Re: Cosmetic vs. Functional reasons....

[Guest guest]

Blake,

Wow, reading about your situation it's like I could have been writing

much of it myself. I'm 32 and should have had this done as a

teenager, but I didn't do it because I was too scared.

My upper jaw was also too narrow before the surgery (as well as too

long), and I had a cross-bite which made my midline quite off and I

always thought of myself as looking " crooked " too. My husband and I

would joke about his crooked wife. I also didn't have much of a

chin.

Before starting with braces my bite came together fine, though

aesthetics-wise it was far from beautiful. I had a consultation with

my orthodontist who recommended braces with surgery as a way of

putting everything in the right place and averting possible TMJ

problems in the future.

I've hated almost every photo ever taken of me, especially when I'm

smiling. I did have the surgery primarily for cosmetic reasons,

though there were a number of functional benefits I wanted as well

(being able to close my lips more easily - which hasn't happened so

far, being able to breathe more easily through my nose - which has,

and avoiding future TMJ problems).

I'm only 3 weeks post-op and still in the " What the hell...? " phase,

and afraid that I'll be stuck with the problems I knew there was a

chance the surgery could cause (my surgeon said there was a 2% chance

it could make things worse), but I'm optimistic and hope for great

results after I'm finished recovering. It's a long process, though,

and frustrating! It's difficult just waiting and wondering when

you'll feel " normal " again.

Appearance-wise, I'm already happy with the results.

Best of luck with your surgery in June, and may everything go smoothly

and your results be wonderful!

Beth

> Hello..

>

> My upper jaw is too narrow, and my lower jaw is off center by about 5

> mm. When I look straight ahead in a mirror, I can adjust my face to

> look normal, and I wear a goatee to hide my off-center lower jaw.

> In pictures, especially when they are taken when I'm not aware, I

> look horrible (well, at least, to me.)

>

> My dentist told me that having Orthognatic surgery will give me great

> benefits down the road, because of the uneven pressure being applied

> to my TM joints, I'll eventually have problems -- and unlike hip and

> knee replacements, there are no replacements for TMJ.

>

> However, I'm 30, and I have a good job with good benefits, and when I

> got out of braces when I was 16, I was told I'd need surgery

> eventually. At that time, my parents couldn't afford it. But now, I

> am coverered, and I'm going to get it done.

>

> I don't have the problems with my teeth not meeting (well, recently I

> do, because lets face it, pre-surgical braces really mess with your

> bite as the ortho gets ready for the surgery), but I'm not in pain

> right now, and I can eat, etc. etc. This, for me, is being done for

> cosmetic reasons, with the added benefits of improved jaw function --

> but obviously my OS worded it differently to get it approved of

> course.

>

> I just figure this is a pretty mellow time in my life. I work at a

> pretty stress-free job, I get to live and work downtown Orlando, I

> walk to work, I'm planning on going back to school next Fall in

> Atlanta for Physician's Assistant, and I figure, this is something

> that I have the time, and feeling that I want to get done.

>

> I'm a little vain. I care how I look. I have a crooked face. Every

> study of beauty says that symmetry is what makes us beautful.

> Although my friends don't see anything wrong with how I look until I

> tell them, I know that subconsiously, they do see it. I know I do.

>

> I'm aware of the risks -- numbness, etc. But I personally know of at

> least 3 people who've had this done, and a week after the surgery,

> they thought " What the hell did I do to myself?? " . A year later,

> they'd do it again.

>

> I'm sorry to hear about the people who've had terrible results with

> this surgery, but according to the literature I've read on the

> subject, those people seem to be in the minority, as unfortunate as

> that is. Maybe a year from now, I'll feel as bad as they do. But

> right now, I'm excited about the new appearance, and like my Dentist

> said, I'll have the rest of my life to enjoy the new benefits of

> Orthognatic surgery.

>

> I wish everyone luck out there, and I hope you do the same for me.

> My surgical date is this June, and I can't wait!

>

> -Blake