Someone Explain!?? Numbness in Lower Lip/ Chin?

[BigJaw]

I saw my surgeon today and he explained to me that I'll be having lower jaw set back surgery (8mm), and possibly upper jaw moved forward but cant decide yet.

Anyway, ive been watching some youtube vids and reading on the process. From what i understand, lower jaw is broken around wisdom teeth area and then repositioned???

So why do you get numbness in your lower lip/ chin area, possibly permanently? surely they are never touching the or lower lip area? I thought the jaw is broken more towards the back of the mouth????

Can anyone provide me with some clarification please. Much appreciated.
BigJaw

[WiredRunner]

There's a big nerve that runs all the way through your mandible that is responsible for the feeling in your lower lip and chin (colored blue below).



Someone posted this link a few months ago and I bookmarked it. Hopefully you'll find it as helpful as I have.
http://www.maxfac.com/facial/jaw.html

[qwertz1]

right. and even if the surgeon protects this nerve it gets irritated because of the stretching/compressing caused by the jaw movement.

[bb]

Don't they peel away the skin to expose the jaw in order to operate? (except for the mandibular nerve) I thought this is why we needed stitches.