Hi @coolcakes Welcome to our Head and Neck group.
Mandiblectomy with replacement bone graph? In addition was radiation involved also? The reason I ask is pertinent to the recovery time, assuming an otherwise healthy person.
I had this surgery with a fibula free flap section used as replacement at age 64 and it was about four to six weeks for the swelling to subside enough to look somewhat normal. Six months before everything was healed more or less. Initially I looked like John Merrick, the Elephant Man. But within two weeks I began to recognize my own reflection in the mirror.
Internally, nerve issues for the first two years although I occasionally still experience periodic short lived nerve sensations. My leg healed to painless after about nine months yet now almost five years later I am having walking pain issues. I will have that looked at later this year.
I had prosthetic teeth implanted but not sure I would recommend that due to easy infections in the post attachments area.
Reduce swelling? Tylenol basically. Aleve works well too. A heating pad on the area seems to soothe and promote healing.
Let me know if he has questions. It’s a rare surgery but easier than chemo and radiation treatments.