked if I could go home that day and they said yes.
The next thing I knew I was getting ready to be discharged and I started to freak out because I hadn’t been told what to do.
Can I clean my teeth? Do I keep the bands on? When’s my follow-up appointment? My biggest gripe about my jaw surgery was the lack of communication I received. I feel like most of my pre-surgery prep and post-surgery care I had to Google to find out what I should be doing.
When I told the nurse I hadn’t been given any information she had a resident come up and answer my questions. He told me to start brushing my teeth and changing my bands the next day if possible as the most important thing is to make sure my wounds don’t get infected. This brought me a ton of stress because I had never had bands before, and my mouth, while not wired or banded tightly shut, was incredibly swollen. I could not open my mouth to fit a toothbrush in, I was so swollen I couldn’t see where my bands were, and I was so tired and weak I wouldn’t have even had the energy to change my bands. Thankfully I was also given antibiotic mouthwash. I decided to ignore the resident and use the antibiotic mouthwash exclusively until my swelling went down. This worked perfectly. I still have slight resentment that he put so much pressure on me to brush my teeth when there was no possible way a toothbrush could have gone in my mouth at that time.
After this, I was taken in a wheelchair to the parking lot where Josh had the car and drove me the ten minutes home. The ride was not bad at all. As soon as I got home I changed into PJs and a bathrobe and laid down with blankets. I wanted to make sure I could breathe and that I did not get a fever (the first and really only sign of an infection in those early days) while I slept, so I had Josh get me a forehead thermometer and oxygen monitor. They were totally worth it for the peace of mind.
Day 2 Post Op
The swelling continued to get worse. I was taking a mix of Ibuprofen and Vicodin for pain. Sleep was hard to get as I was just so uncomfortable. My jaw would clench when I slept and my head would roll uncomfortably from side to side, or up and down. I was up every two hours as I was drooling and bleeding and dealing with shooting pains under my right nostril where one of the incisions was made. I also had a low-grade fever which the Doctor was not concerned about and thankfully it went away pretty quickly. I started taking Miralax since I hadn’t pooped since before surgery at this point. I was given a prescription laxative but I read that it was super strong and overkill for a lot of people (Thankfully the Miralax kicked in and worked within 24 hours).
Days 3-4 Post Op
I’m going to be really blunt. Days 3 and 4 were absolutely miserable. I was at peak swelling, peak discomfort, and peak weakness. I had also started bruising pretty badly on my left side. I was bleeding and drooling constantly, still had the shooting pains, along with some new clicking and pulsing in my mouth, and was terrified that I hadn’t been able to change my bands or brush my teeth yet. Josh had called the medical line every night since I was released from the hospital with questions. Dr. Desa moved my appointment up two days so he could see me earlier since I was so concerned about my bands.
Josh could only drop me off at my appointment because he had to teach a class. I remember crying when he left because I felt so scared, overwhelmed, and sore. Poor Dr. Desa was probably wondering what was wrong with me!
At the appointment, they took X-Rays and had me bite for the first time. It was so hard to move my mouth I was so swollen! Thankfully they said my bite looked perfect. I got to see an X-Ray of my mouth with all the hardware in it. It was quite the site.
I explained to Dr. Desa how I hadn’t been able to brush my teeth or change my bands yet and he did not seem concerned at all. He took off my front bands and just banded me on the side in triangles so I would be able to change them easily and told me to try in a few days.
My friend Joanna was incredible and drove me home afterward. It was great to get to see her and talk a little bit, but I was pretty out of it. When I got home I climbed back onto the recliner and continued to be a vegetable.
Days 5-6 Post Op
The swelling was starting to get a bit better by this point, but my spirits were so drained. I still was getting bloody noses and having bloody spit a lot throughout the day. I was told it should abate within a week and was starting to get nervous that that wasn’t happening. I accidentally tried to blow my nose during this time and also woke up in the middle of the night propping my jaw in my left hand while I slept. Each of these incidents caused a second of pure terror, but thankfully neither did damage (I learned from Dr. Desa that if something did damage you would immediately know with either extreme pain or lots of blood).
