That swelling really does sneak up on you, doesn’t it? I remember thinking I’d dodged the worst of it, then woke up on day two looking like I’d stuffed both cheeks with marshmallows. It’s unsettling, especially when you’re not sure what’s normal. The anxiety is real—my daughter kept joking about me auditioning for a chipmunk commercial, but I wasn’t laughing much at the time.
About the ice packs… I found them helpful, but I did notice my jaw felt a bit stiffer after a while. Not painful, just kind of tight and hard to move, especially if I left the pack on too long. Still, I’d take that over the full-on balloon face any day. My surgeon was pretty clear: stick with ice for the first 24-48 hours, then consider switching to gentle heat if the swelling lingered. I was a bit hesitant to try the warm compresses—I worried it might make things worse—but honestly, it helped loosen things up once the worst swelling had gone down.
I think everyone’s experience is a little different. Some folks barely swell at all, others look like they’ve been in a boxing match. For me, the ice was more about comfort than anything else. It gave me something to do and made me feel like I was at least trying to help the situation. The heat was nice later on, but I wouldn’t have wanted to use it too soon.
If you’re feeling anxious about how your face looks or feels, you’re definitely not alone. It’s temporary, even if it feels endless in the moment. And hey, if you can get through those first few days, it’s all downhill from there.
I did notice my jaw felt a bit stiffer after a while. Not painful, just kind of tight and hard to move, especially if I left the pack on too long.
That’s interesting—did you ever try those gel packs that stay flexible when frozen? I wonder if the type of ice pack makes a difference with stiffness or comfort. Or maybe it’s just the cold itself?
I’ve noticed the same thing with regular ice packs—my jaw would get super stiff if I left them on too long. The gel packs do seem a bit more forgiving since they stay flexible, but honestly, after a while, even those made my muscles tense up. I think it’s partly just the cold, but maybe also the pressure from holding something against your face for so long. Alternating cold and room temp seemed to help me loosen up a bit.
