My Journey Through Double Jaw Surgery
From my earliest years, I have been deeply conscious of my side profile. In photographs, I would always try to angle myself in a way that would draw attention away from my elongated face, my gummy smile, and my weak chin. Furthermore, I had crooked teeth and an overbite that prevented my lips from closing properly.
The constant need to keep my lips apart led to mouth breathing, dry mouth, jaw pain, difficulty in chewing, and an inability to bite into food. Braces and rubber bands were prescribed as the solution – I wore them for seven years, and initially, I was satisfied with the improvements they brought.
However, as time passed, my jaw slowly returned to its original position, and my old issues resurfaced. I found myself repeatedly wearing and removing braces over a decade, until a new orthodontist finally recommended jaw surgery. Corrective jaw surgery, or orthognathic surgery, is a surgical procedure that involves repositioning one (single jaw surgery) or both jaws (double jaw surgery) to achieve better alignment. A misaligned jaw can result from an accident or injury, or, as in my case, be congenital.
The surgery would be complex, but the assurance that I would need only one more round of braces was comforting. Most jaw surgeries require braces before, during, and after the procedure to ensure proper teeth alignment and aid in stability during the healing phase. An orthodontist's ability to predict bite alignment post-surgery is limited, so adjustments are often necessary afterward. I wore braces for six months before and eight months after – slightly less than the average, given the significant time I had already spent with braces.
After numerous discussions with the insurance company and six months of preparation with braces, I was ready for the surgery. To have the entire surgery – which amounted to $100,000 – covered, the nearest in-network, board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon was located in Seattle, a 1.5-hour flight from my home in Montana. Most insurance companies cover corrective jaw surgery to address functional issues, but coverage is unlikely for purely aesthetic reasons.
The Day of My Double Jaw Surgery
No matter how much research I did, nothing could truly prepare me for entering Harborview Medical Center in Seattle on that late March morning in 2024. I was 25 years old, and despite having spent hours learning about double jaw surgery, I panicked and fainted in the bathroom during the check-in process.
My surgery involved just two small external incisions on my lower cheeks but several lengthy incisions inside my mouth, along the gums. The 10-hour procedure involved breaking and realigning my upper and lower jaws and expanding my palate before securing everything with titanium screws. Since I already had a small chin, my surgeon opted for a sliding genioplasty to align my chin with my newly positioned jaw. The chin bone was cut and "slid" into its new position, then fastened with screws. Otherwise, she stated, I "would go directly from mouth to neck." This would also help my lips to close more comfortably.
I woke up unable to feel my lower face and wearing a "jaw bra," a band that holds ice packs against your face. My braces were covered with thick, snug bands (a safer yet equally efficient alternative to wires) to prevent my mouth from opening even a millimeter and spoiling my surgical results.
Jaw surgery typically involves a one-night hospital stay, but I remained there for four days due to complications. The flight back home to Montana was agonizing, and I wore a surgical mask to hide my swollen and bruised face from passersby. I knew that my mouth would be bandaged shut for five to eight weeks, depending on the healing progress, and my face would be numb. Nevertheless, no amount of reading could have prepared me for the actual recovery journey.
My Double Jaw Surgery Recovery
I woke up from the surgery with extremely swollen lips, but I didn't reach the peak of swelling until approximately five days later. I was swollen from my eyes down to my shoulders, with bruising spread throughout.
For the first two weeks, I was exhausted, weak, drooling, and in constant pain, despite taking potent medication every three hours. Since my jaw was bandaged shut, all meals had to be consumed via syringe. I subsisted on Ensure (the coffee flavor was a savior) and diluted smoothies. Medications had to be crushed, mixed with a liquid, and administered by syringe as well. Brushing my teeth was impossible, but medicinal mouthwash and a Waterpik made the experience somewhat more bearable.
I returned to work four weeks after the double jaw surgery, but I now wish I had taken more time. My jaw was still bandaged shut, I was in pain, and no one could understand what I was saying. I was far from being ready to be in the office.
After an arduous eight weeks, my bands were finally removed and I was allowed to start consuming soft, non-chewable foods. I felt as if I was learning to eat solids for the very first time – food had never tasted so wonderful. At this point, I also had to start jaw stretches. Stretching helps ensure the restoration of jaw mobility, but it was by far the most painful aspect of the recovery process.
Because jaw surgery stretches the nerves in your face, post-surgery numbness is expected. Most of the numbness typically resolves, but I still experience tingling in my lower lip and chin almost six years later. I also never regained full mobility and it's likely I won't at this point.
Despite the numbness and reduced mobility, I couldn't be more pleased with the results. My days of open-mouth breathing and jaw pain are behind me, and the improvement in my side profile has also been positive. To this day, I still eat pizza with a fork and knife, but knowing that I don't have to anymore is truly liberating.
