Face swelling after mouth surgery. What are the best ways to bring down the swelling?

I know that I am a little late in response to this question, but cold ice pack 1st 24 hours- 15min on/ 15 min off cycle. After the first 24 hours, use a hot towel to dramatically reduce the swelling. Also make sure you take NSAIDs (Motrin or Advil) as well to assist in the reduction of swelling. This should be all that is needed. Always remember your immune system is at work so your body will be focused on the injured area. This will cause more energy required for the body, so any additional exertion will slow the recovery process down. So rest is key, and no physical exertion during the healing process, especially for the first few days.

Natalie, thank you for a great question. Sorry to hear that you face have got very swollen. The best thing to prevent swelling in the first place is to apply ice in the first 24 hours after surgery. Warm moist heat works great any time afterwards for 15-20 min on and off. I would recommend also seeing your surgeon to make sure everything is ok.
Good luck!

The first day after surgery, use an icepack and apply it to the outside of your mouth to help minimize any swelling and bruising. Apply the ice pack for 20 minute periods, allowing 20 minutes rest in between applications. After the first day switch to moist heat, apply for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off. It can take a few days for any bruising and swelling to fully resolve. Do not disturb the surgery site. Don’t rinse or spit for the first day or so after surgery. After the next day, you can use a warm salt water rinse to keep your mouth clean. At my practice, we use an anti-microbial mouth rinse to keep the mouth clean during the healing process.

Thank you for your question regarding swelling after All-on-4 dental implant surgery. Yes, it is normal to have swelling post All-on-4 surgery and sometimes the swelling can last a week. What we look for with our patients is that they are improving on a day to day basis and that the swelling is not progressing, the tenderness is subsiding, and they are overall feeling better. If you're still concerned, I would suggest you visit your surgeon and have him/her give you their opinion regarding your recovery. He/she would be the most familiar with you case as not all cases are the same. Good luck!

 To prevent or reduce swelling after any surgical procedure, it is best to take anti-inflammatory medications and use ice.  Motrin is a very effective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory that is  prescribed  in doses from 400 to 800 mg.  It becomes even more effective  when taken in conjunction with a steroid anti-inflammatory such as dexamethasone. In addition, ice is mother nature's anti-inflammatory. It should be used for the first 24 to 36 hours. I hope you found this information to be helpful,Dr. Champa

TIME HELPS....Most swelling starts to subside after 72 hrs. FIRST day after surgery, put a cold compress on the swollen area. You can purchase a cold gel pack from Walgreens/CVS, or you can use a bag of frozen vegetables. You can also make a cold compress by wrapping ice cubes in a towel (it can get messy). Take a styrofoam cup and place water in it, freeze it... once frozen the styrofoam acts like an insulator from the cold so that you can hold it. Do NOT use dry ice.Be sure to keep the cold compress there for 10 minutes. Take it off for 10 minutes, then put it back on for another 10 minutes; rotate/repeat;  Do this over and over again for the first 24 hours after surgery, if possible.On the SECOND day after surgery, put something warm on the swollen area. You can make a warm compress by wrapping a hot water bottle or a heating pad in a towel. Placing a moist towel in the microwave for a FEW seconds (be careful not to overheat). The warmth will increase blood flow or circulation and bring down the swelling. Do not use anything hot enough to burn your skin. Call your dentist or oral surgeon if the swelling continues to get WORSE 72 hours after surgery, or if the swelling does not go down within 7 days after surgery. Call 911 if you cannot breath/airway narrows.Steroids can be prescribed by your doctor to minimize swelling.Positioning your head so it's blood pressure is slightly reduced can help to minimize the amount of swelling that occurs. The general idea is to keep your "head above your heart."Sit  up right (or recline); When lying down, prop yourself up by using 2 or 3 pillowsAs with all information, consult your dentist prior to making any decisions.Hope that helps.