pre & post-op care
Everything you need to know before and after your procedure, all in one place.
recover & thrive
Post-operative care is a crucial part of your recovery and overall treatment success. Following the instructions provided by your surgical team helps ensure proper healing, reduces the risk of complications, and maximizes the long-term benefits of your procedure.
At San Diego Maxillofacial Surgery, we provide clear, detailed guidelines to support you every step of the way, empowering you to recover safely and confidently.
pre-op care instructions
Find out what to expect from your procedure and how to prepare to set yourself up for a successful experience.
post-op care instructions
Following our post-op guidelines will help maximize your comfort after surgery and ensure a proper recovery.
FAQs
Have questions about what to expect before and after treatment? Find answers here.
As with any healthcare procedure, there is the possibility of certain risks and complications. While we do everything we can to avoid these risks, it is important to be aware of them.
- Infection: rare and typically treatable, but may affect healing.
- Damage to surrounding structures: Extremely rare damage to gums, bone or teeth.
- Numbness/Decreased Sensation:
- Upper Jaw: may affect nose & upper lip.
- Lower Jaw: may affect lower lip & chin. Loss of sensation & numbness is usually temporary, but some permanent loss of feeling is possible.
Most patients will take 1-2 weeks off from school or desk work. We recommend 6 weeks without heavy physical activity. Swelling will diminish over the first 3-4 weeks with food restrictions up to 6 weeks. Full bony healing can take up to 6-8 months although functional recovery takes 6-8 weeks.
In most cases, yes, you will experience aesthetic changes after surgery. These changes are generally seen as positive improvements in harmony and balance.
- Chin position: May move forward, backward, or center, depending on alignment.
- Jawline: Usually more defined and symmetric.
- Facial symmetry: Improved if you had an asymmetry or imbalance
- Smile and lip posture: More even bite and more natural lip closure.
- Profile: Balanced proportions between upper, mid, and lower face.
Here’s what you can expect from your recovery process:
- Week 1–2: Significant swelling masks results; your face may look puffy or even distorted.
- Week 3–6: Swelling begins to subside, and early improvements are visible.
- 3 Months: Most swelling is gone; your new appearance becomes more defined.
- 6–12 Months: Final facial contours settle in fully as healing completes.
Post-op pain is usually manageable with strict and timely medications. Most discomfort comes from swelling and restricted jaw movement, not severe pain. Temporary numbness, which is expected in the upper and lower lips and chin may be more bothersome than pain.
For the first 2 weeks, patients can eat a pureed or blenderized foods only. Week 3, extremely soft foods such as scrambled eggs and over-cooked pasta. Weeks 4-6, gentle chewing can be introduced with softer meats and over-cooked veggies in small pieces. Weeks 6-8, continued progression of a more regular diet up until the 10th week where all restrictions can be lifted.
