Table 1.
Representative tweets illustrating each of the identified subthemes
| Theme | Subtheme | Illustrative tweets |
|---|---|---|
| Preoperative engagement | Surgical procedure | “I need this today. I'm trying to be fearless in what is coming my way but I'm still scared #JawSurgery” |
| “Getting mentally prepared for jaw surgery! #Nervous #Excited #JawSurgery” | ||
| Outcome | “T minus one day. I'll be at the hospital on exactly 24 hours! Almost one step closer to eating a sandwich that won't fall apart #jawsurgery” | |
| “I can't wait to get jaw surgery & finally have perfect teeth I don't even care about the recovery I could get it tomorrow” | ||
| Financial issues | “I begged my mom to pay for my jaw surgery when I got braces but she said no and it's my biggest insecurity” | |
| “Do you not understand I'm poor especially if I get the jaw surgery I can't buy no Macbook Pro” | ||
| Postoperative difficulties | Activity restrictions | “My boyfriend is eating my favorite food in front of me and I'm so sad all I want is solid food #jawsurgery” |
| “I don't want another smoothie, I want a juicy cheeseburger and fries #liquiddiet #jawsurgery” | ||
| “When you get two single burgers … because you can't fit a double in your mouth yet #jawsurgery #overtwomontheslater” “Y'all I've lost 10 pounds on this damn liquid diet because of my horrible jaw surgery, and I'm already small. I look like a stick now” | ||
| “The two best things I do in life (eating and talking) I can't do right now because my jaw surgery and it's the worst” | ||
| “So. Tired. Must. Keep. Going #jawsurgery #surgery” | ||
| “Hey guys. I had a jaw surgery a week and a half ago which has been impeding my ability to exercise” | ||
| Common side effects | “Waking up with agonising pain in the jaw, isn't a fun part of #jawsurgery recovery” | |
| “I had my surgery over two weeks ago and I still feel like somebody has punched my jaw” | ||
| “2 weeks post op and I still look like Mrs potato head #stupidswelling #jawsurgery” | ||
| “My face looks like a swollen hamster!! #JawSurgery” | ||
| “Day two post surgery: swollen, can't open my jaw, looking like a chipmunk, starving” | ||
| “Getting feeling back in a part of my lip and it hurts so bad my eye is watering. It's been 3.5 months, can I be normal again? #jawsurgery” | ||
| “One of the cons to jaw surgery is that you may have some nerve damage in your chin/lip and I just realized I had pieces of apple on my chin” | ||
| Depression | “Post-surgical depression is so hard. I wish doctors recognized and had more sympathy for this #jawsurgery” | |
| “Beyond depressed… Mum bought Ikea meatballs to have for dinner … Took one bite and nearly cried … F*** braces. F*** double jaw surgery” | ||
| Lack of recognition | “Sometimes I randomly totally forget about my jaw surgery and I'll look in a mirror and I don't recognize myself for like a second #ItsCrazy” | |
| “Just broke down because my dog didn't recognize me when I got home from the hospital today #jawsurgery” | ||
| “For the second time in a week, bumped into someone who didn't recognize me. This is starting to mess with my head #jawsurgery” | ||
| Immediate regrets | “Curse jaw surgery! Canker sore, burnt tongue, painful stinging pain in the right side & a painful earache. Why did I do this?! #jawsurgery” | |
| “If you ever have the option of getting jaw surgery say no” | ||
| Appliance related | “I get my splint off Wednesday morning! I'm so excited!! #jawsurgery” | |
| “I can't wait to get home! So glad the braces are off and now I just need the jaw to recover properly! #brandnewmouth #jawsurgery” | ||
| “Go through jaw surgery no problem at all, why am I now crying like a baby? Because of the tiny elastic bands I have to wear” | ||
| “Surgical hooks are off. Highlight of my week #jawsurgery” | ||
| Posttreatment satisfaction | Esthetic results | “I love perfect teeth. I guess because I have them. Thanks to braces. And jaw surgery” |
| “Varda che bel lavoro! Look what great job! (20 days after surgery) #jawsurgery #doublejawsurgery …” | ||
| Worth it | “A year ago today I looked like a baby hippo but it was all worth it #jawsurgery #transformation” | |
| “Wow… It's been 3 years already. I would absolutely go back and do it again #jawsurgery” | ||
| Confidence | “1 year ago today was my jaw surgery and I honestly couldn't be more happier with the results and the self-confidence boost” | |
| “3 years ago today was the most confidence boosting, life changing day of my life, as I went under the knife for jaw surgery! How time flies” | ||