Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 Best advice: Go to 's geocities site: http://www.geocities.com/orthognathicinfo/ There are lots of FAQs there, which will help you make your own list. It sounds to me as though I may well be too late with this answer, but just in case I'm not. (And my apologies if I am! It's been a hectic couple of days for me.) I took a tape recorder with me, and asked whether he minded if I recorded our conversation. (It was a little awkward, because I work for the newspaper here as a writer, and I had to make it clear to him that I wanted it for my own reference, not because I was writing a story about it. Kindly, he agreed and was not, so far as I could tell, at all inhibited by it.) I found it very helpful as the surgery got nearer, and listened to it quite a few times to refresh my memory. certainly you will want to know whether he thinks he will wire you shut; mine showed me exactly how he would do the cuts, and explained the anatomy to me, as well as the possible risks and benefits. You may want to talk with some of his other patients. Some docs also have imaging equipment that will give you a preview of what he thinks you'll look like post op. (I had very little change, and can't actually see it.) ask him what he expects your recovery to be like, and how long he thinks it will take, too. You might also ask him how old his oldest jaw surgery patient has been (in my case, the answer was early 60s), and how many of these procedures he does in a year/month whatever. Whether he or someone in his office can handle your insurance procedures for your, and whether his patients generally have trouble getting approval. And always bear in mind that your doc can tell you about what he expects, and what usually happens, but nobody can guarantee you that you will or won't be the one in a million (or one in a thousand, or whatever) who will or won't have a particular good or bad experience. This is, after all, elective surgery. It can make your life very much better, but only you can decide whether the benefits outweigh the risks for you, or vice versa. I think I was at the really fortunate lucky end of the odds. That my surgeon and I were both having a really, really good morning. My results were good, my recovery was easy and I had little pain and no numbness. Thank heavens. I'm not gloating, just grateful. If there are any specifics questions I can help with, from a patient's point of view, ask away, and I will give you the best answers I know. I hope for you that your results will be as good as mine! Cammie > Hi Cammie, > I have been reading about your experiences with your lower jaw > surgery. It sounds like we have a lot in common. I am 56 and it > sounds like I will be having lower jaw surgery only in about a year. > > I just got back from an appointing with a orthodontics about braces > and lower jaw surgery. We made an appointment for today at 2:15 with > an OS. I wondered if you could help me with a list of questions for > him. As of today it sounds like I will have to wear braces for a > year, then have the surgery and then braces for about 4 months or so. > Of course, I haven't talk to the OS yet, so there may be some > changes. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 Best advice: Go to 's geocities site: http://www.geocities.com/orthognathicinfo/ There are lots of FAQs there, which will help you make your own list. It sounds to me as though I may well be too late with this answer, but just in case I'm not. (And my apologies if I am! It's been a hectic couple of days for me.) I took a tape recorder with me, and asked whether he minded if I recorded our conversation. (It was a little awkward, because I work for the newspaper here as a writer, and I had to make it clear to him that I wanted it for my own reference, not because I was writing a story about it. Kindly, he agreed and was not, so far as I could tell, at all inhibited by it.) I found it very helpful as the surgery got nearer, and listened to it quite a few times to refresh my memory. certainly you will want to know whether he thinks he will wire you shut; mine showed me exactly how he would do the cuts, and explained the anatomy to me, as well as the possible risks and benefits. You may want to talk with some of his other patients. Some docs also have imaging equipment that will give you a preview of what he thinks you'll look like post op. (I had very little change, and can't actually see it.) ask him what he expects your recovery to be like, and how long he thinks it will take, too. You might also ask him how old his oldest jaw surgery patient has been (in my case, the answer was early 60s), and how many of these procedures he does in a year/month whatever. Whether he or someone in his office can handle your insurance procedures for your, and whether his patients generally have trouble getting approval. And always bear in mind that your doc can tell you about what he expects, and what usually happens, but nobody can guarantee you that you will or won't be the one in a million (or one in a thousand, or whatever) who will or