Yay, got the skeletal wires removed! Here's my experience

[Guest guest]

Hi all! For those who don't know, my surgery was Sept 20th with

upper/lower, cheek restoration to correct underbite, crossbite,

uneven upper, and flat cheeks. I was wired shut for 6 straight

weeks, along with skeletal fixation instead of rigid fixation.

This morning I got the last wires removed: the " skeletal wires " that

were inside my jaws. I had one on each side of upper, 1 on each side

of lower. They are usually not connected together, so I was able to

open and close my mouth. When I would smile, the both ends of these

wires would show, so I figured they were like thick " staples "

holding each jaw in place, right? Wrong. When my OS showed me my

xray, they were more like long loops going up, parallel to my nose

on each side, and the other two parallel on each side of my chin(the

loops were shaped like the breast cancer ribbon). I was so not

expecting that. Which made me so nervous my jaw was quivering

slightly but tried to hide it by chatting up the nurses and OS.

Couldn't fool anyone though, because when it came time for the

needle (to put me under), my veins decided to hide!

Anyway, the drugs took a pleasant, room-spinning effect, and the OS

went to work on me. I actually remember only one yank; I let out a

small sigh not because it hurt (no pain at all!), but because I felt

a tremedous relief! I also remember him asking what rubber band # I

use, then I remember standing in front of the panoramic xray

machine, then I remember taking a small nap in the tiny recovery

area. When I got home, my nose was SO numb I could not wrinkle my

nose or flare my nostrils! I was not worried, but I WAS mildly

amused (must have been the drugs, wheeeee). When I got home I took a

3.5 hour nap, and my nose was fine. VERY slight swelling, but not

noticable now this evening. One of the openings on my upper gums is

slightly pink, but it doesn't hurt and it's not pulsating; I will

rinse with salt water anyway. The OS put no restrictions on eating,

hygiene, or exercises. All in all a great day!

[Guest guest]

Hi all! For those who don't know, my surgery was Sept 20th with

upper/lower, cheek restoration to correct underbite, crossbite,

uneven upper, and flat cheeks. I was wired shut for 6 straight

weeks, along with skeletal fixation instead of rigid fixation.

This morning I got the last wires removed: the " skeletal wires " that

were inside my jaws. I had one on each side of upper, 1 on each side

of lower. They are usually not connected together, so I was able to

open and close my mouth. When I would smile, the both ends of these

wires would show, so I figured they were like thick " staples "

holding each jaw in place, right? Wrong. When my OS showed me my

xray, they were more like long loops going up, parallel to my nose

on each side, and the other two parallel on each side of my chin(the

loops were shaped like the breast cancer ribbon). I was so not

expecting that. Which made me so nervous my jaw was quivering

slightly but tried to hide it by chatting up the nurses and OS.

Couldn't fool anyone though, because when it came time for the

needle (to put me under), my veins decided to hide!

Anyway, the drugs took a pleasant, room-spinning effect, and the OS

went to work on me. I actually remember only one yank; I let out a

small sigh not because it hurt (no pain at all!), but because I felt

a tremedous relief! I also remember him asking what rubber band # I

use, then I remember standing in front of the panoramic xray

machine, then I remember taking a small nap in the tiny recovery

area. When I got home, my nose was SO numb I could not wrinkle my

nose or flare my nostrils! I was not worried, but I WAS mildly

amused (must have been the drugs, wheeeee). When I got home I took a

3.5 hour nap, and my nose was fine. VERY slight swelling, but not

noticable now this evening. One of the openings on my upper gums is

slightly pink, but it doesn't hurt and it's not pulsating; I will

rinse with salt water anyway. The OS put no restrictions on eating,

hygiene, or exercises. All in all a great day!