Upper jaw surgery

Message

#1 Post by **sampat1** » Sat Aug 14, 2010 12:25 pm

Hello people

I'm getting upper jaw advancement to correct an underbite early in september. I've had braces treatment on the NHS but will be having the operation privately to get a few months knocked off. I've got a few questions.. if any one be really kind to answer. Will I be able to skiing in late december?, how long before face returns to normal (i.e swelling) and how long for full heal? and lastly will smoking pre op have any effect on the outcome. (i know post op is a big no no). thanks

#2 Post by **Audra** » Sat Aug 14, 2010 2:30 pm

You should definitely be OK to go skiing in late December. Most docs say bones are fully healed at 3 months post-op. I am getting a molar implant and my surgeon wants me to wait until 6 months post-op, but right now at 4 months I feel pretty good and things have healed really well. I could go skiing if I wanted to (or anything I wanted to physically).

Smoking is a definite no-no post-op if you want to heal properly without infection. If you do smoke post-op you run the risk of non-union of the bone (meaning it won't heal at all). Smoking pre-op is just bad for your immune system and your oral tissues, which you want as healthy as possibly going into this surgery. You will be shocked at the amount of stitches you have after the operation.

Smoking pre-op may also interfere with general anaesthesia. I think I may have read something about that but am not 100% positive. If you have to quit after, you might as well quit now to get yourself the best possible chances for a positive outcome.

#3 Post by **sampat1** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 10:38 am

thanks for your reply audra. Will take that info onboard. Good to know about the skiiing though I haven't been on holiday at all with these braces so cant wait to get away. Yea I quit as of yesterday so far so good, will let you know how i get on. thank again

#4 Post by **aliciaj212** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 10:58 am

When I had my surgery, the hospital told me not to drink alcohol or smoke for 2 weeks prior. They also said that drinking and smoking can resume 3 months post-op.

#5 Post by **isolde** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 11:21 am

No alcohol at all for three months, or no excessive alcohol?

I wonder why?

Not that I'm a big drinker or something, just wondering, because no one ever brought it up.