considering palate widening & mandibular adjustment

[Guest guest]

Hi there. Just discovered this site and hope that it helps me make

the right decision. I am 38 and have hated my smile as long as I

can remember. I've known what I've had to do since I was 16, but

had finally gotten up the nerve. I thought all I needed, along with

the braces, was to have my lower jaw worked on. But recently I

found out that my palate would have to be widened too. My question

is for anyone having/had one or both surgeries....what is the most

important bit of information I should know about each surgery?

many thanks.

Kim

[Guest guest]

Hi there. Just discovered this site and hope that it helps me make

the right decision. I am 38 and have hated my smile as long as I

can remember. I've known what I've had to do since I was 16, but

had finally gotten up the nerve. I thought all I needed, along with

the braces, was to have my lower jaw worked on. But recently I

found out that my palate would have to be widened too. My question

is for anyone having/had one or both surgeries....what is the most

important bit of information I should know about each surgery?

many thanks.

Kim

[Guest guest]

I hope this site helps you, too.

I believe the most important questions for you are the ones that are

troubling you. Figure out, if you can, with the help of reading

around on this site, OSS2 and Fiddly's Geocities site (look in

the links) what's worrying you -- and probably your docs are the

best source for answers, although we lay folks here will try to help

you, too.

What's up? What are the docs suggesting? SARPE? Segmentation in a Le

Fort? Do you know what those are? Will they be doing surgery on both

jaws? Will you be wired post-op? Banded? Will you have a splint?

These are some starting points, anyhow.

There's a lot more to it, and it seems really scary when you start

out. But it need not be, and the more you know, the better prepared

you will be to help yourself through whatever you need.

Good wishes, and welcome, and ask whatever you want to know -- of

us, and even more important, of the docs who are taking care of you

and your mouth!

Cammie

>

> Hi there. Just discovered this site and hope that it helps me

make

> the right decision. I am 38 and have hated my smile as long as I

> can remember. I've known what I've had to do since I was 16, but

> had finally gotten up the nerve. I thought all I needed, along

with

> the braces, was to have my lower jaw worked on. But recently I

> found out that my palate would have to be widened too. My question

> is for anyone having/had one or both surgeries....what is the most

> important bit of information I should know about each surgery?

>

> many thanks.

>

> Kim

[Guest guest]

I hope this site helps you, too.

I believe the most important questions for you are the ones that are

troubling you. Figure out, if you can, with the help of reading

around on this site, OSS2 and Fiddly's Geocities site (look in

the links) what's worrying you -- and probably your docs are the

best source for answers, although we lay folks here will try to help

you, too.

What's up? What are the docs suggesting? SARPE? Segmentation in a Le

Fort? Do you know what those are? Will they be doing surgery on both

jaws? Will you be wired post-op? Banded? Will you have a splint?

These are some starting points, anyhow.

There's a lot more to it, and it seems really scary when you start

out. But it need not be, and the more you know, the better prepared

you will be to help yourself through whatever you need.

Good wishes, and welcome, and ask whatever you want to know -- of

us, and even more important, of the docs who are taking care of you

and your mouth!

Cammie

>

> Hi there. Just discovered this site and hope that it helps me

make

> the right decision. I am 38 and have hated my smile as long as I

> can remember. I've known what I've had to do since I was 16, but

> had finally gotten up the nerve. I thought all I needed, along

with

> the braces, was to have my lower jaw worked on. But recently I

> found out that my palate would have to be widened too. My question

> is for anyone having/had one or both surgeries....what is the most

> important bit of information I should know about each surgery?

>

> many thanks.

>

> Kim

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi there. Just discovered this site and hope that it helps me

make

> the right decision. I am 38 and have hated my smile as long as I

> can remember. I've known what I've had to do since I was 16, but

> had finally gotten up the nerve. I thought all I needed, along

with

> the braces, was to have my lower jaw worked on. But recently I

> found out that my palate would have to be widened too. My question

> is for anyone having/had one or both surgeries....what is the most

> important bit of information I should know about each surgery?

>

> many thanks.

>

> Kim

Good morning! I also am facing a SARPE and lower jaw surgery. My

insurance just ok'd the upper palatal expansion. They approved the

lower jaw surgery quickly but had to review alot more records for

the upper palate. My " great " adventure starts on December 5 when I

go for my braces. This site has been a tremendous help. My age is

also " over 20 " actually, I'm 47. The worst information I got from

my surgeon is I'll need to shave my beard off for the surgeries.

