Please note: these are general guidance notes. The specific instructions Mr Komath and the team give you always take priority. In an emergency — difficulty breathing or swallowing, heavy bleeding, chest pain, or a swollen painful calf — call 999 or go to A&E. For other concerns, contact the practice.
After keyhole surgery (arthroscopy)
Most people go home the same day and recover quickly. These are general guidance notes — always follow the specific instructions given to you.
The first 24–48 hours
- Rest with your head raised on pillows, even when sleeping — it helps swelling settle.
- Use a wrapped ice pack against the side of the face for 15–20 minutes on, then off, through the first day or two.
- Mild puffiness, a little bruising, ear fullness or a slightly “different” bite are normal and usually settle within a day or two.
Pain relief
- Discomfort is usually mild. Take simple painkillers (paracetamol, and ibuprofen if you have been told it is safe for you) regularly for the first couple of days.
Eating & drinking
- Soft diet for about 1–2 weeks — pasta, fish, eggs, soups, yoghurt. Take small bites and stay hydrated.
Jaw exercises
- Start the gentle mouth-opening exercises as advised (often within a few days) to keep the joint moving. Move within comfort — don't force wide opening early.
Wounds & hygiene
- The puncture sites are tiny and closed with dissolving stitches — nothing to remove.
- Keep them clean and dry, especially in the first week; a neglected wound can occasionally develop a small stitch abscess. You can shower, but avoid soaking or rubbing the area.
If regenerative cells were used
- The harvest site may bruise — the lower abdomen (fat-derived stem cells) or the bone-marrow site (BMAC). Keep it clean and dry; bruising settles over a couple of weeks.
Activity, work & driving
- Rest for 24 hours after a general anaesthetic and don't drive during that time. Many people return to desk work within a few days; avoid strenuous exercise for about a week.
- Temporary numbness or slight forehead/eyebrow weakness on that side can occur and usually settles.
When to contact us
- Severe pain not controlled by painkillers, or pain getting worse.
- A high temperature, or spreading redness, heat or discharge from a puncture site.
- Facial weakness that is worsening rather than improving.
- Heavy bleeding, or any difficulty breathing or swallowing — seek emergency care.
Recovery at a glance
- Most people are back to normal within 1–2 weeks, with the full benefit building over the following weeks.
After a joint wash-out (arthrocentesis)
One of the gentlest procedures we offer, with a very quick recovery.
The first 24 hours
- Expect mild soreness and a little swelling around the joint — rest and an ice pack help.
- If you had an injection (PRP/hyaluronic acid), a feeling of fullness or stiffness is normal.
Pain relief
- Usually minimal — simple painkillers such as paracetamol are normally enough, and soreness settles within a few days.
Eating & jaw movement
- Soft diet for a few days and avoid opening very wide (stifle big yawns) at first. Gentle normal movement is encouraged.
Activity & driving
- Most people return to normal activities the next day. If you had sedation or a general anaesthetic, don't drive for 24 hours.
What to expect from the injection
- If PRP or hyaluronic acid was used, the benefit usually builds gradually over the following weeks. A short course or repeat may be planned.
When to contact us
- Severe or worsening pain, or significant swelling that does not settle.
- A high temperature or other signs of infection.
- New facial weakness.
Recovery at a glance
- Quick — usually back to routine within a day or two, with improvement over the following weeks.
After total jaw joint replacement
Major surgery with a more involved recovery — a structured plan and good physiotherapy make a real difference.
In hospital
- Usually a stay of around 1–2 nights. Gentle jaw function is encouraged early.
Swelling & bruising
- Noticeable facial swelling and bruising are expected, peaking at 2–3 days and settling over 2–3 weeks. Keep your head elevated and use ice as advised.
Pain relief
- Moderate discomfort, managed with prescribed painkillers, easing over the first 1–2 weeks.
Eating & drinking
- A soft or blended diet for several weeks (we'll tell you how long), progressing gradually. Good nutrition supports healing.
Physiotherapy — essential
- A structured jaw-exercise programme is the single most important part of recovery — please follow it closely. We may provide a mouth-opening device and daily targets.
Wounds & donor site
- Keep incisions clean and dry; sutures or clips are usually removed at 1–2 weeks. Some numbness around the ear, cheek or lip is common and usually improves.
- If a dermal fat graft was taken, keep the donor site clean; it may bruise and feel tender for a couple of weeks.
Activity, work & driving
- Avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting for several weeks. Return to work is usually phased, often 2–6 weeks depending on your job.
- Only drive once comfortable, off sedating medication, and able to perform an emergency stop safely.
Looking after your new joint
- Avoid extreme jaw loading (very hard or chewy foods). Attend your reviews, and tell other clinicians and dentists that you have a joint prosthesis.
When to contact us
- A high temperature, or increasing redness, pain or discharge from a wound (possible infection).
- Facial weakness that is worsening, or a sudden inability to open or close your jaw.
- Difficulty closing an eye, or any change in vision.
- A swollen, painful calf, or chest pain / breathlessness — seek emergency help immediately.
- Any difficulty breathing or swallowing — seek emergency care.
Recovery at a glance
- Early recovery takes around 2–6 weeks, with function continuing to improve over several months alongside physiotherapy.
After pre-operative Botox to the jaw muscles
A few small injections into the chewing muscles (masseter and temporalis), given in clinic before arthroscopy to ease post-operative muscle spasm.
Straight afterwards
- You can return to normal activities immediately.
- Mild bruising, tenderness or a short-lived headache at the injection sites can occur.
Over the next few weeks
- Your chewing may feel a little weaker — this is expected and temporary.
- The effect builds over 1–2 weeks and typically lasts around 3–4 months, supporting your recovery from surgery.
When to contact us
- Spreading rash or difficulty breathing (very rare allergic reaction) — seek emergency care.
- Marked or persistent facial asymmetry, or difficulty swallowing.