One of the most common questions from people facing this type of surgery is:

How long does it take for the bone to heal after jaw surgery?

That answer can vary widely depending on the extensiveness of the surgery, and how well the patient responds to the surgery. Typically, it takes 6 to 8 weeks for initial healing of your jaw, and 3 to 4 months for a full recovery. The most common complication following jaw surgery is numbness in the face and jaw area, due to nerve damage. The numbness may be temporary, or (more rarely) permanent.

It is possible to experience some pain and pressure immediately after surgery. For the first 10 days or so, simply attempting to move your jaw side to side with slow movements should be enough jaw exercise.

Remember, during this time, your jaw will still be soft and moveable. You should not do any type of exercise or sports that may impact your jaw. You should also avoid any stressful activity that may cause you to clench your teeth.

Like other forms of plastic surgery, orthognathic surgery procedures have seen a variety of medical advances. The newest being an internal distraction osteogenesis device designed to help grow new bone to lengthen the jaw. The device works below the skin by lengthening the bone after a cut is made in the bone to create a new growth center. The bone is gradually pulled apart so that new soft bone develops and then calcifies. This device provides an improvement in the marketplace because most devices in existence are external to the skin and present problems with traction scars and pain. Internal devices are less painful and obvious.

Whatever procedure you choose, ultimately it should be about getting the desired results. Start by finding a doctor you are comfortable with, and has the credentials to make you feel at ease. With the help of the Internet, it's easy to find a list of top, qualified doctors in your location. Once you have your list in hand, call several centers and make appointments. All reputable centers will offer you a no cost consultation to get to know the staff and the doctors before you schedule your surgery.

Make sure you communicate regularly with your surgeon, and understand the procedure, including recovery time. Be up front with your desires, and let him know if you have any concerns or requests. The time to ask questions is before the procedure. Remember, the better informed you are, the easier the process will be.