Re: A perspective from a lower jaw/genio patient

[Guest guest]

Typo!!

I meant to say: " Just over 1/3rd the length of your pinky FINGERNAIL "

haha...

[Guest guest]

Typo!!

I meant to say: " Just over 1/3rd the length of your pinky FINGERNAIL "

haha...

[Guest guest]

I'm happy for you that you have found a reconciliation with yourself

in all this, and I agree with most of what you say.

I do think that it's easy to become obsessive, both before and after

this surgery, and start looking at minuscule details to the point of

tedium.

When I asked my surgeon whether he could see any difference in my

appearance after a 5mm lower advancement (and a 3mm movement to the

side) he laughed and said, " Cammie, it was just a quarter of an

inch! " )

He acknowledged, though, that no longer did I have my familiar mouth,

and that I never will again. " Nope. It's MY mouth now, " he said. I do

know that I am indeed fortunate in many things, not the least of

which that I no longer have the aching jaws that sometimes reduced me

to involuntary tears. Minor twinges and sore days, but nothing like

it was before.

And you're absolutely right. Some of the birth defects that children

manage to deal with (and adults, too, I reckon) areenough to inspire

anyone, I think. Or rather, the way the children and their parents

manage is inspiring.

Good wishes to you. You sound as though you not only have an improved

appearance, but as though there's a really nice fella underneath,

which is even more important.

And if you wind up really unhappy with your chin, which it doesn't

sound to me as though you will, hey -- you could still see a plastic

surgeon and see whether he or she has anything else to offer. I do

believe that medical techniques in all fields are changing and

improving day by day, so you never know what they'll be able to do in

a year or a decade, if you want to go to that trouble.

Best, and congratulations!

Cammie

>

> I posted here a few weeks ago concerning the orthognathic surgery

> that I underwent on Sept 23rd. By the way: I am male, 26 years old.

>

> It's been just over a month since surgery and healing is going

quite

> well.

>

>

> My lower jaw was advanced 8mm and my chin was advanced 4mm. For the

> most part, I am happy with the results although my chin advancement

> was not as dramatic as I was hoping for. Honestly, I was under the

> impression that the tip of my chin would come out as far as my

lower

> lip, but it does not. Not even close, really. 4mm is barely

anything

> at all. It's just over 1/3rd the length of your pinky finger!

That's

> hardly enough to create a decent chin.

>

>

> In fact, most people that have seen me since surgery say: " yeah,

you

> look good! But I kind of thought your chin would stick out

further. "

>

> On the other hand, to say there isn't a difference between the

> before/after would be an outright lie. So, in the end - I'm

> pleased, but not as pleased as I thought I'd be.

>

>

> It might have been of more benefit had I honestly admitted to

others

> that my primary motivation for surgery was to improve my

aesthetics.

> Had I done that, I may have wound up in the office of a plastic

> surgeon who specializes in facial appearance. Instead, I pretended

> like it didn't bother me because, otherwise, people would know how

> insecure I was about my jaw structure. Nevertheless, I needed the

> braces to correct a bad occlusion - so going the orthodontic route

> wasn't a total loss by any means.

>

> Anyways, since the surgery I've noticed I'm capable of seeing

things

> in two ways:

>

> 1) I can obsessively scrutinize my face and compare my features to

> some perfect standard of attractiveness and feel self pity...

>

> -or-

>

> 2) I can be grateful for this entire experience and realize I was a

> decent looking guy to begin with who has been blessed with a nice

> improvement.

>

>

> There's really no other choice than #2. For my personal situation,

#1

> would only lead to depressing vanity and becoming self-absorbed.

Now

> that's not true for everyone, of course. But it would be true for

me.

>

> Also, in the past 2 years that I've learned about this stuff, I

have

> come across some truly heart breaking cases of children with

> deformities far worse than mine. Treacher- syndrome, for

> example. I can't imagine what it must be like to be a young child

> going to school with such a condition. Or I consider the men and

> women coming home from from Iraq with missing arms and legs.

> Horrible.

>

> By no means am I looking down on those people. I'm merely stating

> that, considering the full scope of possibilities, I would have to

be

> blind to my own luck and good fortune in order to continue feeling

> bad about my jaw.

>

>

> In any event, I just wanted to share this with everyone since we're

> all dealing with orthognathic surgery in some way or another.

[Guest guest]

I'm happy for you that you have found a reconciliation with yourself

in all this, and I agree with most of what you say.

I do think that it's easy to become obsessive, both before and after

this surgery, and start looking at minuscule details to the point of

tedium.