won't have a particular good or bad experience. This is, after all, elective surgery. It can make your life very much better, but only you can decide whether the benefits outweigh the risks for you, or vice versa. I think I was at the really fortunate lucky end of the odds. That my surgeon and I were both having a really, really good morning. My results were good, my recovery was easy and I had little pain and no numbness. Thank heavens. I'm not gloating, just grateful. If there are any specifics questions I can help with, from a patient's point of view, ask away, and I will give you the best answers I know. I hope for you that your results will be as good as mine! Cammie > Hi Cammie, > I have been reading about your experiences with your lower jaw > surgery. It sounds like we have a lot in common. I am 56 and it > sounds like I will be having lower jaw surgery only in about a year. > > I just got back from an appointing with a orthodontics about braces > and lower jaw surgery. We made an appointment for today at 2:15 with > an OS. I wondered if you could help me with a list of questions for > him. As of today it sounds like I will have to wear braces for a > year, then have the surgery and then braces for about 4 months or so. > Of course, I haven't talk to the OS yet, so there may be some > changes. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 One more thought: if you find questions in any of this that you haven't asked but want to, and you've already seen him, try mailing or faxing them to your surgeon. Once you've met him, and have a feel about him, he may be able to answer some things for you in a telephone conversation, rather than requiring your both your time in his office... Cammei > Hi Cammie, > I have been reading about your experiences with your lower jaw > surgery. It sounds like we have a lot in common. I am 56 and it > sounds like I will be having lower jaw surgery only in about a year. > > I just got back from an appointing with a orthodontics about braces > and lower jaw surgery. We made an appointment for today at 2:15 with > an OS. I wondered if you could help me with a list of questions for > him. As of today it sounds like I will have to wear braces for a > year, then have the surgery and then braces for about 4 months or so. > Of course, I haven't talk to the OS yet, so there may be some > changes. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 One more thought: if you find questions in any of this that you haven't asked but want to, and you've already seen him, try mailing or faxing them to your surgeon. Once you've met him, and have a feel about him, he may be able to answer some things for you in a telephone conversation, rather than requiring your both your time in his office... Cammei > Hi Cammie, > I have been reading about your experiences with your lower jaw > surgery. It sounds like we have a lot in common. I am 56 and it > sounds like I will be having lower jaw surgery only in about a year. > > I just got back from an appointing with a orthodontics about braces > and lower jaw surgery. We made an appointment for today at 2:15 with > an OS. I wondered if you could help me with a list of questions for > him. As of today it sounds like I will have to wear braces for a > year, then have the surgery and then braces for about 4 months or so. > Of course, I haven't talk to the OS yet, so there may be some > changes. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 One more thought: if you find questions in any of this that you haven't asked but want to, and you've already seen him, try mailing or faxing them to your surgeon. Once you've met him, and have a feel about him, he may be able to answer some things for you in a telephone conversation, rather than requiring your both your time in his office... Cammei > Hi Cammie, > I have been reading about your experiences with your lower jaw > surgery. It sounds like we have a lot in common. I am 56 and it > sounds like I will be having lower jaw surgery only in about a year. > > I just got back from an appointing with a orthodontics about braces > and lower jaw surgery. We made an appointment for today at 2:15 with > an OS. I wondered if you could help me with a list of questions for > him. As of today it sounds like I will have to wear braces for a > year, then have the surgery and then braces for about 4 months or so. > Of course, I haven't talk to the OS yet, so there may be some > changes. