Has anyone here gone through jaw surgery and can share what the whole process was like? I keep seeing those dramatic before/after pics online, but I’m more curious about the in-between stuff… pain, swelling, eating, how long till you felt “normal” again? Any regrets or things you wish you’d known?
I’m in the middle of getting consultations for jaw surgery myself, so I’ve been deep-diving into recovery stories. From what I’ve gathered, the swelling can be pretty intense the first week or two—like, you might not recognize yourself in the mirror for a bit. Eating seems to be a whole ordeal; most people say you’re on liquids or mushy foods for weeks. One thing I didn’t expect is how tired people feel even after the pain subsides—apparently the fatigue lingers. I’m honestly a little nervous about the numbness too, since some folks mention it lasts for months. No regrets for most, but some wish they’d prepped more meals ahead of time or asked for better pain management options.
Swelling is definitely no joke—my face looked like a balloon for about 10 days, and I remember feeling super self-conscious. The numbness was weird at first, but honestly, I got used to it after a couple weeks (mine faded gradually over a few months). Fatigue surprised me too; I’d nap in the middle of the day and still feel wiped. If you can, stock up on easy-to-eat foods ahead of time. I wish I’d done more of that—blending soup got old fast. Pain was manageable, but I did have to ask for stronger meds after the first night.
