Jaw/Chin Care Instructions

You can brush your teeth as usual with regular toothpaste. If you have a soft toothbrush, use it to gently clean around your incisions—some minor bleeding is normal.

After brushing, rinse with antiseptic mouthwash three times a day (usually after meals) for 2–3 weeks. If you run out, you can substitute with a saltwater rinse (mix 250ml of water with 1 spoon of salt).

Do not use the antiseptic mouthwash for longer than 2–3 weeks, as it contains chlorhexidine, which can stain your teeth. If you notice any staining, stop using it and switch to salt water instead.

It is essential to avoid smoking or using nicotine products during the healing process, as they can slow recovery. Continue wearing your chin strap at home and while sleeping for three more weeks to support healing.

Numbness & Sensation Changes

Numbness after chin and jaw surgery is completely normal. During the procedure, the mentalis nerves (which provide sensation to the lower lip and teeth) are stretched, and small nerve branches in the gum are affected. These nerves control sensation, not movement, so they won’t affect how your mouth functions.

You may experience numbness or sensitivity changes for the first 3–4 months, but these symptoms will gradually improve. To minimize nerve damage, we use a triple incision technique that keeps the nerves protected within the gum tissue, along with a piezoelectric saw, which only cuts bone while preserving soft tissues.

However, because the mentalis nerves are exposed and stretched, the degree of numbness or altered sensation varies for each patient.

Temporary Weakness in Facial Movement

The facial nerve branch that controls the corners of your mouth and lower lip is not directly operated on, but swelling and inflammation may temporarily affect its function. As swelling improves, normal movement will return.

Jaw Joint Discomfort

During surgery, the masseter muscles (which help open and close your mouth) are detached from the jawbone. This can create a tight or blocked feeling for several weeks due to swelling. Gentle massage of the area can help relax the muscles.

If you still have this sensation two months after surgery, please let us know.

Loose or Sagging Tissue

Some patients notice loose or sagging skin under the chin or jawline after surgery. This soft tissue typically re-adapts to the new bone shape over 6–12 months, but in some cases, full re-tightening is not guaranteed. If you’re still concerned about loose tissue after a year, please reach out to us.

It’s completely normal to experience stiffness during your recovery from jaw and chin surgery. This happens in three phases, much like the general healing process:

Phase 1: Inflammatory Phase

Right after surgery, your body responds by narrowing blood vessels and forming small clots to control bleeding. Soon after, these vessels reopen to allow healing cells to reach the area. During this time, it’s normal to have redness, swelling, and pain as your body begins repairing itself.

Phase 2: Proliferative Phase

Your body starts building new tissue made mostly of collagen, called granulation tissue. New blood vessels grow to deliver oxygen and nutrients to support healing. In this phase, scars may appear redder, and the tissues might feel lumpy as the internal structures rebuild.

Phase 3: Maturing Phase

This phase begins a few weeks after surgery and can continue for up to two years. The extra blood vessels slowly fade as the healing stabilizes. The earlier, softer tissue is replaced by stronger collagen, which tightens the area. This natural tightening can make the area feel stiffer than it was before surgery, which is a normal part of the long-term healing process.

Watch for signs of infection, such as increasing redness, pain, or swelling that doesn’t improve with rest, fever, or milky white drainage from your incision. Pain is usually near the incision and often one-sided, but not always.

Signs of a hematoma include swelling that grows larger every hour, feels tense or hard, and may be very painful. In some cases, there may be increased bruising—however, bruising should not worsen significantly after the first couple of days.

If you experience any concerns after surgery, please call the office during the day. You can call between 8:30 AM and 3:00 PM on weekdays. You can also find our contact information in your post-surgical instructions.