Recovering from Jaw Surgery: What to Expect Orthognathic surgery is to correct the conditions of the jaw and face, usually related to the structure, growth, or to assist in orthodontic treatment. Bones in the region of the jaw are cut and realigned, and held in place with plates and screws.
One of the most frequent questions people face this type of surgery is as follows:
How long does it take for the bone to heal after jaw surgery?
This response can vary considerably depending on the extent of surgery, and how the patient responds to surgery. Generally, it takes 6 to 8 weeks for initial healing of the jaw and 3-4 months for a full recovery. The most common complication following jaw surgery is numbness of the face and jaw, due to nerve damage. The numbness may be temporary, or (more rarely) permanent.
It is possible to experience the pain and pressure immediately after surgery. For the first 10 days or so, just trying to move your jaw side to the other with slow movements exercise should be enough jaw.
Remember, during this time, your jaw is still soft and mobile. You should not do any type of exercise or sport that can affect your jaw. You should also avoid any stressful activity that can lead you to clench your teeth.
Like other forms of plastic surgery, orthognathic surgery procedures have seen a series of advances in medicine. The most recent being a device internal distraction osteogenesis to promote the growth of new bone to lengthen the jaw. The unit operates under the skin by the lengthening of the bone after a cut is made in the bone to create a new growth center. The bone is gradually pulled apart so that new soft bone grows and then calcified. This device provides an improvement in the market because most existing schemes are outside the skin and scars with current problems of traction and pain. internal devices are less painful and obvious.
Whatever the chosen procedure, ultimately it must be to get the desired results. Start by finding a doctor you are comfortable, and the powers that you feel comfortable. With the help of the Internet makes it easy to find a list of the best, qualified physicians in your area. Once you have your list in hand, call centers and take several appointments. All major centers will offer a free consultation to find the staff and physicians before the time of your surgery.
Make sure you communicate regularly with your surgeon and understand the procedure, including recovery time. Be honest with your desires and let him know if you have any questions or requests. The time to ask questions is before the procedure. Remember, the more informed you are, the more the process will be.
Posted on March 25, 2010.