This face hasn't seen the light of day since 1978. O well, maybe

the grey will grow back black! What is your time frame for decision

making? This has taken me one year plus to decide on ortho and the

os. Take care

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi there. Just discovered this site and hope that it helps me

make

> the right decision. I am 38 and have hated my smile as long as I

> can remember. I've known what I've had to do since I was 16, but

> had finally gotten up the nerve. I thought all I needed, along

with

> the braces, was to have my lower jaw worked on. But recently I

> found out that my palate would have to be widened too. My question

> is for anyone having/had one or both surgeries....what is the most

> important bit of information I should know about each surgery?

>

> many thanks.

>

> Kim

Good morning! I also am facing a SARPE and lower jaw surgery. My

insurance just ok'd the upper palatal expansion. They approved the

lower jaw surgery quickly but had to review alot more records for

the upper palate. My " great " adventure starts on December 5 when I

go for my braces. This site has been a tremendous help. My age is

also " over 20 " actually, I'm 47. The worst information I got from

my surgeon is I'll need to shave my beard off for the surgeries.

This face hasn't seen the light of day since 1978. O well, maybe

the grey will grow back black! What is your time frame for decision

making? This has taken me one year plus to decide on ortho and the

os. Take care

[Guest guest]

the terminology is new to me. I haven't seent the surgeon, but what

the orthodonist has told me is that I will have the SARPE first,

then braces for 1.5 years, then the lower jaw surgery. I believe I

will be banded for the lower jaw. What concerns me is the level of

pain. Once the process is begun, there is NO turning back. I must

go through with the rest. I know for those much younger than I, it

is not a big deal. Is there anyone my age or over that has had this

done?

> >

> > Hi there. Just discovered this site and hope that it helps me

> make

> > the right decision. I am 38 and have hated my smile as long as

I

> > can remember. I've known what I've had to do since I was 16,

but

> > had finally gotten up the nerve. I thought all I needed, along

> with

> > the braces, was to have my lower jaw worked on. But recently I

> > found out that my palate would have to be widened too. My

question

> > is for anyone having/had one or both surgeries....what is the

most

> > important bit of information I should know about each surgery?

> >

> > many thanks.

> >

> > Kim

[Guest guest]

the terminology is new to me. I haven't seent the surgeon, but what

the orthodonist has told me is that I will have the SARPE first,

then braces for 1.5 years, then the lower jaw surgery. I believe I

will be banded for the lower jaw. What concerns me is the level of

pain. Once the process is begun, there is NO turning back. I must

go through with the rest. I know for those much younger than I, it

is not a big deal. Is there anyone my age or over that has had this

done?

> >

> > Hi there. Just discovered this site and hope that it helps me

> make

> > the right decision. I am 38 and have hated my smile as long as

I

> > can remember. I've known what I've had to do since I was 16,

but

> > had finally gotten up the nerve. I thought all I needed, along

> with

> > the braces, was to have my lower jaw worked on. But recently I

> > found out that my palate would have to be widened too. My

question

> > is for anyone having/had one or both surgeries....what is the

most

> > important bit of information I should know about each surgery?

> >

> > many thanks.

> >

> > Kim

[Guest guest]

Hello...

I didn't have SARPE. I know of one person who is bitterly unhappy

after having had that done. I know of many who found it served them

well and was remarkably pain-free and simple to recover from.

Most folks report next to no pain, I think you'll be happy to hear.

You can expect a large gap in front, after the expansion, and the

orthos seem to close it back together pretty quickly, with a fairly

high " ouch! " factor -- but not, I think, substantially more than

what you can expect from the braces, and lots of folks do that every

day.

I had lower advancement at age 56, nearly 57, in 2002. Not any pain

that the painkillers couldn't handle. Not, truly, a memorable

experience -- except for the morphine-induced phantasmagoria in the

hospital!

C.

>

> the terminology is new to me. I haven't seent the surgeon, but

what

> the orthodonist has told me is that I will have the SARPE first,

> then braces for 1.5 years, then the lower jaw surgery. I believe

I

> will be banded for the lower jaw. What concerns me is the level

of

> pain. Once the process is begun, there is NO turning back. I

must

> go through with the rest. I know for those much younger than I,

it

> is not a big deal. Is there anyone my age or over that has had

this

> done?

>

[Guest guest]

Hello...

I didn't have SARPE. I know of one person who is bitterly unhappy

after having had that done. I know of many who found it served them

well and was remarkably pain-free and simple to recover from.

Most folks report next to no pain, I think you'll be happy to hear.

You can expect a large gap in front, after the expansion, and the

orthos seem to close it back together pretty quickly, with a fairly

high " ouch! " factor -- but not, I think, substantially more than

what you can expect from the braces, and lots of folks do that every

day.