When I asked my surgeon whether he could see any difference in my

appearance after a 5mm lower advancement (and a 3mm movement to the

side) he laughed and said, " Cammie, it was just a quarter of an

inch! " )

He acknowledged, though, that no longer did I have my familiar mouth,

and that I never will again. " Nope. It's MY mouth now, " he said. I do

know that I am indeed fortunate in many things, not the least of

which that I no longer have the aching jaws that sometimes reduced me

to involuntary tears. Minor twinges and sore days, but nothing like

it was before.

And you're absolutely right. Some of the birth defects that children

manage to deal with (and adults, too, I reckon) areenough to inspire

anyone, I think. Or rather, the way the children and their parents

manage is inspiring.

Good wishes to you. You sound as though you not only have an improved

appearance, but as though there's a really nice fella underneath,

which is even more important.

And if you wind up really unhappy with your chin, which it doesn't

sound to me as though you will, hey -- you could still see a plastic

surgeon and see whether he or she has anything else to offer. I do

believe that medical techniques in all fields are changing and

improving day by day, so you never know what they'll be able to do in

a year or a decade, if you want to go to that trouble.

Best, and congratulations!

Cammie

>

> I posted here a few weeks ago concerning the orthognathic surgery

> that I underwent on Sept 23rd. By the way: I am male, 26 years old.

>

> It's been just over a month since surgery and healing is going

quite

> well.

>

>

> My lower jaw was advanced 8mm and my chin was advanced 4mm. For the

> most part, I am happy with the results although my chin advancement

> was not as dramatic as I was hoping for. Honestly, I was under the

> impression that the tip of my chin would come out as far as my

lower

> lip, but it does not. Not even close, really. 4mm is barely

anything

> at all. It's just over 1/3rd the length of your pinky finger!

That's

> hardly enough to create a decent chin.

>

>

> In fact, most people that have seen me since surgery say: " yeah,

you

> look good! But I kind of thought your chin would stick out

further. "

>

> On the other hand, to say there isn't a difference between the

> before/after would be an outright lie. So, in the end - I'm

> pleased, but not as pleased as I thought I'd be.

>

>

> It might have been of more benefit had I honestly admitted to

others

> that my primary motivation for surgery was to improve my

aesthetics.

> Had I done that, I may have wound up in the office of a plastic

> surgeon who specializes in facial appearance. Instead, I pretended

> like it didn't bother me because, otherwise, people would know how

> insecure I was about my jaw structure. Nevertheless, I needed the

> braces to correct a bad occlusion - so going the orthodontic route

> wasn't a total loss by any means.

>

> Anyways, since the surgery I've noticed I'm capable of seeing

things

> in two ways:

>

> 1) I can obsessively scrutinize my face and compare my features to

> some perfect standard of attractiveness and feel self pity...

>

> -or-

>

> 2) I can be grateful for this entire experience and realize I was a

> decent looking guy to begin with who has been blessed with a nice

> improvement.

>

>

> There's really no other choice than #2. For my personal situation,

#1

> would only lead to depressing vanity and becoming self-absorbed.

Now

> that's not true for everyone, of course. But it would be true for

me.

>

> Also, in the past 2 years that I've learned about this stuff, I

have

> come across some truly heart breaking cases of children with

> deformities far worse than mine. Treacher- syndrome, for

> example. I can't imagine what it must be like to be a young child

> going to school with such a condition. Or I consider the men and

> women coming home from from Iraq with missing arms and legs.

> Horrible.

>

> By no means am I looking down on those people. I'm merely stating

> that, considering the full scope of possibilities, I would have to

be

> blind to my own luck and good fortune in order to continue feeling

> bad about my jaw.

>

>

> In any event, I just wanted to share this with everyone since we're

> all dealing with orthognathic surgery in some way or another.

[Guest guest]

Wow! That post could have been written by me. It literally sounded

identical to my case and my thoughts!!! The only slight difference

being that I'm 29 and had 9mm lower adv and 5mm genio on 29th June.

I have had exactly the same thoughts as you about the results. I'd

like to email you personally if I could as it seems we have this

important thing in common. Any chance of your email address?

Nic

>

> I posted here a few weeks ago concerning the orthognathic surgery

> that I underwent on Sept 23rd. By the way: I am male, 26 years old.

>

> It's been just over a month since surgery and healing is going

quite

> well.

>

>

> My lower jaw was advanced 8mm and my chin was advanced 4mm. For

the

> most part, I am happy with the results although my chin

advancement

> was not as dramatic as I was hoping for. Honestly, I was under the

> impression that the tip of my chin would come out as far as my

lower

> lip, but it does not. Not even close, really. 4mm is barely

anything

> at all. It's just over 1/3rd the length of your pinky finger!

