Guest guest Posted July 10, 2003 Report Share Posted July 10, 2003 , I read your post and found myself nodding without even realizing I was doing it. So much of what you said about your childhood and adult situations sound like a transcript of my life. I've never heard it referred to as " long face syndrome " before - but that's what I've had all my life. So much teasing as a pre-teen and teenager. So many attempts to come to terms with my appearance. And then finally, so much pain (migraines and jaw pain-TMJ diagnosis) and I find myself 30 years old, committing the next three years of my life to 2 surgeries and braces. It's amazing how life brings some of us full circle like this. My Orthodontist recommended the surgery for me at age 12 also. And my Mom (a wonderful but inexperienced and naive single parent) declined to investigate his opinion further. I hold no grudges, as she has been my biggest support over the last year of planning. She cared for me for four days post-surgery making sure I had everything I needed and then some. But, the memories will always remain. I can only hope and pray that when all this is said and done ... my pain free and potentially more aesthetically pleasing life ... will have made it all worth it. Things happen for a reason, I believe. And I know some of us are much stronger people for having endured, made the difficult decision, and seen it through to the end. Anyway, I guess I'll get down off my own soapbox now. You just sparked something in me ... and I needed to purge. Thank you ... I think I needed that. Sincerely, Carol > > My daughter went to the orthodontist today and he suggested this > > surgery for her in a couple of years. He made an appointment with > the > > oral surgeon for us and told us the oral surgeon would be driving > her > > treatment. Basically her teeth don't meet up, she has problems > > chewing and has an open bite. She also needs her palate widened. > We > > had it widened when she was 8 years old but returned to it's narrow > > self within a couple of years. > > > > My sister had the surgery when she was around 18. She had a much > > more prominent jaw line and the surgery made a tremendous > improvement > > in her looks. But it wasn't an easy process. Her jaw was wired > shut > > for 8 weeks. From her point of view the only reason to do the > > surgery is if your jaw is out of balance with your face. My > > daughters is not. > > > > Are those of you whose treatment are complete, are you happy with > the > > results? Would you do it again? How much pain and discomfort were > > you in? Did you try correcting the problem with braces first? How > > big of an impact did it have on your looks? My daughters jaw line > is > > very proportional to the rest of her face. I don't want her to be > > unhappy with the results. > > > > Thanks for any input, before making any decisions I want to find > out > > as much information as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 10, 2003 Report Share Posted July 10, 2003 Thanks, wow you given me a new perspective. I was looking at the surgery and everything that goes along with it. I wasn't even considering what the risks would be if we didn't do the surgery. Your post was very imformative. Thank you. Terri > > Nope. 8 mm isn't a huge amount. > > > > Mine was moved 5 mm forward and 3 to the side (lower only, > advanced), > > and when I asked my surgeon if he saw a difference, he > said, " CAMMIE! > > It was only a quarter of an inch! " It can, however, be the key to > > retaining the orthodontic improvements.) > > > > There is at least one person here who had a 17 mm advancement, > done > > first with distraction, which persuades the bone to grow, and then > > finishing up the last 5 mm or so with surgery. > > > > The biggest cosmetic changes come, I was told, for young girls who > > have large underbites. > > > > And think for a minute, about never being able to eat a sandwich, > a > > salad or an apple without having to chop it up. I still haven't > taken > > on a stick of raw broccoli, nor a carrot (and I had no problem > doing > > them before hand, although I think I have always tended to crunch > > them in my back teeth, more than biting them off in front). But > I'm > > cleared to cruise in the Big Time now, and glad of it! > > > > Cammie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 10, 2003 Report Share Posted July 10, 2003 Thanks, wow you given me a new perspective. I was looking at the surgery and everything that goes along with it. I wasn't even considering what the risks would be if we didn't do the surgery. Your post was very imformative. Thank you. Terri > > Nope. 8 mm isn't a huge amount. > > > > Mine was moved 5 mm forward and 3 to the side (lower only, > advanced), > > and when I asked my surgeon if he saw a difference, he > said, " CAMMIE! > > It was only a quarter of an inch! " It can, however, be the key to > > retaining the orthodontic improvements.) > > > > There is at least one person here who had a 17 mm advancement, > done > > first with distraction, which persuades the bone to grow, and then > > finishing up the last 5 mm or so with surgery. > > > > The biggest cosmetic changes come, I was told, for young girls who > > have large underbites. > > > > And think for a minute, about never being able to eat a sandwich, > a > > salad or an apple without having to chop it up. I still haven't > taken > > on a stick of raw broccoli, nor a carrot (and I had no problem > doing > > them before hand, although I think I have always tended to crunch > > them in my back teeth, more than biting them off in front). But > I'm > > cleared to cruise in the Big Time now, and glad of it! > > > > Cammie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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