List of questions to ask the surgeon before having jaw surgery

Hi, there! 

As promised here is the super long list of questions I am going to ask my surgeon. I most likely know the answer to most of the questions listed here but I still want to hear all answers directly from my surgeon. Like I said: my face, my bones, my life! No such thing as silly questions! 

Ready? I told you, it is loooonnnnggg! 

So, here it goes!

1. What kind of procedure will be best for my case, BSSO (lower jaw surgery) or Double Jaw surgery (I have an overbite, gummy smile, midline don’t match)?
2. What are the risks of having this surgery?
3. How long does it take to fully recover from jaw surgery?
4. I have a small septum deviation. Can this also be fixed during surgery (that in case of double jaw surgery)? 
5. Will the Septoplasty be afforded by the health insurance or will I have to pay for it? How much will it cost?
6. My teeth midline from upper and lower jaw do not match. Will this be fixed during surgery or after surgery by using elastic bands?
7. How long will I be in the hospital for?
8. What are the risks of getting an infection? How can I detect it?
9. How much will my jaw(s) be moved (in mm)?
10. How long, approximately, will the surgery take from start to finish?
11. What are the chances of anaesthesia awareness occurring?
12. How long will I stay in the recovery room?
13. Do I have to stay in a ICU? If so, how long will I be staying in the Intensive Care Unit?
14. Will there be any external scarring?
15. Will I have to be wired shut? 
16. If so, how long do I need to be wired shut for?
17. Do I have to wear a splint? 
18. If so, when will the splint come out?
19. What are the chances of feeling nausea following surgery?
20. What If I am wired shut and I feel sick (vomit)? 
21. Will I be drooling excessively? 
22. If so, when shall I expect the drooling to stop?
23. What are the chances of me chocking on my own saliva?
24. How often one experience pain after surgery? 
25. In case I experience pain after surgery, when shall I expect to be pain free (how many weeks approximately)?
26. Which kind of medication will I have to take after surgery?
27. What are the most common side effects of Morphine?
28. Will this surgery affect my joints and nerves? 
29. Are all the nerves regenerating sensory nerves? Is there a risk of paralysis or lopsided smile? 
30. Will I experience numbness after surgery?
31. Will I get all of my feeling back after jaw surgery?
32. When do I know if the numbness is permanent (Will I lose the feeling in my lower lip forever?)?
33. How long shall I expect to be swollen for?
34. Will ice packs help bringing the swelling down? 
35. Is bruising down the neck, arm and chest normal after jaw surgery?
36. How long approximately will it take until all the bruising disappears?
37. Will I be congested and have difficulty to breathe after jaw surgery? 
38. Will the use of nasal strips (to open up the airway) be helpful or is this unnecessary?
39. Will the use of a humidifier be helpful?
40. Is it common to experience bleeding from the nose after double jaw surgery? 
41. If that happens to me, how can I make the bleeding stop?
42. How can I clean the blood that dried out inside my nose? And how often shall I do that?
43. Will my airway get wider after jaw surgery?
44. What will my diet be following jaw surgery?
45. How much weight shall I expect to lose?
46. How can I clean my mouth and teeth after the surgery?
47. I suffer from bruxism. What can happen if I keep on grinding my teeth after surgery?
48. Will the plates and screws be permanently left in?
49. What will happen if I am allergic to the titanium plates?
50. Are there any long term issues following surgery as for instance; sinus infections, pain caused by the plates, sensitive or weak teeth, excessive bone growth, teeth changing colour?
51. What shall I bring to the hospital?
52. How long after surgery can I return to school/uni/work?
53. When will my first post-op appointment take place?
54. What shall I expect from my post-op appointments?
55. Can homeopathic medicine help with recovery? 
56. Shall I increase my iron intake after surgery?
57. Can lymphatic drainage massage and acupuncture help with recovery?
58. Realistically, what shall I expect after the surgery, in terms of jaw function and appearance (will it change drastically? Will I look (too) different after surgery?)?
59. Will my nose get wider?
60. Will my lips get thinner or change shape?
61. My lower jaw is asymmetric. Can this be fixed during surgery (even though this isn't a cosmetic surgery)? 
62. Will I have an open bite after jaw surgery?
63. When will my jaw move and fully open normally again? 
64. What if I experience noises and clicking of my jaw joints? Is that normal?
65. How long after surgery will I have to wear braces for?
66. Can I have my surgeon’s telephone number and email address (in case of an emergency)? 
67. What if I sneeze or cough? Will it be painful?
68. Will my lips be dry and crack? What shall I use to prevent this?
69. Is it necessary to buy long cotton swabs?
70. When will “toilet visits” go back to normal?
71. When can I go back to Pilates class?
72. When is it safe to travel again (by car/train/plane)?
73. When can I work out at the gym again? 
74. What kind of exercises are allowed at the beginning?
75. When is it safe to go back to my normal work out routine?
76. When is it allowed to frequent the sauna again?
77. Part of my recovery will take place during summer time. When is it safe to lay in the sun and burn myself till I look like a tomato?
78. When am I allowed to go back swimming again?
79. I am a cosmetic lover. When is it safe to wear make up? 
80. When is it safe to use my beloved Clarisonic machine?
81. When will I be allowed to drink alcohol again?
82. When is it safe to go out at night clubbing?
83. Last but not least, the questions I don’t feel comfortable asking, nor writing about but  I know a lot of people would love to know the answer: When is kissing and when is oral sex safe, after having a jaw surgery?

So, that's it! I hope this will be helpful to anybody having jaw surgery. 

I wish you all a wonderful Sunday! 

“Um super Abraço” (Translating: A huge hug)!!

Andy

Note: I will update this post after my appointment with my surgeon on the 23rd of April.