2-piece LeForte osteotomy vs. 1-piece

[Guest guest]

Does anybody know what the difference is between the 2 and 1-piece

LeForte? I see many people here get 1-piece, not I haven't seen

anyone get the 2-piece, which I might end up getting. When would

the 2-piece be appropriate?

Thanks!

Irene.

[Guest guest]

2-piece lefortes are used to widen the upper jaw. It is also more

difficult for the surgeon as he or she is dealing with two or more

pieces, moving them up and widening as opposed to just one

piece.

> Does anybody know what the difference is between the 2 and

1-piece

> LeForte? I see many people here get 1-piece, not I haven't

seen

> anyone get the 2-piece, which I might end up getting. When

would

> the 2-piece be appropriate?

>

> Thanks!

> Irene.

[Guest guest]

Good morning all

I'm wondering if the 2 piece Leforte is what I had done two weeks

ago. Although at one pre surgery appt my surgeon briefly mentioned

expanding my top jaw he didn't elaborate and at my booking in on the

day before surgery when they showed me molds/casts and exactly what

was being done there was the lower advancement, upper reduction and

also an upper palatal split, effectively to widen the top jaw.

The expansion is so that, if you have a narrow top jaw it will match

the width of the bottom once the jaws are moved forwards or

backwards to their correct position.

This, ingeniously, is not done by cutting through the palatal skin

so no stitches in the roof of the mouth. I assume and will ask when

I see the surgeon today that this is done through the incision above

the top teeth used to reduce the upper jaw bone. The palate in

split in two, widened to the agreed width and the gap

eventually 'bones' over.

My palate is pretty sensitive/bruised and I find swallowing a chore,

particularly as an overabundance of saliva is making me swallow much

more often. Its hard to tell exactly how it all feels as the splint

prevents my tongue resting in its normal position. I'll find out

hopefully next week when it comes out.

Best wishes

Sue (UK)

PS in reply to the question about people having wisdom teeth out

during surgery I had the two top removed and they have been the

least of my worries - I wouldn't even know they have gone! I'm not

sure I'd be saying this if it were the bottom ones though - aren't

they harder to remove?

[Guest guest]

Multipiece LeFort is what it sounds - your upper jaw is cut

into several pieces (sometimes more than two) which allows

reshaping it surgically in any direction, not only widening.

The cuts normally go between your teeth, so extereme

precision is paramount. Obviously, the more cuts, the harder

the recovery. More room for misplacement as well.

Val

> Does anybody know what the difference is between the 2 and 1-piece

> LeForte? I see many people here get 1-piece, not I haven't seen

> anyone get the 2-piece, which I might end up getting. When would

> the 2-piece be appropriate?

>

> Thanks!

> Irene.

[Guest guest]

I've not heard them spoken of in exactly these terms. But here is a

description of the three Le Forte procedures -- it's also in the

links. Of the three, I believe Le Forte 1 is the most usual.

LeFort I Maxillary Osteotomy

A common orthognathic surgical procedure. A transverse or horizontal

separation of the dentoalveolar process of the maxilla to include the

palate, floor of the nose, and the maxillary sinuses for the purpose

of widening, narrowing, lengthening, shortening, or leveling the

upper jaw so that it can be placed in harmony with the other facial

bones, as well as the skull. This operation is done within the mouth

and is called a " down fracture " . It can be done in one or several

segments. The development of the Le Fort I maxillary osteotomy was a

major breakthrough in the development of orthognathic surgery.

LeFort II Osteotomy

An osteotomy of the nasal maxillary complex (nose and upper jaw) of

the middle third of the face. This is done for the purpose of

repositioning this complex to correct a disharmony and to normalize

its relationship with the adjacent bony structures. It is generally

done to bring that portion of the face forward.

LeFort III Osteotomy

A surgical separation of the naso-maxillary/malar complex (nose,

upper jaw, and cheekbones) of the middle third of the face for the

purpose of putting it into harmony and balance with the lower jaw and

skull, both functionally and aesthetically, It is generally done to

bring the entire middle third of the face forward.

Cammie

> Does anybody know what the difference is between the 2 and 1-piece

> LeForte? I see many people here get 1-piece, not I haven't seen

> anyone get the 2-piece, which I might end up getting. When would

> the 2-piece be appropriate?

>

> Thanks!

> Irene.