Full recovery from jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) takes 9 to 12 months, but most people feel functionally normal much sooner. You can expect to return to work or school within 2 to 4 weeks, eat soft foods by around 6 weeks, and see your bone fully stabilized closer to the one-year mark. The timeline varies depending on whether your upper jaw, lower jaw, or both were repositioned.
Week 1: The Hardest Part
The first few days are almost entirely rest. Swelling peaks around days 2 to 3 and can spread across your cheeks, lips, and even under your eyes. Bruising is common. Your face will feel numb, tight, or both, which is normal and improves gradually over the coming weeks.
You’ll be on a clear liquid diet for roughly the first three days, then transition to blenderized foods. Everything goes in by cup, spoon, or syringe, since straws are off-limits for the full first six weeks. Prescription pain medication is generally only necessary during the first 3 to 4 days. After that, most people manage with over-the-counter pain relievers taken every 6 hours for up to 5 to 7 days.
Light walking is fine within the first 48 hours, but nothing more strenuous than that.
Weeks 2 to 4: Swelling Fades, Energy Returns
Most swelling resolves within 7 to 10 days. Any remaining puffiness at this stage is typically minimal and barely noticeable to others, though you may still see it in the mirror. You’ll continue eating blenderized or very soft foods, and your surgeon will evaluate you at a follow-up visit before clearing you to try a no-chew soft diet.
Most people return to work or school somewhere in the 2 to 4 week window, especially if their job isn’t physically demanding. If your work involves heavy lifting or contact, expect a longer absence. By weeks 2 to 3, moderate exercise like jogging or light strength training is usually possible, as long as swelling is minimal and you’re off narcotic pain medication. High-impact running should wait at least 7 to 10 days, and activities involving intense grip or core strain (like rock climbing) need at least two weeks.
Week 6: Early Bone Healing Begins
Six weeks is a meaningful turning point. Swelling is significantly reduced, and early bone healing is underway. You may notice your bite alignment improving, and jaw movement generally becomes easier. Light jaw exercises can begin at this point, usually under your surgeon’s supervision. You’ll still be on soft foods, though, since the bone needs more time to solidify.
This is also when the straw restriction typically lifts, and eating starts to feel less like a chore. Many people look close to normal by now, even though internal healing is still in progress.
Months 3 to 6: The Slow, Invisible Phase
Most of the visible healing happens in the first six weeks, but full bone healing takes several months. Your jaw continues to stabilize throughout this period, and your surgical team will schedule follow-up appointments to check your bite, airway, and jaw function.
Numbness is the issue that lingers longest for most patients. After upper jaw surgery, sensation in the upper lip and sides of the nose typically returns slowly over 6 to 9 months. After lower jaw or chin surgery, numbness in the lip, chin, teeth, and gums may need 4 to 6 months before noticeable improvement. In some cases, altered sensation or tingling can persist indefinitely.
If you still have braces, the post-surgical orthodontic phase continues during this time. A retrospective study published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery found the median duration of post-operative orthodontic treatment was 7.5 months, with a range of 5 to 11 months. So braces typically come off somewhere between 5 and 12 months after surgery.
Months 9 to 12: Full Stabilization
Your jaw reaches full structural stability at around 9 to 12 months. By this point, any remaining stiffness has usually resolved, and your bite should be in its final position. Post-surgical orthodontics are wrapping up or complete. For most people, this is when the process truly feels finished.
The one exception is nerve sensation. While the majority of patients recover feeling within a year, a small number experience permanent numbness or tingling in the lip, chin, or nose area. This doesn’t affect jaw function, but it’s worth knowing about so it doesn’t catch you off guard.
What Affects Your Recovery Speed
Not all jaw surgeries are the same, and the scope of your procedure is the biggest factor in how quickly you heal. Surgery on just the upper or lower jaw tends to have a shorter, more predictable recovery than a combined procedure that repositions both. If bone grafting or additional chin work is involved, expect longer restrictions on physical activity and diet.
Age plays a role too. Younger patients generally heal faster, and bone tends to consolidate more quickly in teenagers and young adults than in people over 40. Following dietary restrictions closely matters more than people expect: chewing too soon can stress the healing bone and delay recovery or compromise your surgical result.
Staying on top of jaw exercises once your surgeon gives the green light helps restore your range of motion. Skipping them can lead to stiffness that takes longer to resolve. Most people find the first two weeks are the hardest stretch, and by the six-week mark, daily life feels largely normal again, even though your jaw is still healing beneath the surface.