Josh also flew to Connecticut on day six to see his mom before she had a benign tumor removed from her brain. (Note: Her surgery went perfectly and she’s healing well!) I have no family in the Midwest and didn’t feel like I could be alone at that point. My Aunt Joanie is an angel and flew in from New Jersey on day five to be with me while Josh was gone. Having her here with me meant the world.
On day five I changed my bands for the first time. It was so hard to do because my face was so swollen but I did it. I also attempted to brush my teeth with a baby toothbrush for the first time. I barely could but I did my best and then used the antibiotic mouthwash. That mouthwash was a lifesaver for me as I was so freaked out about brushing my teeth and changing my bands. It can discolor your teeth if used frequently, but Dr. Desa told me all discoloration can be fixed at a routine dental cleaning. It’s worth it to me to not get an infection.
On day six Josh flew out and my Aunt Joanie and I bummed around the house together. I went to change my bands that night and realized that the bracket on my top right side that was supposed to hold my band had broken. Are you freaking kidding me? I put the band on the broken bracket as best I could and figured that was good enough for the night.
Day 7 Post Op
I called Dr. Desa and explained what had happened to the bracket. He said I could either move both triangle bands back a tooth on each side (which was not possible because I was so swollen), or call Dr. Igel and have him fix my bracket.
So I called Dr. Igel and he fit me in that day. At first, he did not want to touch my teeth since I was so fresh out of surgery. But I explained that Dr. Desa said the band needed to go there, so he said he’d try and to brace myself because it might be painful. It’s a testament to his skill because him fixing the bracket didn’t hurt at all. He had to cut the broken one out of the wiring of the rest of my front teeth and glue a new one on its place.
Week 2 Post Op
This is where the recovery story starts to get good. Every day in week two has been better than the day before. I don’t feel like myself yet, but I feel good. The way I felt on days 3 and 4 are thankfully a distant memory.
My Aunt and I talked a lot while she was here which helped stretch my mouth muscles and get them used to moving again. She took me to Costco for my first outing for me to buy more tissues. The rate at which I go through tissue boxes is a bit ridiculous. I take them with me everywhere I go.
Josh returned home on day 9. I started eating mashed potatoes with a kid’s spoon. It feels ridiculous and was slightly painful on the roof of my mouth the first few times, but it works.
I don’t have an appetite, but have been making sure to drink Ensure, green smoothies, and milkshakes to try and get enough nutrients and fats. I’m still using a syringe which I actually really like as it makes it easy to get the food in without putting any pressure on my mouth. I’ve lost 9 pounds so far which I’m definitely not sad about.
Sleep is largely uninterrupted now, although I’m still not getting a ton of it. I feel tired but not sleepy most days so I have been laying on the couch and watching all the Netflix movies. When I do sleep I use this neck pillow which has been so helpful in keeping my head from rolling while I sleep. I hate sleeping in a recliner and am excited to be able to return to my bed soon!
I’ve been off pain meds for about five days now and feeling pretty good. Thankfully the shooting pains and throbbing and pulsing sensations are gone for now. I just have perpetual pins and needles in my chin, which is to be expected as the nerves heal.
Swelling is down a lot, although I’m still super swollen in my sinuses and chin area. I’ve heard that can take months to go away. I’ve started doing a lymphatic massage on my face to hopefully help me decongest sooner.
Really the only big annoyance I’m dealing with is the bloody mucus. Dr. Desa said that during surgery my sinuses filled with blood and fluid and that it’s going to take a while for all of that to get out of there. While I’m glad it’s nothing serious, waking up in the morning and looking down and seeing bloody drool all over your PJs is something I’d like to end sooner rather than later.
I had my two week follow up with Dr. Desa yesterday and he said I’m healing beautifully. I have an appointment with him next week to get my splint taken out and then one with Dr. Igel to get a new wire put on. I’m hoping week three will be my big turning point.
