Cosmetic vs. Functional reasons....

[Guest guest]

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