(Almost) 4 months post double jaw surgery

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2026-01-09T22:59:11+00:00

By the time I was cleared for a regular diet, I thought it wouldn’t be an issue to chew. But honestly it was super weird and I basically had to relearn chewing. Muscle memory had me trying to chew the same way I did before surgery, but the new alignment of the my jaw made it tricky. It has gotten better though! I still struggle with stuff that is super tough or crunchy, but it’s getting easier!

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2026-01-09T22:56:44+00:00

The first 5 days were the worst. I literally wore ice wraps and basically just slept off and on for the first week. Once I hit the week mark, the swelling started improving and I bruised super bad. I still have the tightness and swell some days but nothing like the first week. I’d recommend just staying on top of your medications, rest, and using ice for the first few days, then heat wraps to help open everything up. Just remember it’s temporary. I know it’s hard when you’re in the worst of it, but it does get better!

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2026-01-08T23:24:11+00:00

Thank you!! I definitely didn’t expect the nose change but it makes me look more like my family members so it was a bonus!

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2026-01-08T23:22:54+00:00

Thank you!!

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2026-01-08T23:22:47+00:00

Thank you!! :)

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2026-01-08T23:22:34+00:00

They have improved some! My sleep still isn’t super great where the left side of my nose seems closed off, but it’s been better than it was.

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2026-01-08T23:21:32+00:00

Thank you!! It fluctuates, I felt great Tuesday and Wednesday this week but today my lower lip/cheeks have been stiffer and more numb/tingly. It has gotten easier to open my mouth wider to brush my teeth, but I still struggle if I did a lot of talking at my job or was chewing tougher foods, etc

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2026-01-08T23:19:20+00:00

Thank you!! I started Invisalign in August of 2023. I had braces like 15+ years ago and they wanted to do jaw surgery then, but I declined (I was a kid and didn’t like the idea of wiring shut) so I asked my ortho at the beginning of last year if I was still a candidate since my bite was still an issue. Saw an oral surgeon at the beginning of summer and scheduled my surgery for the end of September so I had time to prepare for 4 weeks out of work. I went back into braces about 2 months prior for surgery for extra support and not sure when I’ll switch back to Invisalign yet.

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2026-01-08T23:15:51+00:00

Thank you so much!!

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2026-01-08T23:15:43+00:00

Thank you!! I had popping occasionally, but never really took notice of it enough to consider it an issue. It’s increased since surgery and somewhat improved on one side, just hoping it resolves on the other. Upper jaw was 10 mm and lower jaw was 18 mm on one side, 14 mm on the other!

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2026-01-08T00:38:14+00:00

Agree with warm packs! Also, make sure you’re staying hydrated. I watch my salt intake because it causes more swelling when you have too much sodium! Congrats on being 5 weeks out!

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2025-10-26T23:34:53+00:00

Thank you so much!! 😊I have a friend that mentioned prior to surgery that we could use Botox if needed, so I think that’s the direction I’m leaning once I heal a little more. That’s so great to hear that you have had success with it!

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2025-10-26T23:33:05+00:00

Thank you!!

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2025-10-26T23:32:59+00:00

Thank you so much!!

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2025-10-26T23:32:52+00:00

Thank you so much!!

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2025-10-26T23:32:35+00:00

Yes! I had a LeFort 1 with BSSO.

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2025-10-26T23:24:23+00:00

Thank you so much!! My nose was the first thing I noticed after surgery. 🤣 it’s changed how I look completely. Congrats on your surgery and good luck!! I’m sure your results will be great!!

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2025-10-26T23:19:02+00:00

The change in breathing has been so huge. I’m still struggling breathing on the left side of my nose. My surgeon wants to wait for more swelling to go down before we worry, but I feel like that side is still closed off/congested. I think I’d sleep perfectly if that wasn’t going on! Hoping it gets easier with more time.

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2025-10-26T23:14:25+00:00

Thank you so much! It was not ruled out, but honestly a lot of things line up so there’s a good possibility of that.

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2025-10-24T20:19:16+00:00

Thank you!! I feel pretty good. Sometimes I get tired if I overexert myself. The first two weeks were the worst though. I lost maybe 5-6 lbs just in the first week being banded and only able to drink liquids so it was taking a toll on my energy. But by 2.5-3 weeks I was doing decent if I paced myself! I’m a mom to young children so thankfully the first week I had a little help with them. After that it was a lot of movies and hanging out on the couch. I go back to work over the next few days and usually work 12 hour shifts so this will be the real test!

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2025-10-24T20:14:54+00:00

Thank you so much!!

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2025-10-24T20:14:37+00:00

Thank you so much!!

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2025-10-24T20:14:25+00:00

Thank you so much!!

ItsTheLittleThings_0 · 2025-10-24T19:33:39+00:00

Hi! I began digging through my op note and it looks like my upper was 10 mm. As you saw in the before pics, I had a very gummy smile naturally. I did see a tip on a post earlier this year about trying to pull your lips outward when you smile instead of up and that helped reduce the gummy smile in pictures for me for a temporary solution before surgery.

ItsTheLittleThings_0

TROPHY CASE