I start working from home tomorrow and am both excited and nervous. Excited because I’m hoping getting back to work will help me start to feel normal again. I’m nervous because I’m not sure how my brain will do with handling projects and emails and work tasks. I get tired so easily, but thankfully I’ll be working from my couch.
Thanks for sticking through this very long recap of my first two weeks of double jaw surgery recovery. I thought it was important to document because before surgery I was reading all the blogs I could about recovery. It brought me a lot of comfort and peace to read about others who have been through it. Know that two weeks post operation I feel good and I’m glad I had the surgery. If I can do it, you can do it too.
My recovery in photos.
Also, for anyone looking for support Facebook groups to join I highly recommend this one and this one. I just joined them a few days ago and am kicking myself for not joining them sooner. They would have totally put me at ease about the mouthwash and bloody phlegm when I was freaking out while waiting to hear back from Dr. Desa’s office. It’s also amazing to see the smile transformations people have gone through. I’m hoping I’ll have a good one of my own to share in a few months!
Questions of the Day: Have you had double jaw surgery? Was your recovery similar or totally different than mine? For those who haven’t had jaw surgery, what is the biggest surgery you’ve had done to date?
Wow! I am so sorry you had to go through all of that! That must have been so miserable, but I am also very glad you were able to get things taken care of. Hang in there!
Thanks Kristin! Week three has been very good to me!
Wow! My sister went through the same surgery years ago. It was tough, but so worth it! Take care!
Thanks Gina! That’s what everyone tells me, it will all be worth it in the end.
🙁 I sort of knew what you were in for swelling wise. My nephew has Trisomy 18, and has had jaw surgery. Ouch! He doesn’t eat though. He gets fed through an NG tube. Nor does he talk. I imagine you were in some major pain!
I had a huge nose surgery a year ago. I guess my nose isn’t like everyone else’s. I had polyps close to my brain and eyes. Basically he could have hit my eyes – blind, or bone by my brain – meningitis. I had a major deviated septum. My nose still feels dry daily.
I’m so sorry to hear about your nose! And omg the swelling was NO JOKE. My lips swelled to like three times their size. Thankfully everything is slowly but surely going back to normal.
I had this surgery when I was fourteen. I don’t remember much about the recovery (but plenty about my weeklong stay in the hospital), but going home to the couch was always the best part after any of my surgeries. Sleeping was always the hardest because I wanted to turn onto my stomach so badly. The thing about surgeries and recovery is that it’ll all be a memory before you know it.
I cannot wait for that day!! I’m glad the surgery went well for you!
Erin – thank you for allowing me to share in this special time in your journey! You are an amazing young woman and will hold special place in my heart!
Aww I love you Aunt Joanie! Thank you so much for everything. <3
I am glad that you are recovering well and I wish you all the best my friend. Stay strong? big hug
Thank you so much Charlotte!! How are you? I miss you!
Oh my – what a journey! So sorry for your suffering and wishing you the speediest of recoveries … and a day very soon when it’s a distant memory, and you’re smiling happily. Thank you for sharing this.
I cannot wait for that day!!
awww cuddles from your cat 😀
and that lady screaming would have startled/confused any of us 🙂
I was so out of it but had absolutely no clue what was going on. I hope she ended up being okay!
Double wow! You’ve been through so much. God is faithful and you’re going to be a testimony to so many. God bless you, Sis.
Thank you Teri! <3
wow! You have been through so much. I’m so glad to hear you are recovering. You’re absolutely gorgeous. Keep rocking!
Thank you so much Sreya! Week three has been even better than week two!
I’ve been through the same thing 3 years ago. Miserable for 2 weeks and barely eat for a couple months. Still find that some problems are still there and will never go away but feel better than I did before hand. Hopefully you don’t encounter any problems and I hope the rest of your recovery is smooth!
