Do not smoke for at least 4 weeks after surgery, if at all. Smoking dramatically increases the risk of bone graft failure and infection.
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Immediately Following Surgery
- Dr. Hill will place a gauze pad over the incision sites in your mouth. Keep it in place for 30 minutes after surgery or until it becomes saturated, whichever happens first. Bleeding will slow and eventually stop 12- 24 hours after surgery. You may need to replace the gauze and bite with firm pressure for several 30-minute cycles before this happens. Once the bleeding has stopped, you may remove the gauze.
- Avoid trauma to the wound area or vigorous mouthwashing for at least 24 hours following surgery.
- To help keep you comfortable during recovery, we recommend starting any prescribed pain medication before the numbing medicine wears off.
- Try to rest on the day of your surgery. Take it easy and restrict physical activities. Get back to your normal physical activities only when you feel able.
- Use ice packs on your cheeks for up to 48 hours after surgery. When possible, keep your head elevated, which will also help minimize swelling. After 48-72 hours, we recommend applying heat therapy on the cheeks with a gentle massage 3-4 times daily to help further reduce swelling and soreness.
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Other Complications
- Following surgery, you may notice numbness of the lip, tongue, or chin, which is normal and should be temporary. However, the numbness may cause you to bite your tongue or lip accidentally, so be extra careful as you eat.
- You may have a slight temperature increase after surgery. This is normal and can be managed with Tylenol or Ibuprofen.
- Be careful moving from a lying down position to standing. You will likely feel weak and a bit dizzy. To avoid lightheadedness, you should sit for one minute before you stand up.
- After surgery, the lips and corners of your mouth might be dry and cracked. Use ointments such as Vaseline to keep your lips moist.
- It is common to experience a sore throat, especially when swallowing. This symptom results from swelling in the throat muscles and should subside within a couple of days.
- Stiffness in the jaw muscles may cause difficulty opening your mouth for a few weeks after surgery. This stiffness is normal and will resolve on its own. Applying a warm washcloth or heating pad to the cheeks and performing mouth-opening exercises can help facilitate your recovery.