Corrective jaw surgery can eliminate sleep apnea, improve chewing, help with a protruding or retracted jaw, and can even improve an asymmetrical face. If you have a friend who is having this type of surgery, you can be part of their support system by understanding what they’re going through and offering to help in as many ways as you can.

Help With Transportation

Before and after the procedure, transportation is one practical way you can help your friend. Many medical professionals require patients who have undergone corrective jaw surgery to stay in the hospital overnight for observation. Your friend may want a ride to the hospital or clinic so they won’t have to leave a car there and probably won’t be allowed to drive home. If no hospital stay is expected, most facilities won’t perform surgery unless a patient can prove that they have a responsible person to drive them home.

Try to Empathize

Your friend may not explain the procedure to you, but it can help you empathize with them if you understand that corrective jaw surgery is a type of oral and maxillofacial surgery that focuses on jaw alignment. The doctor will cut their jawbone and reposition it, then fix the new positioning with titanium screws and plates that help bones heal. Some companies, like Lighthouse Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, know that this is an important part of the process to keep in mind. The team that performs this oral and maxillofacial surgery may also perform other types of procedures on the face, mouth, and jaw, including cleft lip and palate surgery, reconstruction after injury, and multiple teeth removals for dentures or implants.

Offer to Cook

Because your friend may be tired and taking pain medication, they may not feel like preparing food when they first get home from the hospital. You can help make sure they get the nourishment they need. At first, they will be on a diet of liquids and soft foods that don’t require chewing. As the jawbone heals, they will be allowed to eat foods that require minimal chewing and eventually return to a normal diet. You can make them all sorts of fun things that are soft and easy to eat. Google some ideas to find the best options for you and your friend.

Relieve the Strain

Daily chores like cleaning and laundry will be difficult for your friend for several weeks, especially since the doctor may not allow them to lift or stain. You can help by offering to handle a few chores each day. If your friend has children or pets, you may want to help with entertaining and taking care of them for a while. Rest is essential for healing, and some people’s lives don’t allow much downtime.

Life after surgery is more manageable with help from friends. When you aid in your friend’s recovery from corrective jaw surgery by providing transportation, food preparation assistance, and help with kids, pets, and chores, you’re being a good friend during a crucial moment of need.