That's

> hardly enough to create a decent chin.

>

>

> In fact, most people that have seen me since surgery say: " yeah,

you

> look good! But I kind of thought your chin would stick out

further. "

>

> On the other hand, to say there isn't a difference between the

> before/after would be an outright lie. So, in the end - I'm

> pleased, but not as pleased as I thought I'd be.

>

>

> It might have been of more benefit had I honestly admitted to

others

> that my primary motivation for surgery was to improve my

aesthetics.

> Had I done that, I may have wound up in the office of a plastic

> surgeon who specializes in facial appearance. Instead, I pretended

> like it didn't bother me because, otherwise, people would know how

> insecure I was about my jaw structure. Nevertheless, I needed the

> braces to correct a bad occlusion - so going the orthodontic route

> wasn't a total loss by any means.

>

> Anyways, since the surgery I've noticed I'm capable of seeing

things

> in two ways:

>

> 1) I can obsessively scrutinize my face and compare my features to

> some perfect standard of attractiveness and feel self pity...

>

> -or-

>

> 2) I can be grateful for this entire experience and realize I was

a

> decent looking guy to begin with who has been blessed with a nice

> improvement.

>

>

> There's really no other choice than #2. For my personal situation,

#1

> would only lead to depressing vanity and becoming self-absorbed.

Now

> that's not true for everyone, of course. But it would be true for

me.

>

> Also, in the past 2 years that I've learned about this stuff, I

have

> come across some truly heart breaking cases of children with

> deformities far worse than mine. Treacher- syndrome, for

> example. I can't imagine what it must be like to be a young child

> going to school with such a condition. Or I consider the men and

> women coming home from from Iraq with missing arms and legs.

> Horrible.

>

> By no means am I looking down on those people. I'm merely stating

> that, considering the full scope of possibilities, I would have to

be

> blind to my own luck and good fortune in order to continue feeling

> bad about my jaw.

>

>

> In any event, I just wanted to share this with everyone since

we're

> all dealing with orthognathic surgery in some way or another.

[Guest guest]

Wow! That post could have been written by me. It literally sounded

identical to my case and my thoughts!!! The only slight difference

being that I'm 29 and had 9mm lower adv and 5mm genio on 29th June.

I have had exactly the same thoughts as you about the results. I'd

like to email you personally if I could as it seems we have this

important thing in common. Any chance of your email address?

Nic

>

> I posted here a few weeks ago concerning the orthognathic surgery

> that I underwent on Sept 23rd. By the way: I am male, 26 years old.

>

> It's been just over a month since surgery and healing is going

quite

> well.

>

>

> My lower jaw was advanced 8mm and my chin was advanced 4mm. For

the

> most part, I am happy with the results although my chin

advancement

> was not as dramatic as I was hoping for. Honestly, I was under the

> impression that the tip of my chin would come out as far as my

lower

> lip, but it does not. Not even close, really. 4mm is barely

anything

> at all. It's just over 1/3rd the length of your pinky finger!

That's

> hardly enough to create a decent chin.

>

>

> In fact, most people that have seen me since surgery say: " yeah,

you

> look good! But I kind of thought your chin would stick out

further. "

>

> On the other hand, to say there isn't a difference between the

> before/after would be an outright lie. So, in the end - I'm

> pleased, but not as pleased as I thought I'd be.

>

>

> It might have been of more benefit had I honestly admitted to

others

> that my primary motivation for surgery was to improve my

aesthetics.

> Had I done that, I may have wound up in the office of a plastic

> surgeon who specializes in facial appearance. Instead, I pretended

> like it didn't bother me because, otherwise, people would know how

> insecure I was about my jaw structure. Nevertheless, I needed the

> braces to correct a bad occlusion - so going the orthodontic route

> wasn't a total loss by any means.

>

> Anyways, since the surgery I've noticed I'm capable of seeing

things

> in two ways:

>

> 1) I can obsessively scrutinize my face and compare my features to

> some perfect standard of attractiveness and feel self pity...

>

> -or-

>

> 2) I can be grateful for this entire experience and realize I was

a

> decent looking guy to begin with who has been blessed with a nice

> improvement.

>

>

> There's really no other choice than #2. For my personal situation,

#1

> would only lead to depressing vanity and becoming self-absorbed.

Now

> that's not true for everyone, of course. But it would be true for

me.