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 Hi Cammie, I did see the OS today and said that he did not want to work on me. He said that because of my age that my bones would be too hard. He said he didn't do anyone over 25 years of age. He suggested that I go back to the Ortho and that he could pull a couple of teeth and do braces, but my ortho has already said that he did not want to that. I guess they all think I am to old. I will probably talk to the Ortho tomorrow and see what he thinks. I was disappointed. Re: Lower Jaw Surgery One more thought: if you find questions in any of this that you haven't asked but want to, and you've already seen him, try mailing or faxing them to your surgeon. Once you've met him, and have a feel about him, he may be able to answer some things for you in a telephone conversation, rather than requiring your both your time in his office... Cammei > Hi Cammie, > I have been reading about your experiences with your lower jaw > surgery. It sounds like we have a lot in common. I am 56 and it > sounds like I will be having lower jaw surgery only in about a year. > > I just got back from an appointing with a orthodontics about braces > and lower jaw surgery. We made an appointment for today at 2:15 with > an OS. I wondered if you could help me with a list of questions for > him. As of today it sounds like I will have to wear braces for a > year, then have the surgery and then braces for about 4 months or so. > Of course, I haven't talk to the OS yet, so there may be some > changes. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 Cammie, Thanks for your advice. If anything changes I will go to the FAQ's site. Don't worry about being to late with your reply. I wrote my note pretty late in the day to expect on answer and I figured that you would be at work anyway. Fortunately, I am retired so I don't have to worry about that. Aside from worrying about my bones being to hard he also was worried about nerve damage. And I certainly don't want that to happen. He did say that I could look for another doctor that might do it, but according to my ortho they are the best docotrs around here. It too bad that your doctor isn't in my neighborhood. Re: Lower Jaw Surgery Best advice: Go to 's geocities site: http://www.geocities.com/orthognathicinfo/ There are lots of FAQs there, which will help you make your own list. It sounds to me as though I may well be too late with this answer, but just in case I'm not. (And my apologies if I am! It's been a hectic couple of days for me.) I took a tape recorder with me, and asked whether he minded if I recorded our conversation. (It was a little awkward, because I work for the newspaper here as a writer, and I had to make it clear to him that I wanted it for my own reference, not because I was writing a story about it. Kindly, he agreed and was not, so far as I could tell, at all inhibited by it.) I found it very helpful as the surgery got nearer, and listened to it quite a few times to refresh my memory. certainly you will want to know whether he thinks he will wire you shut; mine showed me exactly how he would do the cuts, and explained the anatomy to me, as well as the possible risks and benefits. You may want to talk with some of his other patients. Some docs also have imaging equipment that will give you a preview of what he thinks you'll look like post op. (I had very little change, and can't actually see it.) ask him what he expects your recovery to be like, and how long he thinks it will take, too. You might also ask him how old his oldest jaw surgery patient has been (in my case, the answer was early 60s), and how many of these procedures he does in a year/month whatever. Whether he or someone in his office can handle your insurance procedures for your, and whether his patients generally have trouble getting approval. And always bear in mind that your doc can tell you about what he expects, and what usually happens, but nobody can guarantee you that you will or won't be the one in a million (or one in a thousand, or whatever) who will or won't have a particular good or bad experience. This is, after all, elective surgery. It can make your life very much better, but only you can decide whether the benefits outweigh the risks for you, or vice versa. I think I was at the really fortunate lucky end of the odds. That my surgeon and I were both having a really, really good morning. My results were good, my recovery was easy and I had little pain and no numbness. Thank heavens. I'm not gloating, just grateful. If there are any specifics questions I can help with, from a patient's point of view, ask away, and I will give you the best answers I know. I hope for you that your results will be as good as mine! Cammie > Hi Cammie, > I have been reading about your experiences with your lower jaw > surgery. It sounds like we have a lot in common. I am 56 and it > sounds like I will be having lower jaw surgery only in about a year. > > I just got back from an appointing with a orthodontics about braces > and lower jaw surgery. We made an appointment for today at 2:15 with > an OS. I wondered if you could help me with a list of questions for > him. As of today it sounds like I will have to wear braces for a > year, then have the surgery and then braces for about 4 months or so. > Of course, I haven't talk to the OS yet, so there may be some > changes. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2004 Report Share Posted February 12, 2004 Hello Everybody, I'm having both upper and lower surgery. I was just told yesterday that I have a 20% chance of losing feeling on my lower lip and chin after the surgery. I'm a little concern about this. Has anybody experience this?? Thanks, xio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.