Thank you so much Alyx! No problems so far. I can’t wait until I’m 3 years past this like you are!! If you don’t mind me asking, what problems do you still struggle with?
That is quite an ordeal. I’ve had a few different surgeries, and I always feel that doctors tend to downplay the recovery. I’m always so surprised by how drained and tired surgeries make you and how long it really takes to feel back to your normal self. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I know it will be helpful to so many people.
Thank you for reading my story! I’m glad people find it interesting. As someone who generaly feels really good day to day, I was shocked at how drained I’ve been during recovery. It definitely makes me thankful for my health!
What a journey! So happy that you’re healing well and that it is getting easier each day. I hope the remaining ailments get better with time. I love that photo of your cat cuddling with you. I just love how they can sense when we need them nearby to help us and be a comfort!
Punkin has been the sweetest with all of this. He’s the best little baby.
Thinking of you! Anything with oral surgery is no fun! I hope you get the results that you want and that you continue to recover well!
Thank you so much Sandra! Recovery has been going great so far!
Oh gosh, I’m sorry you had to go through all of this but I’m glad it was worth it and you are starting to feel better. I hope working from home goes well and doesn’t tire you out too much. I’ve had my wisdom teeth removed, surgery in both of my ears, and my gallbladder removed. All of them were out-patient so I’m not sure which would be the worst? Maybe gallbladder being removed due to recovery time, etc.
-Lauren
Eek I hope you have no more surgeries to worry about for quite a while! Working from home went great. Tomorrow is my first day back to the office!
I can’t even imagine! You are a rockstar!
Thank you so much lady!! I’m so glad it’s over!
This is was such an interesting read and you’re incredibly strong!
Thank you very much! I’m happy to be on the other side of it all! 😀
Interesting post and very informative
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it!
Wow girl! you’re so strong and such a tough cookie! I’m glad you kept a positive attitude! Best of luck!
Thank you so much Lauren! Week three has been a big improvement!
Hey Erin…Thank you for sharing your story with us…I did double jaw surgery 2 weeks ago and I had so much pain,numbness,edema and heaviness..I’m really depressed now since my mouth is in total occlusion and I’m bored of being on a liquid diet.how do you feel now??
I’m so sorry Sima! The first three weeks are definitely the hardest. I’m four months out now and doing great! I can eat anything I want and have no pain. I have some nerve sensitivity on the lower right side of my mouth but my Dr said it’s expected and nothing to worry about and should go away within a few more months. The biggest thing I’ve learned with this is it just takes time to heal and to give yourself a lot of patience. Every week my mouth is better and stronger and improved in some way. You’ve got this!!
Oh Thank you…your replay means a lot…although I’m a junior doctor but being patient and having that much patience was harder than I thought..for how many weeks you’ve occluded mouth? And when you started to eat normally?
I just had upper jaw surgery yesterday January 23, 2019 to correct an open bite & poor occlusion. Swelling & tight jaw muscles have definitely been the worst part so far.
How is healing going? You got this lady! <3
Hi! I’m really thankful that you shared your story without much sugarcoating. I’m set to get double jaw surgery in December and I’ve been pretty panicky about it. I was wondering how long it took for your swelling to mostly go down? As slightly narcissistic as it sounds, my surgery is five months before my college graduation and I’d rather not look too stung up during pictures.
My swelling was completely gone in like 4-5 months. You should be good. Good luck lady! <3
Hi Erin, my name is Geane. Thanks for sharing your history. I had a double jaw surgery on 5/2 so I am 18 days post op and still have a lot of swelling on my upper lip (around my nose and where they made the cut to move my upper jaw forward). I am so frustrated because it doesn’t look like it is going down, not even considering the pain, the discomfort. Overall, this has been a terrible experience for me. How long did take for your swelling on that area to go down? Thank you!!
You got this lady! I took probably four months to fully de-swell.
How did you get the approval from the insurance? What insurance did you use? May I ask how much did it cost you?
Hey Erin! Do the surgery three days ago and I’m feeling kinda horrible…. How long did it take for the swelling to go down?
