Double Jaw Surgery: Swelling and Tightness

Double jaw surgery (bimaxillary orthognathic surgery) moves both your upper and lower jaw. It can change your bite, your breathing, and your face. And for the first few weeks, it can leave you looking like a chipmunk and living on smoothies.

Ay, mi alma (oh, my soul), you're not alone. Let's talk about the swelling, the tightness, and what helps.

Double jaw surgery recovery: the quick answer

Facial swelling usually peaks around day two or three, then slowly goes down. Most of the big swelling is gone in a few weeks, but the last bit can take several months to a year to fully settle.

Numbness in your lips, chin, and cheeks is common and often improves slowly over months. Jaw tightness and trouble opening wide are normal too, and get better with time and the exercises your surgeon gives you.

What's normal

• Big facial swelling, especially in your cheeks and jaw

• Bruising that can travel down your neck

• Numbness or tingling in your lips, chin, and gums

• A tight, stiff jaw that doesn't open very wide

• A liquid or soft diet for several weeks

Paciencia: patience. Your face changes week by week.

What helps

• Keep your head up when you rest and sleep

• Cold or warm compresses, exactly as your surgeon says

• Follow your diet plan. Sopitas y licuados: soups and smoothies, for a while

• Do your jaw exercises when your surgeon says it's time

• Walk to help your whole body move fluid

Gentle facial lymphatic drainage

What I tell my clients: with your surgeon's okay, very gentle lymphatic drainage of your face and neck can help swelling move. It's light, slow work. I never press on your jaw or near your incisions, and I follow your surgeon's rules exactly.

→ Do I Need My Surgeon's Clearance for Lymphatic Massage?

→ How Lymphatic Drainage Works

Here's your chisme for today: take a selfie from the same angle every week. Swelling goes down so slowly that it's easy to think nothing's changing, until you compare.

When to call your surgeon

Ojo, watch out: call your surgeon if you have trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling that suddenly gets worse after it was improving, a fever, bad taste or pus in your mouth, bleeding that won't stop, or if your bite suddenly feels very different. Call 911 for trouble breathing.

Ready to heal?

If you're in Sacramento and recovering from jaw surgery, I'd love to help with the swelling.

→ Book a Session

Not local? Reach out to me for a private consult over Zoom (small fee).

→ Email Me: christina@lymphandscars.com

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I'm a Certified Massage Therapist (CAMTC No. 39170), not a doctor. This post is for education, not medical advice. Always follow your surgeon's instructions. If you think you're having an emergency, call 911.