>

> Also, in the past 2 years that I've learned about this stuff, I

have

> come across some truly heart breaking cases of children with

> deformities far worse than mine. Treacher- syndrome, for

> example. I can't imagine what it must be like to be a young child

> going to school with such a condition. Or I consider the men and

> women coming home from from Iraq with missing arms and legs.

> Horrible.

>

> By no means am I looking down on those people. I'm merely stating

> that, considering the full scope of possibilities, I would have to

be

> blind to my own luck and good fortune in order to continue feeling

> bad about my jaw.

>

>

> In any event, I just wanted to share this with everyone since

we're

> all dealing with orthognathic surgery in some way or another.

[Guest guest]

Great post!

>

> I posted here a few weeks ago concerning the orthognathic surgery

> that I underwent on Sept 23rd. By the way: I am male, 26 years old.

>

> It's been just over a month since surgery and healing is going

quite

> well.

>

>

> My lower jaw was advanced 8mm and my chin was advanced 4mm. For

the

> most part, I am happy with the results although my chin

advancement

> was not as dramatic as I was hoping for. Honestly, I was under the

> impression that the tip of my chin would come out as far as my

lower

> lip, but it does not. Not even close, really. 4mm is barely

anything

> at all. It's just over 1/3rd the length of your pinky finger!

That's

> hardly enough to create a decent chin.

>

>

> In fact, most people that have seen me since surgery say: " yeah,

you

> look good! But I kind of thought your chin would stick out

further. "

>

> On the other hand, to say there isn't a difference between the

> before/after would be an outright lie. So, in the end - I'm

> pleased, but not as pleased as I thought I'd be.

>

>

> It might have been of more benefit had I honestly admitted to

others

> that my primary motivation for surgery was to improve my

aesthetics.

> Had I done that, I may have wound up in the office of a plastic

> surgeon who specializes in facial appearance. Instead, I pretended

> like it didn't bother me because, otherwise, people would know how

> insecure I was about my jaw structure. Nevertheless, I needed the

> braces to correct a bad occlusion - so going the orthodontic route

> wasn't a total loss by any means.

>

> Anyways, since the surgery I've noticed I'm capable of seeing

things

> in two ways:

>

> 1) I can obsessively scrutinize my face and compare my features to

> some perfect standard of attractiveness and feel self pity...

>

> -or-

>

> 2) I can be grateful for this entire experience and realize I was

a

> decent looking guy to begin with who has been blessed with a nice

> improvement.

>

>

> There's really no other choice than #2. For my personal situation,

#1

> would only lead to depressing vanity and becoming self-absorbed.

Now

> that's not true for everyone, of course. But it would be true for

me.

>

> Also, in the past 2 years that I've learned about this stuff, I

have

> come across some truly heart breaking cases of children with

> deformities far worse than mine. Treacher- syndrome, for

> example. I can't imagine what it must be like to be a young child

> going to school with such a condition. Or I consider the men and

> women coming home from from Iraq with missing arms and legs.

> Horrible.

>

> By no means am I looking down on those people. I'm merely stating

> that, considering the full scope of possibilities, I would have to

be

> blind to my own luck and good fortune in order to continue feeling

> bad about my jaw.

>

>

> In any event, I just wanted to share this with everyone since

we're

> all dealing with orthognathic surgery in some way or another.

[Guest guest]

Great post!

>

> I posted here a few weeks ago concerning the orthognathic surgery

> that I underwent on Sept 23rd. By the way: I am male, 26 years old.

>

> It's been just over a month since surgery and healing is going

quite

> well.

>

>

> My lower jaw was advanced 8mm and my chin was advanced 4mm. For

the

> most part, I am happy with the results although my chin

advancement

> was not as dramatic as I was hoping for. Honestly, I was under the

> impression that the tip of my chin would come out as far as my

lower

> lip, but it does not. Not even close, really. 4mm is barely

anything

> at all. It's just over 1/3rd the length of your pinky finger!

That's

> hardly enough to create a decent chin.

>

>

> In fact, most people that have seen me since surgery say: " yeah,

you

> look good! But I kind of thought your chin would stick out

further. "

>

> On the other hand, to say there isn't a difference between the

> before/after would be an outright lie. So, in the end - I'm

> pleased, but not as pleased as I thought I'd be.

>

>

> It might have been of more benefit had I honestly admitted to

others

> that my primary motivation for surgery was to improve my

aesthetics.

> Had I done that, I may have wound up in the office of a plastic

> surgeon who specializes in facial appearance. Instead, I pretended

> like it didn't bother me because, otherwise, people would know how

> insecure I was about my jaw structure. Nevertheless, I needed the

> braces to correct a bad occlusion - so going the orthodontic route

> wasn't a total loss by any means.

