What can I eat after
jaw and chin surgery?

Amanda Rosenfeldt

Founder & Patient Coordinator · T-Change · June 2018

What to eat after jaw and chin surgery is one of the most common questions we are asked after FFS when it involves the feminization of the jaw or the chin.

Jaw and chin surgery always makes biting and chewing a difficult and painful task at the beginning, so during this period you will need to eat the kind of food that you can swallow without biting or chewing. This doesn't necessarily mean it has to be soft food, but rather anything that you can send down the throat without using your teeth.

This is not a medical prescription about what you can eat and what you can't eat after your surgery. It is just what your mouth will ask you to do: hold on, be gentle, be slow for these few days.

After jaw surgery think of feeding yourself as if you were feeding a baby. It is all about cutting each bite into very small pieces or thin slices or shreds, about mashing and grinding. Some people say "How I wish I could eat a hamburger" at day 3 post op... And truth is that 3 or 4 days after jaw surgery you could even have a hamburger (of the smallest size, of course, and without pickles and slippery dressings) if you have the patience to shred it with your fingers into small enough pieces before putting it in your mouth.

As for duration, there are no fixed timetables about how long this restriction would last. There are no "written rules" about the menu either. Every patient is different and only your own mouth will tell you when you are getting ready to chew harder meals — which will be a gradual but steady process that can take just 4 days, or one week, or two after jaw surgery.

Some examples — and the list can be longer if you are creative:

Pasta like ravioli

Not spaghetti. If one whole ravioli is too big, cut it into halves or quarters.

Fish

From canned sardine to something more elaborate. Make sure it has no bones.

Eggs in all forms

Boiled is better than fried — easier to wash your mouth afterwards.

Mashed potatoes or squash

Or both mixed — easy to swallow, nutritious and filling.

Mashed bananas

Natural, soft, rich in potassium — great for recovery.

Ground apples (apple sauce)

Smooth texture, gentle on the jaw and easy to find anywhere.

Avocado, mango or peach slices

Soft, nutrient-dense — easy to eat in thin slices.

Jell-O

Requires no chewing — a simple and reliable option during the hardest first days.

Ice cream

The cold also helps reduce swelling — one of the few post-surgical pleasures.

Shredded chicken

Shredded like for a baby. Boiled, oven-cooked or stewed — any preparation works.

Boiled or steamed vegetables

Anything from spinach to beetroot — soft-cooked so they require no chewing.

Soups

From simple instant soups to the most sophisticated — warm and nourishing.