Hey Summer! Congrats on completing the surgery. Swelling was the worst the first two weeks for me.
Hi Erin!
I’m so grateful to you for sharing your journey. Our stories are the same! I’m in braces right now and even that is a dream come true. I am ready for surgery and will be scheduling for this summer. I am 30 years old living in Houston, Texas. As you know, this surgery is around $30K and took 1.5 decades to have insurance deem the procedure ‘’medically necessary”. Ecstatic, nervous, scared, anxious, totally in my feelings right now.
This is a testimony and beautifully written by the way. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Big hugs and blessings,
April
April
I need this surgery so much! I’m so tired of people always telling me to smile because with my overbite my resting face looks frowny! (And of course my bottom teeth has worn out the back of my top teeth from grinding m)
I figured this is something I’ll never have done because of the high cost and of course many insurance companies claim this is not a medical need. Please share some details about what kind of insurance policy you have and what kind of convincing did it take you before they agreed to cover this for you?
I am SO excited for you April!! Kudos to you for not giving up on your dream! Trust me when I say at the end of this your beautiful smile will be more than worth it!!
My I ask how you get them to do That? My insurance says mine is not medically necessary but it is. My doctors have them tons of evidence but they won’t budge. I’ve had to save for this myself. Any info is appreciated thanks.
Thanks for sharing! It helped me a lot! I’m a nervous wreck about my upcoming surgery. To be honest, I’ve put this off for almost 10 years.
I’m currently in month 8 of braces. I have an MRI scheduled for next week so my surgeon can determine whether or not to replace my jaw joints. Did you also have your jaw joints replaced?
At this point in your recovery, do you feel it was all worth it?
Also, does your pain/symptoms prior surgery feel better now?
Thank you in advance for your response!! I loved the blog and the advice. I also requested to join your FB group as suggested. I think that will be a great help!
Sending good thoughts for continued healing!
Thanks,
Gina
Hi Gina!
Thank you so much! I’m fully healed now and my braces are removed. It feels great and I am SO thankful I did this surgery. I’m beyond happy with the results. It’s crazy my teeth now touch!
I have zero pain and would go through this again in a heartbeat. I didn’t have joints replaced so I unfortunately can’t offer perspective there.
You got this lady!! Good for you for taking care of your health and doing this for yourself!
Hi i just felt so relieved reading your comment..I don’t know whats in store for me as nothing from braces to invisalign has worked for me n i am so scared that surgery might be the last option..i am really really scared and it’s driving me crazy..do let me know how it went
Aww I understand. It’s a scary surgery! But it was personally so worth it for me!
I just had the surgery 3 weeks ago, I wish my progress was like yours. My swelling was so bad I couldn’t see. How long did it take for the pressure in your cheeks under the eyes to go away? And did u have headaches?
For those who are having jaw surgery and asking costs…just had Lefort 1 osteotomy (upper jaw) surgery on 8/27/2019. It stinks. I would only recommend this surgery if you do not have to work for 3-4 weeks and absolutely necessary to correct TMJ or crossbite. I am in an online class right now and I am barely making deadlines due to painful sinuses & general pain. I still cannot eat anything more than broth or thin smoothies. Sleep is rough due to having to sit fully upright. My tailbone hurts. Teeth are now clenching at night, wakes me up. I was prescribed 25 5 mg oxycotins (1 every 4 hours). They were gone on day 4. Now, just taking 1000 mg of Tylenol every 4 hours and 600 mg of Ibuprofen every 6 hours (was taking these round the clock combined with the oxycotins until day 4). Surgeon will not prescribe anymore narcotics. Pain is about a 6.
