Re: Upper/lower/genio - slight setback

[Guest guest]

I'm certainly not an expert, but I have become a bit experienced

with jaw surgery, genioplasty and the like and have also

experienced perhaps a similar situation to what you are

describing. I had my original mandibular advancement/palate

expansion and genioplasty ten years ago. Due to the severity of

my chin recessiveness I was far from being completely corrected

and decided to " re-open " the case this past fall. I had a large

chin implant put in in early September and one of the first things I

noticed was a signicant lopsided aspect to my lips when I'd

smile or talk. This condition did improve after about six weeks

post op, but unfortunately (actually fortunately for the long run) the

implant failed to heal and had to be removed. At that point in

time I realized that secondary genioplasties can be performed

provided that the first one has long since healed and filled in. I

had a major genioplasty advancement on December 1 using

what is called a " box cut " and was advanced roughly 15mm.

This has been healing well, but nonetheless a similar

asymetrical situation exists, but now it more noticeable along the

jaw/chin line. However, with each passing day, the tissues are

loosening up, the sutures have almost dissolved and slowly but

surely things are returning to normal. Personally, I'd be hesitant

to add further trauma to those tissues at this point. It is no doubt

soft tissue related and may just need time to sort itself out. That

was pretty much what my OS that did the recent genioplasty

advised me about. He said that with such a large advancement,

it just takes a few months for things to settle out. I think you

deserve to get healed up and back to eating normally before

further surgery. I know we like to trust our surgeons, but it

certainly wouldn't hurt to get a second opinion on this one. I'm

an engineer, not a surgeon, but I have studied a lot on the

anatomy of the bones and muscles in the jaw and I tend to doubt

if further harm would occur from waiting, but of course, I'm only

second guessing from cyberspace. Good luck on whatever you

do.

>

> I had surgery on Dec 7.

>

> Since then I have had little swelling after the first week but have

> noticed that my lip on one side " pulls " upwards. It just makes

the

> lips on the right look slightly crooked and so asymmetrical as a

> whole. It is more noticeable when I try and talk (I am still wired

> shut)when my mouth pulls up on one side.

>

> Previously, I had put this down to the asymmetry of the healing

> process. But my orthodontist noticed it immediately when I saw

him

> and said it needed discussing with the OS. This week, the OS

said

> that he thought that the scar tissue might have formed wrongly

> (possibly because too much tissue formed)on the right side. I

asked

> him if this was common - he said no, very rare - he had never

had it

> happen with a patient previously. He said he would deal with

this

> surgically on an outpatient basis on 20th. He then rang later

and

> said he wants to do it Monday as the sooner the better - the

tissue

> hasn't healed. So i am intending to go in on monday....

>

> I am a bit worried, especially as he claimed this is not

common. I am

> really uncomfortable at the thought of possible damage to my

lips

> (which had nothing wrong with them at all at the beginning of

all

> this). So

>

> 1. has anyone else had problems with lip asymmetry

> 2. or anything that required minor post-op corrective surgery

>

> and i am also questioning

> 1. whether I should ask for a second opinion (my OD says not

to worry)

> 2. whether as the issue only concerns soft tissue rather than

bones

> and teeth, I should see a plastic surgeon

> 3. whether this has occurred because of something that was

done

> wrongly at the surgery

> 4. whether the second surgery could make the problem worse.

>

> I know that all of us get to a stage where you wonder 'is this

what I

> will look like? " and that I need patience as the last elements of

the

> swelling recede. But I am concerned at what seems to be a

little

> setback.

>

> Any related experience would be appreciated.

>

>

>