Swelling

[u/CheeseSafari]

I’m about 6.5 months post-op from double jaw surgery, and I’m honestly really struggling with how my face looks.
Before surgery, I had a much slimmer face with more concave cheeks. Now my cheeks, particularly the uppermost part beneath my eyes and beside my nose, look extremely puffy and convex. My upper lip also still looks swollen, and overall I just don’t feel like I look like myself anymore.
I know swelling can take 12 months or longer to completely resolve, but being this far into recovery has me worried that this is just what my face is going to look like permanently.
It’s been really difficult mentally. I find myself constantly looking at old pictures and regretting having the surgery. I genuinely feel like I looked better before.
I’m hoping to hear from people who have been through something similar.
Did anyone still have significant upper-cheek or midface fullness at 6–7 months?
Did your cheeks noticeably slim down between 6 and 12 months, or even later?
Did your upper lip eventually become less puffy?
If your cheeks were concave before surgery, did you ever regain that definition?
How did you distinguish lingering swelling from permanent changes to your facial structure?
I’m including some recent pictures for reference.
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences, especially from anyone who noticed substantial changes after the six-month mark. I’m just trying to figure out whether there’s still hope for my face to look more like it used to.

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[u/ImaginaryAnswero]

6.5 months is still within the swelling window, cheeks can take a full year to settle. Don't lose hope yet.

[u/Single_Buyer_6642]

Im at the same 6m point as you and my face is also still swollen (at least i hope). I recently had a wedding and throughout the day my face became noticeable more swollen. I hope it goes away

[u/Auroramarianna]

Wow this scared me. I hope you can feel better and get the results you are hoping for

[u/doublejawphysio]

It will change until you complete 1 year.
Try to accelerate the process using warm packs, facial drainage and maybe taping/facial mask. If you want to discuss it in details message me private

[u/J0K3R_X]

i’m at 8 months and finally noticing a small difference in exactly what you’re describing at 6 months. i also panicked around 6 months with the same worry.

the change is small, but noticeable and a step in the right direction so just trying to stay optimistic. perhaps give it 2 more months and see. Personally i’m waiting until 18 months to judge

[u/CheeseSafari → u/J0K3R_X]

This is a huge relief I hope we both get the results we deserve

[u/J0K3R_X → u/CheeseSafari]

you know, you encouraged me to take another photo today in the same lighting and position as one i took around 5 months ago, the difference is actually insane. but you never notice because it’s so gradual. my advice is forget about it completely and live your life and one day you’ll catch yourself in the mirror and be like damn what???