Can take short walks. Nasal drainage is still medium. On box 3 of 160 count kleenex. Numbness in cheeks and entire nose. Palate expander sits on roof of mouth. Hard to breathe. Back to costs…with United Healthcare, which is through Milwaukee County, I have to pay $3,000 copay. I was not approved for double jaw surgery because my original surgeon said I didn’t need it. Then he disappeared 1.5 months before my surgery date and I scrambled to find a new surgeon. New surgeon is a professor of oral surgery at the Milwaukee Medical College of WI. She stated I need double jaw surgery but unlikely my insurance would agree to cover it with such short notice so she petitioned for the original Lefort 1 that they already approved for the original surgeon.
I wish I would have had this surgery earlier in the summer since it’s Fall semester now and I am struggling with just one online class. Wish I had a neck pillow. Surgery is not for weak minded people. I feel depressed thinking about my liquid diet for next 5 weeks. Already lost 5 lbs in 5 days. I am not one to post photos online but I definitely wouldn’t recommend a social influencer to have this surgery. You’ll be in bed for at least a week straight. Physical features are very ugly right now. Happy I have a friend I am staying with. Wish she hadn’t bought a new puppy 2 days post my surgery but she is actually getting me moving which is probably better than if I was alone. If anybody wants to ask anymore legit questions, email me at [email protected].
Hi! I know this is an old post, but I was super glad I stumbled across it on Google—I’m actually an Omaha native myself who will be needing this same jaw surgery in the next year or two. I’m REALLY glad to hear more good things about Dr. Desa: he was really nice when I went in for my consult, and everyone I’ve talked to says he’s the best there is, so I guess I lucked out on “cities to live in when you have a wonky jaw”? LOL
My lower jaw doesn’t properly line up with the upper one and when I smile only my lower teeth are visible, I want to get double jaw surgery too but I’m extremely scared
hi! I have to fly at day 19 (not counting day of surgery). Did you fly? Looking for some folks that under went same surgery and flew so I can determine whether or not it’s worth it. thank you!
Hey! I did not. I would not have been able to fly at day 19 personally and I don’t think my doctor would have allowed it.
How long did it take for your oral surgeon to get your insurance approved after they submitted the paperwork to see if insurance would help? Thank you.
Hey Erin,
I have seen your post as i think you are a brave girl. I know this surgery is soo difficult to do as it require patience and calmness. So i wish you the best future ahead
How are you doing now? That was quite a journey! And Josh looks like an exceptionally lovely human being! You are lucky to have had him at your side!
Hey, I’m in the same position. My jaw was messed up I had a 2cm open bite and an over bite. Only my very back teeth met. I had the same surgery + a septoplasty done 5 days ago now. And I’m feeling rough, so im glad here it’s going to get better. The pain isnt too bad, it’s just tight because if swelling.
The one thing taking my recover to a whole new low is the sleep, I just cant. I get super bad anxiety when I try to sleep. Do you have any tips?
I’m really glad to know it should start to get better soon and found this article EXTREMELY helpful, so thank you.
Have u got your sensation back ? U feel everything as same as before surgery ?
Yes, I feel great!
I mean you don’t have any numbness now ?
Nope, my mouth and jaw feel normal.
Im on day 5 they took my prescription off yesterday. Reading tgis helped me feel not so alone just need remember its not forever and will get better.
Stumbled across your blog as I’m mentally preparing for double jaw surgery next month. Thank you for writing such a detailed account. It’s put me at a bit more ease with knowing a bit more about what to expect.
Hi Erin,
I am going through orthodontic treatment at the moment. Did you experience hair loss whilst preparing you for jaw surgery by pushing your lower jaw forward? Did you also experience your hair turning grey/white due to the stress?
Hi Andy, I did not experience any of that. I’m so sorry that’s happening to you! I’d definitely talk to your doctor.
Hello! Great post! I actually live in Omaha and went to Dr Igel for my consultation, and he also suggested double jaw surgery…moving my upper jaw forward, and my bottom jaw back. Dr Igel said that the ideal option is double jaw surgery but that I could try a non-surgical option to get me partly to where I need to be bite-wise (maybe 70% there). I cannot decide what to do. I have my consultation with Dr Desa in about a month…and I am hoping he can provide some insight into which option I should do. Did Dr Desa help answer a lot of your questions? I am optimistic he will be very informative and help me make my decision.