>

> Anyways, since the surgery I've noticed I'm capable of seeing

things

> in two ways:

>

> 1) I can obsessively scrutinize my face and compare my features to

> some perfect standard of attractiveness and feel self pity...

>

> -or-

>

> 2) I can be grateful for this entire experience and realize I was

a

> decent looking guy to begin with who has been blessed with a nice

> improvement.

>

>

> There's really no other choice than #2. For my personal situation,

#1

> would only lead to depressing vanity and becoming self-absorbed.

Now

> that's not true for everyone, of course. But it would be true for

me.

>

> Also, in the past 2 years that I've learned about this stuff, I

have

> come across some truly heart breaking cases of children with

> deformities far worse than mine. Treacher- syndrome, for

> example. I can't imagine what it must be like to be a young child

> going to school with such a condition. Or I consider the men and

> women coming home from from Iraq with missing arms and legs.

> Horrible.

>

> By no means am I looking down on those people. I'm merely stating

> that, considering the full scope of possibilities, I would have to

be

> blind to my own luck and good fortune in order to continue feeling

> bad about my jaw.

>

>

> In any event, I just wanted to share this with everyone since

we're

> all dealing with orthognathic surgery in some way or another.

[Guest guest]

Thank you for a wonderful and meaningful post

Re: A perspective from a lower

jaw/genio patient

Great post!

>

> I posted here a few weeks ago concerning the orthognathic surgery

> that I underwent on Sept 23rd. By the way: I am male, 26 years old.

>

> It's been just over a month since surgery and healing is going

quite

> well.

>

>

> My lower jaw was advanced 8mm and my chin was advanced 4mm. For

the

> most part, I am happy with the results although my chin

advancement

> was not as dramatic as I was hoping for. Honestly, I was under the

> impression that the tip of my chin would come out as far as my

lower

> lip, but it does not. Not even close, really. 4mm is barely

anything

> at all. It's just over 1/3rd the length of your pinky finger!

That's

> hardly enough to create a decent chin.

>

>

> In fact, most people that have seen me since surgery say: " yeah,

you

> look good! But I kind of thought your chin would stick out

further. "

>

> On the other hand, to say there isn't a difference between the

> before/after would be an outright lie. So, in the end - I'm

> pleased, but not as pleased as I thought I'd be.

>

>

> It might have been of more benefit had I honestly admitted to

others

> that my primary motivation for surgery was to improve my

aesthetics.

> Had I done that, I may have wound up in the office of a plastic

> surgeon who specializes in facial appearance. Instead, I pretended

> like it didn't bother me because, otherwise, people would know how

> insecure I was about my jaw structure. Nevertheless, I needed the

> braces to correct a bad occlusion - so going the orthodontic route

> wasn't a total loss by any means.

>

> Anyways, since the surgery I've noticed I'm capable of seeing

things

> in two ways:

>

> 1) I can obsessively scrutinize my face and compare my features to

> some perfect standard of attractiveness and feel self pity...

>

> -or-

>

> 2) I can be grateful for this entire experience and realize I was

a

> decent looking guy to begin with who has been blessed with a nice

> improvement.

>

>

> There's really no other choice than #2. For my personal situation,

#1

> would only lead to depressing vanity and becoming self-absorbed.

Now

> that's not true for everyone, of course. But it would be true for

me.

>

> Also, in the past 2 years that I've learned about this stuff, I

have

> come across some truly heart breaking cases of children with

> deformities far worse than mine. Treacher- syndrome, for

> example. I can't imagine what it must be like to be a young child

> going to school with such a condition. Or I consider the men and

> women coming home from from Iraq with missing arms and legs.

> Horrible.

>

> By no means am I looking down on those people. I'm merely stating

> that, considering the full scope of possibilities, I would have to

be

> blind to my own luck and good fortune in order to continue feeling

> bad about my jaw.

>

>

> In any event, I just wanted to share this with everyone since

we're

> all dealing with orthognathic surgery in some way or another.

[Guest guest]

Thank you for a wonderful and meaningful post

Re: A perspective from a lower

jaw/genio patient

Great post!

>

> I posted here a few weeks ago concerning the orthognathic surgery

> that I underwent on Sept 23rd. By the way: I am male, 26 years old.

>

> It's been just over a month since surgery and healing is going

quite

> well.

>

>

> My lower jaw was advanced 8mm and my chin was advanced 4mm. For

the

> most part, I am happy with the results although my chin

advancement

> was not as dramatic as I was hoping for. Honestly, I was under the

> impression that the tip of my chin would come out as far as my

lower

> lip, but it does not. Not even close, really. 4mm is barely

anything

> at all. It's just over 1/3rd the length of your pinky finger!

