Unsatisfied Post-op results

January 22, 2004

Hello. I had my operation on January 8 of this year to fix my

underbite. My underbite wasn't too bad but severe enough that I

needed the surgery. After the major swelling went down, I first

noticed that my midline was off about 1 mm. Many people have told me

that my orthodontist should be able to fix that. My doctor told me

not to worry about it either. I was worried that my lower or upper

jaw as a whole shifted a little to the left. I don't know.

Now, I'm concerend that I might have an overbite! My upper lip

sticks out more than my lower lip. The area above my upper lip is

now more noticeable which is good I guess but now my chin seems too

small (from the front). Also, my upper teeth and my lower teeth are

about 1 mm apart.

I don't know if it's because of the swelling around my upper lip or

if the doctor did make a mistake of advancing my upper jaw too much

while setting my lower jaw too much. But I kinda look like a bird

with a beak! I told my doctor about the protruding upper lip and he

said that the upper lip is supposed to protrude a little bit more

than the lower lip. I understand that but my upper lip protrusion is

significant enough that it is noticeable. And I don't think the

doctor will likely admit that he made a mistake.

Someone help. I don't know if I am being overly concerned about my

appearance post-op or if the doctor did make a mistake.

What is the best and worst case scenario? Will I need surgery again?

If so, who decides? Any help would be great. Thank you.

January 22, 2004

I'm not sure if this is your case, but I know that the area above my

upper lip also seemed to stick out for a few months, but that was

absolutely due to swelling.....now it is fine. After surgery I

noticed that I was opening and closing my mouth at an angle (they

had to rotate my lower jaw to center it) but that was quickly

corrected by wearing elastics. You are still really early in the

healing process....definitely tell your doc of concerns, but try not

to freak out too much just yet!!

Carol

> Hello. I had my operation on January 8 of this year to fix my

> underbite. My underbite wasn't too bad but severe enough that I

> needed the surgery. After the major swelling went down, I first

> noticed that my midline was off about 1 mm. Many people have told

me

> that my orthodontist should be able to fix that. My doctor told me

> not to worry about it either. I was worried that my lower or upper

> jaw as a whole shifted a little to the left. I don't know.

>

> Now, I'm concerend that I might have an overbite! My upper lip

> sticks out more than my lower lip. The area above my upper lip is

> now more noticeable which is good I guess but now my chin seems

too

> small (from the front). Also, my upper teeth and my lower teeth

are

> about 1 mm apart.

>

> I don't know if it's because of the swelling around my upper lip

or

> if the doctor did make a mistake of advancing my upper jaw too

much

> while setting my lower jaw too much. But I kinda look like a bird

> with a beak! I told my doctor about the protruding upper lip and

he

> said that the upper lip is supposed to protrude a little bit more

> than the lower lip. I understand that but my upper lip protrusion

is

> significant enough that it is noticeable. And I don't think the

> doctor will likely admit that he made a mistake.

>

> Someone help. I don't know if I am being overly concerned about my

> appearance post-op or if the doctor did make a mistake.

>

> What is the best and worst case scenario? Will I need surgery

again?

> If so, who decides? Any help would be great. Thank you.

January 22, 2004

i hated my results at first. its hard to tell results right away,

after my surgery my teeth were all messed up from my braces being

shifted , i couldnt stand the way i looked for a long time, i thought

i looked like a weird little animal with a crooked smile ( kind of

how you feel like a bird ). also when your lower sticks out more, its

more notice-able because of how teeth are supposed to overlap.. so

going from an underbite to correctly overlapping teeth is a shock. i

think your surgeon would admit when he did something wrong, and want

to fix it as soon as he could. a week after my surgery my surgon

noticed he messed up my nose, so i was in the next day and he did a

little nose surgery. i would hope yours would fix anything he saw

wrong too.. but he has to, a surgeon cant have a bad record. my mom

used to make fun of me and say ohh now you have an over bite.. but

now after a year, everyone compliments my smile, and teeth.

everything dramatically changes allll the time- id say until about a

year. i hope youre happy with your final results:). and yes my

orthodontist also had to work to keep my midline in place. i would

say the worst case is more orthodontic work than the ortho,the

surgeon,and you had anticipated.

amanda

> > Hello. I had my operation on January 8 of this year to fix my

> > underbite. My underbite wasn't too bad but severe enough that I

> > needed the surgery. After the major swelling went down, I first

> > noticed that my midline was off about 1 mm. Many people have told

> me

> > that my orthodontist should be able to fix that. My doctor told

me

> > not to worry about it either. I was worried that my lower or

upper

> > jaw as a whole shifted a little to the left. I don't know.

> >

> > Now, I'm concerend that I might have an overbite! My upper lip

> > sticks out more than my lower lip. The area above my upper lip is

> > now more noticeable which is good I guess but now my chin seems

> too

> > small (from the front). Also, my upper teeth and my lower teeth

> are

> > about 1 mm apart.

> >

> > I don't know if it's because of the swelling around my upper lip

> or

> > if the doctor did make a mistake of advancing my upper jaw too

> much

> > while setting my lower jaw too much. But I kinda look like a bird

> > with a beak! I told my doctor about the protruding upper lip and

> he

> > said that the upper lip is supposed to protrude a little bit more

> > than the lower lip. I understand that but my upper lip protrusion

> is

> > significant enough that it is noticeable. And I don't think the

> > doctor will likely admit that he made a mistake.

> >

> > Someone help. I don't know if I am being overly concerned about

my

> > appearance post-op or if the doctor did make a mistake.

> >

> > What is the best and worst case scenario? Will I need surgery

> again?

> > If so, who decides? Any help would be great. Thank you.

January 22, 2004