Dr. Desa was FANTASTIC! I highly recommend him. Incredible surgeon and also just a good person. Best of luck on your journey Lisa! <3
Hi there! I had double jaw surgery with chin implant..I am on week 4 post op, When does the numbness and tingly sensation go away? Is this permanent? Kinda nervous that I will be numb in my lower lip forever !!!!
My doctor said it takes months or even years! I think at about a year my mouth felt good again! Hang in there! <3
Thank you so much I’m having the same thing done March 1, 2021. This was very helpful and comforting. I’ve been doing tons of research too and I found that pineapples have anti swelling properties that are derived from it. I hope this helps someone.
Ohh that’s good to know. Thank you for sharing David!
I just got my double jaw surgery done on Monday and I already regret it. It’s been one of the hardest things I’ve done in my life and the past couple of days have been AWFUL. I kinda want to give up already because of the amount of pain and energy it takes out of me. I read your blog when it was like 3am and I couldn’t sleep but knowing that I wasn’t alone and that it’ll get better (hopefully soon because the days seem to be going REALLY slow) helped me.
I totally understand that Genelia. How are you feeling now? It’s a long, slow healing process but I really hope it turned out to be worth it for you.
Hi, lower jaw surgery is discussed with my Surgeon but reading your comment makes me nervous. I am already 59yrs old and not sure if all this pain this late in my life stage would be worth it. How do you feel now after having it done?
I feel great! So glad I had it done!
I had double jaw surgery done in 1993. Also had roof of my mouth split open. I have metal plates in my jaw. It was the worse thing I could have done. My bite is totally off, I have a bone sticking out in the bottom left. I was told that because of the pressure with my misaligned jaw the bone had to go somewhere. I have limited range in my jaw, the tmj is still there. Dental work is a nightmare and yes I need lots of it, because of how my jaw set. I have 4 wires in my upper mouth not attached to anything. If I could change things, I never would have had it done. By the way I still get migraines, if anything they never really went away. I have nothing but regrets and large dental bills.
I am so so sorry to hear that Jen! I know the surgery has come along way in the last few decades. Is there anything they can do now?
So I am considering surgery and I googled before and after jaw surgery….
and to my absolute amazement I saw someone I recognized!
Erin, we worked together at Macy’s at the Lycoming Mall. Small world. Mind blown.
Anyway I wanted to thank you for documenting and sharing your experience.
Also, a huge congratulations on all you’ve accomplished and been through. I’m truly glad to see how well you’re doing.
Best wishes & sincere gratitude,
Lynn (the Lancome girl)
Omg Lynn!! How are you?!? Have you decided on the surgery? It’s a brutal recovery but I’d honestly do it again for the results I got.
Thank you so much for this. I am having my double jaw surgery 5-19-22. Would you be able to reach out to me?
I’m recovering from bilateral tmj replacement surgery for a condition called ICR (Idiopathic condylar resorption) 6 days post op! Day 4 and 5 were really tough, a few tears were shed. I woke up this am having a tough time, feeling like when will this swelling and pain be over. Your words have provided me with hope that I will get through this. This is for now… forever is after this. Thank you for your wonderful words of encouragement.
You got this Kaitlyn! Recovering from this surgery was brutal but I would do it again I’m so happy with the results.
i’m so glad i can across your story. i just had this surgery done on me 6 days ago. it has brought me so much confidence and comfort in how i can treat myself going forwards. thank you!
Hi Erin! I came across your story while doing some research. I’d love to hear how you’ve healed over the years and how you’re feeling now about the jaw surgery!
I healed great! So glad I got the surgery and would absolutely do it again if I had to make the choice over again. No issues or long-term side effects.
I had lasik eye surgery several years ago. The worst part was the anticipation of it. Did not hurt at all. Best thing I have ever done for myself.