That's

> hardly enough to create a decent chin.

>

>

> In fact, most people that have seen me since surgery say: " yeah,

you

> look good! But I kind of thought your chin would stick out

further. "

>

> On the other hand, to say there isn't a difference between the

> before/after would be an outright lie. So, in the end - I'm

> pleased, but not as pleased as I thought I'd be.

>

>

> It might have been of more benefit had I honestly admitted to

others

> that my primary motivation for surgery was to improve my

aesthetics.

> Had I done that, I may have wound up in the office of a plastic

> surgeon who specializes in facial appearance. Instead, I pretended

> like it didn't bother me because, otherwise, people would know how

> insecure I was about my jaw structure. Nevertheless, I needed the

> braces to correct a bad occlusion - so going the orthodontic route

> wasn't a total loss by any means.

>

> Anyways, since the surgery I've noticed I'm capable of seeing

things

> in two ways:

>

> 1) I can obsessively scrutinize my face and compare my features to

> some perfect standard of attractiveness and feel self pity...

>

> -or-

>

> 2) I can be grateful for this entire experience and realize I was

a

> decent looking guy to begin with who has been blessed with a nice

> improvement.

>

>

> There's really no other choice than #2. For my personal situation,

#1

> would only lead to depressing vanity and becoming self-absorbed.

Now

> that's not true for everyone, of course. But it would be true for

me.

>

> Also, in the past 2 years that I've learned about this stuff, I

have

> come across some truly heart breaking cases of children with

> deformities far worse than mine. Treacher- syndrome, for

> example. I can't imagine what it must be like to be a young child

> going to school with such a condition. Or I consider the men and

> women coming home from from Iraq with missing arms and legs.

> Horrible.

>

> By no means am I looking down on those people. I'm merely stating

> that, considering the full scope of possibilities, I would have to

be

> blind to my own luck and good fortune in order to continue feeling

> bad about my jaw.

>

>

> In any event, I just wanted to share this with everyone since

we're

> all dealing with orthognathic surgery in some way or another.

[Guest guest]

I am sure you have touched many of us who have read your post. Thank

you!

- In orthognathicsurgerysupport ,

mandibular_hypoplasia <no_reply@y...> wrote:

>

> I posted here a few weeks ago concerning the orthognathic surgery

> that I underwent on Sept 23rd. By the way: I am male, 26 years old.

>

> It's been just over a month since surgery and healing is going

quite

> well.

>

>

> My lower jaw was advanced 8mm and my chin was advanced 4mm. For

the

> most part, I am happy with the results although my chin

advancement

> was not as dramatic as I was hoping for. Honestly, I was under the

> impression that the tip of my chin would come out as far as my

lower

> lip, but it does not. Not even close, really. 4mm is barely

anything

> at all. It's just over 1/3rd the length of your pinky finger!

That's

> hardly enough to create a decent chin.

>

>

> In fact, most people that have seen me since surgery say: " yeah,

you

> look good! But I kind of thought your chin would stick out

further. "

>

> On the other hand, to say there isn't a difference between the

> before/after would be an outright lie. So, in the end - I'm

> pleased, but not as pleased as I thought I'd be.

>

>

> It might have been of more benefit had I honestly admitted to

others

> that my primary motivation for surgery was to improve my

aesthetics.

> Had I done that, I may have wound up in the office of a plastic

> surgeon who specializes in facial appearance. Instead, I pretended

> like it didn't bother me because, otherwise, people would know how

> insecure I was about my jaw structure. Nevertheless, I needed the

> braces to correct a bad occlusion - so going the orthodontic route

> wasn't a total loss by any means.

>

> Anyways, since the surgery I've noticed I'm capable of seeing

things

> in two ways:

>

> 1) I can obsessively scrutinize my face and compare my features to

> some perfect standard of attractiveness and feel self pity...

>

> -or-

>

> 2) I can be grateful for this entire experience and realize I was

a

> decent looking guy to begin with who has been blessed with a nice

> improvement.

>

>

> There's really no other choice than #2. For my personal situation,

#1

> would only lead to depressing vanity and becoming self-absorbed.

Now

> that's not true for everyone, of course. But it would be true for

me.

>

> Also, in the past 2 years that I've learned about this stuff, I

have

> come across some truly heart breaking cases of children with

> deformities far worse than mine. Treacher- syndrome, for

> example. I can't imagine what it must be like to be a young child

> going to school with such a condition. Or I consider the men and

> women coming home from from Iraq with missing arms and legs.

