Anita/Re: My Daughter's Upper Jaw surgery, advice needed

[Guest guest]

I really appreciate your reply about your experience about this surgery. She is

17 and will be 18 when she has her surgery. She is of course like most females

and is worried how she will look in two weeks to go back to school. She wants to

know how much swelling she will have in her face and will her nose be huge and

such. Can you remember how much swelling you had around 2 weeks after your

lafort procedure?

What types of foods should I stock up on?

Anita

Anita/Re: My Daughter's Upper Jaw

surgery, advice needed

Hi Anita,

Welcome to the group. I had a Lefort 3-piece on June 28th. I didn't

have any rubber bands or splint post op. I will be getting the bands

in about another few weeks. My surgery was a 5 hour surgery which

began at 7:30am. I was released from the hospital the following

night at 8:00pm. At the hospital I mainly just wanted to be left

alone and sleep. The nurses kept trying to get me to eat some broth,

jello, etc. but I did not feel like eating at all. The reason I was

kept at the hospital the next day so long was because they wanted me

to at least get something down before releasing me to go home. I

guess they gave up and sent me home anyway..(haha)

I really haven't had much pain from the surgery which your daughter's

surgeon is correct in that there will be quite a bit of numbness from

the surgery. My numbness is mainly around my cheeks, upper lip, and

nose. Expect your daughter's swelling to peak between day 3 and 5.

After day 5 the swelling will start to decrease rapidly. I still

have a bit of swelling in my upper lip and a little in my cheek

area. I am still on a soft food diet and will be for at least

another 6 weeks.

I was surely feeling better after about a week. The first 3 days

home I mainly stayed in bed and slept. I really think age has

something to do with recovering. I will be the big 40 in a few weeks

so I am probably a bit older than your daughter. I have heard

younger ones on this site having remarkable recoveries. I started

getting around going for short errands etc. after about 5 days. I did

end up developing a fever though which kind of set me back a little,

but I am sure you daughter will do just fine.

I am sure your daughter will need your help the first week when she

is home. Ex. bringing her liquids, blending up foods, making sure

she is taking her medicines, helping with showers, bringing her ice

packs, etc. that will surely keep you busy. After that she will

probably be able to get around on her own.

Best of luck to your daughter and feel free to ask any questions as

needed.

--Caboose

> Hello,

> My daughter is to have upper jaw surgery (lafort) on August 13th.

> He will bring her jaw 4 millimeters forward and down in the back

so

> her teeth in back touch and her bite is corrected. Says she will

only

> have rubber bands for 4 days then only 1 on each side for a couple

of

> weeks.

>

> He has made is sound fairly simple but I cannot think it will

> be as easy as he acts. He says that she will have very little

> bruising and fairly little pain as this area naturally goes numb.

> Says no blowing of the nose and that she will be swollen for up to

> 6 months. He said it will be more " cheeky swelling " than horrific

> swelling. Said she will be able be fine in about a week after her

> surgery.

>

> Tell me the truth and what I am to expect. I need to be prepared.

He

> said that since I do daycare in my home not to watch any children

> for 4 days after her surgery.

>

> Help me help my daughter.

>

> Anita