“Can you sleep on your side after jaw surgery?”
I am a 27 year old female. I want to know if I can sleep on your side after jaw surgery?
2 Answers
Matthew Bronk
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Marion, North Carolina
Good Morning,
I assume that you are referring to Orthognathic Jaw Surgery. In that case, I recommend that my patients sleep at a 30-45 degree angle using a pillow made for reading or (if that's not available) using three pillows to prop you up at night, for the first week following surgery. If you have a bed that adjusts, that works great, too. As a 27-year-old, you will heal enough by then that you can (probably) go back to your regular sleep pattern after that. We are trying to avoid pooling of blood on either or both sides (so NO side sleeping the first week).
I assume that you are referring to Orthognathic Jaw Surgery. In that case, I recommend that my patients sleep at a 30-45 degree angle using a pillow made for reading or (if that's not available) using three pillows to prop you up at night, for the first week following surgery. If you have a bed that adjusts, that works great, too. As a 27-year-old, you will heal enough by then that you can (probably) go back to your regular sleep pattern after that. We are trying to avoid pooling of blood on either or both sides (so NO side sleeping the first week).
Not recommended.