I had lower advancement at age 56, nearly 57, in 2002. Not any pain

that the painkillers couldn't handle. Not, truly, a memorable

experience -- except for the morphine-induced phantasmagoria in the

hospital!

C.

>

> the terminology is new to me. I haven't seent the surgeon, but

what

> the orthodonist has told me is that I will have the SARPE first,

> then braces for 1.5 years, then the lower jaw surgery. I believe

I

> will be banded for the lower jaw. What concerns me is the level

of

> pain. Once the process is begun, there is NO turning back. I

must

> go through with the rest. I know for those much younger than I,

it

> is not a big deal. Is there anyone my age or over that has had

this

> done?

>

[Guest guest]

At least the shaving will resolve any questions about post-op

shaving, I reckon. Or maybe not.

Try to have your surgery in a cool climate, and not in the depths of

humid summer, she said, she - living in Lower Alabama, where it's

not the heat, it's the humidity that makes growing beards get itchy.

Or so my gentlemen friends tell me.

I suspect that you'll find the whole process more interesting, more

exciting and easier than you've foreseen.

Nope. Braces are not fun. Especially for the first few weeks --

think a mouthfull of fishhooks, and no ability to get rid of any

of 'em. Plus, they're pushing and pulling and your teeth are getting

sorer and sorer. But it will get better, really, and you'll start to

see changes, and your mouth will adapt. Honest. Just keep on keeping

on.

C.

> >

> > Hi there. Just discovered this site and hope that it helps me

> make

> > the right decision. I am 38 and have hated my smile as long as

I

> > can remember. I've known what I've had to do since I was 16,

but

> > had finally gotten up the nerve. I thought all I needed, along

> with

> > the braces, was to have my lower jaw worked on. But recently I

> > found out that my palate would have to be widened too. My

question

> > is for anyone having/had one or both surgeries....what is the

most

> > important bit of information I should know about each surgery?

> >

> > many thanks.

> >

> > Kim

>

> Good morning! I also am facing a SARPE and lower jaw surgery. My

> insurance just ok'd the upper palatal expansion. They approved the

> lower jaw surgery quickly but had to review alot more records for

> the upper palate. My " great " adventure starts on December 5 when I

> go for my braces. This site has been a tremendous help. My age is

> also " over 20 " actually, I'm 47. The worst information I got from

> my surgeon is I'll need to shave my beard off for the surgeries.

> This face hasn't seen the light of day since 1978. O well, maybe

> the grey will grow back black! What is your time frame for

decision

> making? This has taken me one year plus to decide on ortho and

the

> os. Take care

[Guest guest]

At least the shaving will resolve any questions about post-op

shaving, I reckon. Or maybe not.

Try to have your surgery in a cool climate, and not in the depths of

humid summer, she said, she - living in Lower Alabama, where it's

not the heat, it's the humidity that makes growing beards get itchy.

Or so my gentlemen friends tell me.

I suspect that you'll find the whole process more interesting, more

exciting and easier than you've foreseen.

Nope. Braces are not fun. Especially for the first few weeks --

think a mouthfull of fishhooks, and no ability to get rid of any

of 'em. Plus, they're pushing and pulling and your teeth are getting

sorer and sorer. But it will get better, really, and you'll start to

see changes, and your mouth will adapt. Honest. Just keep on keeping

on.

C.

> >

> > Hi there. Just discovered this site and hope that it helps me

> make

> > the right decision. I am 38 and have hated my smile as long as

I

> > can remember. I've known what I've had to do since I was 16,

but

> > had finally gotten up the nerve. I thought all I needed, along

> with

> > the braces, was to have my lower jaw worked on. But recently I

> > found out that my palate would have to be widened too. My

question

> > is for anyone having/had one or both surgeries....what is the

most

> > important bit of information I should know about each surgery?

> >

> > many thanks.

> >

> > Kim

>

> Good morning! I also am facing a SARPE and lower jaw surgery. My

> insurance just ok'd the upper palatal expansion. They approved the

> lower jaw surgery quickly but had to review alot more records for

> the upper palate. My " great " adventure starts on December 5 when I

> go for my braces. This site has been a tremendous help. My age is

> also " over 20 " actually, I'm 47. The worst information I got from

> my surgeon is I'll need to shave my beard off for the surgeries.

> This face hasn't seen the light of day since 1978. O well, maybe

> the grey will grow back black! What is your time frame for

decision

> making? This has taken me one year plus to decide on ortho and

the

> os. Take care