> Horrible.

>

> By no means am I looking down on those people. I'm merely stating

> that, considering the full scope of possibilities, I would have to

be

> blind to my own luck and good fortune in order to continue feeling

> bad about my jaw.

>

>

> In any event, I just wanted to share this with everyone since

we're

> all dealing with orthognathic surgery in some way or another.

[Guest guest]

I am sure you have touched many of us who have read your post. Thank

you!

- In orthognathicsurgerysupport ,

mandibular_hypoplasia <no_reply@y...> wrote:

>

> I posted here a few weeks ago concerning the orthognathic surgery

> that I underwent on Sept 23rd. By the way: I am male, 26 years old.

>

> It's been just over a month since surgery and healing is going

quite

> well.

>

>

> My lower jaw was advanced 8mm and my chin was advanced 4mm. For

the

> most part, I am happy with the results although my chin

advancement

> was not as dramatic as I was hoping for. Honestly, I was under the

> impression that the tip of my chin would come out as far as my

lower

> lip, but it does not. Not even close, really. 4mm is barely

anything

> at all. It's just over 1/3rd the length of your pinky finger!

That's

> hardly enough to create a decent chin.

>

>

> In fact, most people that have seen me since surgery say: " yeah,

you

> look good! But I kind of thought your chin would stick out

further. "

>

> On the other hand, to say there isn't a difference between the

> before/after would be an outright lie. So, in the end - I'm

> pleased, but not as pleased as I thought I'd be.

>

>

> It might have been of more benefit had I honestly admitted to

others

> that my primary motivation for surgery was to improve my

aesthetics.

> Had I done that, I may have wound up in the office of a plastic

> surgeon who specializes in facial appearance. Instead, I pretended

> like it didn't bother me because, otherwise, people would know how

> insecure I was about my jaw structure. Nevertheless, I needed the

> braces to correct a bad occlusion - so going the orthodontic route

> wasn't a total loss by any means.

>

> Anyways, since the surgery I've noticed I'm capable of seeing

things

> in two ways:

>

> 1) I can obsessively scrutinize my face and compare my features to

> some perfect standard of attractiveness and feel self pity...

>

> -or-

>

> 2) I can be grateful for this entire experience and realize I was

a

> decent looking guy to begin with who has been blessed with a nice

> improvement.

>

>

> There's really no other choice than #2. For my personal situation,

#1

> would only lead to depressing vanity and becoming self-absorbed.

Now

> that's not true for everyone, of course. But it would be true for

me.

>

> Also, in the past 2 years that I've learned about this stuff, I

have

> come across some truly heart breaking cases of children with

> deformities far worse than mine. Treacher- syndrome, for

> example. I can't imagine what it must be like to be a young child

> going to school with such a condition. Or I consider the men and

> women coming home from from Iraq with missing arms and legs.

> Horrible.

>

> By no means am I looking down on those people. I'm merely stating

> that, considering the full scope of possibilities, I would have to

be

> blind to my own luck and good fortune in order to continue feeling

> bad about my jaw.

>

>

> In any event, I just wanted to share this with everyone since

we're

> all dealing with orthognathic surgery in some way or another.

[Guest guest]

And to put it into another perspective, if the whole world was blind

but you, would it really matter what you looked like on the outside?

We're incredibly fortunate to have these options available to us.

>

> I posted here a few weeks ago concerning the orthognathic surgery

> that I underwent on Sept 23rd. By the way: I am male, 26 years old.

>

> It's been just over a month since surgery and healing is going

quite

> well.

>

>

> My lower jaw was advanced 8mm and my chin was advanced 4mm. For the

> most part, I am happy with the results although my chin advancement

> was not as dramatic as I was hoping for. Honestly, I was under the

> impression that the tip of my chin would come out as far as my

lower

> lip, but it does not. Not even close, really. 4mm is barely

anything

> at all. It's just over 1/3rd the length of your pinky finger!

That's

> hardly enough to create a decent chin.

>

>

> In fact, most people that have seen me since surgery say: " yeah,

you

> look good! But I kind of thought your chin would stick out

further. "

>

> On the other hand, to say there isn't a difference between the

> before/after would be an outright lie. So, in the end - I'm

> pleased, but not as pleased as I thought I'd be.

>

>

> It might have been of more benefit had I honestly admitted to

others

> that my primary motivation for surgery was to improve my

aesthetics.

> Had I done that, I may have wound up in the office of a plastic

> surgeon who specializes in facial appearance. Instead, I pretended

> like it didn't bother me because, otherwise, people would know how

> insecure I was about my jaw structure. Nevertheless, I needed the

> braces to correct a bad occlusion - so going the orthodontic route

> wasn't a total loss by any means.

