My Jaw Surgery: Day of Operation (Day 0)

After years of dealing with an underbite, my dentist and orthodontist strongly recommended jaw surgery. The primary reason? My molars were grinding against each other, causing enamel erosion that could lead to long-term dental issues. To ensure the longevity of my teeth, I decided to move forward with the procedure.

Preparing for Surgery The morning of the surgery was filled with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. Upon arriving at the hospital, I was checked in and given a hospital gown to change into. The medical staff walked me through the steps, answering any last-minute questions. The anesthesiologist explained the process, and before I knew it, I was being prepped for the procedure.

Under Anesthesia One moment I was having a casual conversation with the medical team, and the next, everything faded into unconsciousness. The procedure itself took just under three hours, during which the surgeons worked to reposition my jaw properly. I woke up feeling disoriented, with significant numbness and swelling in my face. My ability to speak was limited, and communication relied mostly on hand gestures and writing notes.

Immediate Post-Surgery Experience

I had to stay overnight at the hospital for monitoring. My surgeon came by after the surgery to check on me and said that the procedure went very well. It felt like a dream to me as I was under general anesthesia, but I definitely felt some pain and discomfort. I was very glad that everything went smoothly as I had second thoughts just before the operation! I quickly messaged my wife to let her know that I had exited the OR and was resting in my room.

The nurses were great and super patient, especially since I had difficulty expressing myself and had to rely on other cues such as visual indications (i.e., nodding or shaking my head to their questions). Luckily, I had access to my phone, so for more complex requests, I typed into a note-taking app and showed them to the nurses.

The biggest challenge for me, other than pain, was the nasal congestion. At one point, I felt that I was suffocating and pressed the bell for the nurse to help. I remembered I wasn't allowed to blow my nose, so I had to rely on other options. The overnight nurse calmed me down and said as long as my oxygen level looked good, I should be fine and should try to get some sleep.

Going to the restroom wasn't too bad, except that every time I stood up, my nose would start to bleed. It was apparently normal due to all the detachment of the underlying tissue that happened during the surgery.

I hardly ate anything initially as I couldn't open my mouth wide enough, and swallowing was super painful. Again, due to the breathing tubes being inserted into the airway, the discomfort was expected and would subside quickly. By early morning, though, I forced myself to drink most of the apple juice and soup using a large syringe with a feeding tube attached to the tip. It was very messy, but boy, was I glad to taste something other than water! Highly recommend getting some of these in preparation for your surgery. I've ordered mine from Amazon: https://amzn.to/410Uge1

150ml syringes

Next Steps in Recovery As I adjusted to the post-surgery reality, I began to understand the road ahead—swelling management, dietary restrictions, and gradual healing. In the coming days, I would document my progress, sharing insights into recovery milestones and challenges.

For those considering or preparing for jaw surgery, here are some helpful resources:

• Overview of Orthognathic Surgery

• Recovery Tips from Oral Surgeons

• What to Expect After Jaw Surgery - Video

Stay tuned for Day 1, where I share more details about managing swelling, pain, and the first steps in recovery.