Is It Unwise to Chew Gum After Facelift Surgery?

Question

I heard that chewing gum has some advantages, e.g. exercise against a double chin but is there a period where you advice your patients NOT to chew gum?

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Compulsive gum chewing may not be a great idea after surgery, but it is hard to limit many aspects of life such as talking and food chewing.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

You should allow your face rest and heal post surgery. Therefore, I advise my patients to avoid excessive jaw movement (such as that caused by chewing gum) for the first several days.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

For the first few days, I advise my facelift patients to not engage in excessive chewing or foods. Too much movement may lead to seroma formation and require intervention. A few minutes of gum chewing, however, can satisfy your craving and not lead to significant problems.

Sam Naficy, MD, FACS · Answer

In the first few weeks after surgery it would be a good idea to avoid excessive jaw movement such as caused by chewing gum - this could disrupt some of the deep sutures

Ronald Schuster, MD · Answer

I would avoid chewing gum for the first 1-2 weeks after surgery. During this time I like my patients to have their face be relatively "quiet" to allow it to heal the best.

Ralph R. Garramone, MD · Answer

In general since we are tightening the facial structures it is best avoid stretching or taxing those structures as is the case with other types os surgical procedures around muscles and joints and areas of movement.  Some period of immobilization or limited movement is very common.  I recommend less chewing and opening the mouth very wide which most patients will do anyway because the face is tight and it will feel tight with these maneuvers.

	As a side note exercising the facial muscles will not have any effect on reducing lines or preventing or treating a "double chin"

	Thank you for your question.

Joseph Hunstad, MD · Answer

testingcapturing the arm after a facelift is really not advised during the early recovery. But by the second month or so it's really not a problem. The sad fact that we cannot exercise our skin is evident in the failings of all of the various types of mechanical exercises and treatments advocated in the press. Exercising the underlying muscles of course can occur it doesn't seem to translate into improved facial form or aesthetics. Minimizing facial movement for the first few weeks after surgery is encouraged to allow the skin to properly adhere to the underlying muscle preventing the creation of fluid that can cause firmness for scarring both very undesirable. Openface those should be almost painless. That is because the areas are in general numb for a number of weeks or months following surgery.

Jacob Freiman, MD, FACS · Answer

No. I do not tell my patients to avoid gum after a facelift. I suppose your plastic surgeon may want to avoid tension on the wound but compaired to all other mimetic and masticatory function that you are constantly using, I don't think gum chewing makes much of a difference.

Glenn Vallecillos, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank  you for the question.

	In general, following a facelift, I suggest my patients refrain from gum chewing or anything that involves repetitive facial motions, for a period of no less than 3 weeks. This allows ample time for the face to heal. 

	Best of luck,

	Glenn Vallecillos, M.D., F.A.C.S. , Diplomate, American Board of Plastic Surgery

Peter E. Johnson, MD · Answer

The period right after facelift you should try to rest your face, and avoid excessive talking or chewing to let the swelling settle down and avoid bleeding. Gum is not a very good idea.

Best of luck, Peter Johnson, MD

Is It Unwise to Chew Gum After Facelift Surgery?

Answers (15)

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