>

> Anyways, since the surgery I've noticed I'm capable of seeing

things

> in two ways:

>

> 1) I can obsessively scrutinize my face and compare my features to

> some perfect standard of attractiveness and feel self pity...

>

> -or-

>

> 2) I can be grateful for this entire experience and realize I was a

> decent looking guy to begin with who has been blessed with a nice

> improvement.

>

>

> There's really no other choice than #2. For my personal situation,

#1

> would only lead to depressing vanity and becoming self-absorbed.

Now

> that's not true for everyone, of course. But it would be true for

me.

>

> Also, in the past 2 years that I've learned about this stuff, I

have

> come across some truly heart breaking cases of children with

> deformities far worse than mine. Treacher- syndrome, for

> example. I can't imagine what it must be like to be a young child

> going to school with such a condition. Or I consider the men and

> women coming home from from Iraq with missing arms and legs.

> Horrible.

>

> By no means am I looking down on those people. I'm merely stating

> that, considering the full scope of possibilities, I would have to

be

> blind to my own luck and good fortune in order to continue feeling

> bad about my jaw.

>

>

> In any event, I just wanted to share this with everyone since we're

> all dealing with orthognathic surgery in some way or another.

[Guest guest]

And to put it into another perspective, if the whole world was blind

but you, would it really matter what you looked like on the outside?

We're incredibly fortunate to have these options available to us.

>

> I posted here a few weeks ago concerning the orthognathic surgery

> that I underwent on Sept 23rd. By the way: I am male, 26 years old.

>

> It's been just over a month since surgery and healing is going

quite

> well.

>

>

> My lower jaw was advanced 8mm and my chin was advanced 4mm. For the

> most part, I am happy with the results although my chin advancement

> was not as dramatic as I was hoping for. Honestly, I was under the

> impression that the tip of my chin would come out as far as my

lower

> lip, but it does not. Not even close, really. 4mm is barely

anything

> at all. It's just over 1/3rd the length of your pinky finger!

That's

> hardly enough to create a decent chin.

>

>

> In fact, most people that have seen me since surgery say: " yeah,

you

> look good! But I kind of thought your chin would stick out

further. "

>

> On the other hand, to say there isn't a difference between the

> before/after would be an outright lie. So, in the end - I'm

> pleased, but not as pleased as I thought I'd be.

>

>

> It might have been of more benefit had I honestly admitted to

others

> that my primary motivation for surgery was to improve my

aesthetics.

> Had I done that, I may have wound up in the office of a plastic

> surgeon who specializes in facial appearance. Instead, I pretended

> like it didn't bother me because, otherwise, people would know how

> insecure I was about my jaw structure. Nevertheless, I needed the

> braces to correct a bad occlusion - so going the orthodontic route

> wasn't a total loss by any means.

>

> Anyways, since the surgery I've noticed I'm capable of seeing

things

> in two ways:

>

> 1) I can obsessively scrutinize my face and compare my features to

> some perfect standard of attractiveness and feel self pity...

>

> -or-

>

> 2) I can be grateful for this entire experience and realize I was a

> decent looking guy to begin with who has been blessed with a nice

> improvement.

>

>

> There's really no other choice than #2. For my personal situation,

#1

> would only lead to depressing vanity and becoming self-absorbed.

Now

> that's not true for everyone, of course. But it would be true for

me.

>

> Also, in the past 2 years that I've learned about this stuff, I

have

> come across some truly heart breaking cases of children with

> deformities far worse than mine. Treacher- syndrome, for

> example. I can't imagine what it must be like to be a young child

> going to school with such a condition. Or I consider the men and

> women coming home from from Iraq with missing arms and legs.

> Horrible.

>

> By no means am I looking down on those people. I'm merely stating

> that, considering the full scope of possibilities, I would have to

be

> blind to my own luck and good fortune in order to continue feeling

> bad about my jaw.

>

>

> In any event, I just wanted to share this with everyone since we're

> all dealing with orthognathic surgery in some way or another.

[Guest guest]

Thanks to everyone for the kind words. I'm glad people were

encouraged by the post.

I believe requested my E-mail address. It is:

mandibular_hypoplasia@...

Feel free to E-mail anytime. You or anyone else...

[Guest guest]

Thanks to everyone for the kind words. I'm glad people were

encouraged by the post.

I believe requested my E-mail address. It is:

mandibular_hypoplasia@...

Feel free to E-mail anytime. You or anyone else...