Re: Non-cosmetic benefits of the surgery

June 4, 2005

Adam

I just had my lowere jaw advancement on 4/27, so it is really too

soon for me to know all of the benefits that I will realize form

this surgery. However, I had the surgery in the hopes that it would

help reduce the number of migraines that I got. I had been told that

they could be related to my TMJ, and that correcting my bite should

relieve the pressure that was being put on that joint. I was also

told that there are no gaurantees with this surgery, so that raised

some concern with me. I guess in the end, the headaches were bad

enough, and frequent enough that I decided I had to try it. I my

self only had a 4mm advancement, so it was fairly minor (if you can

consider breaking your jaw in 3 places minor) compared to what some

people have to go through. So far (5 weeks post op), I have not had

any headaches, but I am wired shut and not really exercising the

joint yet.

As for hair loss for 6 months after surgery, I guess every body is

different. I have very long, thick hair, and it falls out pretty

regularly anyways. However, the first 2 times that I washed my hair

after surgery, my hair was falling out in huge clumps. Nothing that

created bald or extremely thin spots, but enough that I freaked out

a little bit. It only happened these 2 times after surgery, and I

understand that it is from the shock that general anesthesia puts on

your body. Like I said, every body reacts differently to things, but

6 months seems like a long time to have side affects from

anesthesia. It might depend on how much you eat and drink after

surgery in order to help your body flush out all of the toxins from

the anesthesia.

> Hello everyone,

>

> I'm a first time poster and am currently considering undergoing

the

> lower jaw advancement. I think this is an extremely interesting

> support group and is very beneficial for anyone preparing to

undergo

> the procedure. One of the big question I've developed after

> spending some time perusing the page is the extent of the non-

> cosmetic benefits of the procedure from the perspective of a

person

> who has already gone ahead with surgery.

>

> Many of the messages I've seen are related to preparing to deal

with

> the complications of surgery (rightfully so, I find the idea of

> having my lower jaw cut off rather terrifying) but I'm interested

in

> ultimately knowing whether it is worth it. I should say that I'm

> not considering the surgery for cosmetic reasons. In my

particular

> case, I have a regular profile despite my deep bite. And while I

> don't like the way my teeth look when talking, I don't believe

that

> would merit undergoing surgery of this magnitude that seems to

carry

> what I would generally consider a large amount of risks and/or

> questions pertaining to it's efficacy.

>

> I'm considering the surgery because I have already begun to

> encounter problems with sleep apnea (despite having none of the

> other risk factors. In particular, I'm not overweight) and TMJ

> problems. I'm concerned that these problems will begin to

escalate

> as I get older and believe it may be more beneficial to go ahead

> with surgery now while I'm still in good shape instead of waiting

> for things to get worse. However, I have yet to come across

> significant evidence, scientific or otherwise, that would suggest

> this surgery is very useful at rectifying either sleep apnea or

TMJ

> relative to alternative nonsurgical remedies such as oral sleep

> appliances that advance the mandible during sleep. I'm interested

> in knowing whether anyone who has undergone surgery for similar

> reasons as my own can speak on whether the surgery has helped and

to

> what extent.

>

> Additionally, I'm interested in knowing how prevalent relapse has

> been with people post-surgery.

>

> As a final question, I noticed in one of the documents contained

in

> the Files folder that one of the checksheets pertaining to what to

> expect with the surgery listed hairloss in the six months after

> surgery as a side effect. I find this interesting and it's not a

> side effect I would expect from jaw surgery. Can anybody either

> verify or refute this effect? I'm not trying to minimize the

other

> obviously much more significant potential adverse effects, I

merely

> find this particular effect rather interesting and unexpected.

>

> I appreciate any response I get back and I've enjoyed perusing the

> page. It's been very informative and reassuring, I hope it keeps

> going!

>

> Adam

June 4, 2005

Hi Adam

Welcome to the group. I'm having surgery only this coming Monday so I

can't speak as a post-oper but I can tell you that I am undergoing

the surgery for TMJ pain, therefore not really cosmetic reasons. Like

you, my teeth are relatively straight and despite my overbite I could

have lived with the way I looked physically. However, over the last 5

years my TMJ and migraines have gotten progressively worse and eating

anything that requires one to bite into it has also become more

difficult. After doing a lot of research I decided that undergoing

orthognathic surgery would be my best bet, and at the very least,

help avoid further deterioration of my jaw joints. What my doctors

have told me is that there is no guarantee that my jaw popping and

migraines will go away (although a majority of people who have

undergone surgery report a BIG improvement in this area) but they can

guarantee that they will not get worse, which in my book is a good

thing. I am only 27 and can already tell that things would only get

worse for me as years passed by so fixing or stopping things now was

essential. Hopefully I'll be able to tell you in one or two months

time whether the surgery has helped resolve my TMJ problems

altogether.

As for the hair loss factor that is probably related to a couple of

things. Firstly anesthesia. Anesthesia is unfortunately not the best

thing for your system and can lead to temporary hair loss. Secondly,

your body is undergoing a lot of stress and exerting a lot of energy

in trying to heal. Hair loss is a side effect of this. I know that in

previous surgeries I've suffered a temporary hair loss and by this I

don't mean I went bald (I've got very thick and long hair) but I did

notice that my hair was thinner than prior to surgery. Eventually my

hair got thicker again so, at least in my case, it was very much

temporary. You can also take some tablets that help fortify your hair

and scalp during recovery to help minimize the hair loss. All in all

I would say that it's very minimal hair loss that we're talking about.

Sorry not to be able to provide more detailed and accurate answers

but hope this helps.

Best,

Sara

> Hello everyone,

>

> I'm a first time poster and am currently considering undergoing the

> lower jaw advancement. I think this is an extremely interesting

> support group and is very beneficial for anyone preparing to

undergo

> the procedure. One of the big question I've developed after

> spending some time perusing the page is the extent of the non-

> cosmetic benefits of the procedure from the perspective of a person

> who has already gone ahead with surgery.

>

> Many of the messages I've seen are related to preparing to deal

with

> the complications of surgery (rightfully so, I find the idea of

> having my lower jaw cut off rather terrifying) but I'm interested

in

> ultimately knowing whether it is worth it. I should say that I'm

> not considering the surgery for cosmetic reasons. In my particular

> case, I have a regular profile despite my deep bite. And while I

> don't like the way my teeth look when talking, I don't believe that

> would merit undergoing surgery of this magnitude that seems to

carry

> what I would generally consider a large amount of risks and/or

> questions pertaining to it's efficacy.

>

> I'm considering the surgery because I have already begun to

> encounter problems with sleep apnea (despite having none of the

> other risk factors. In particular, I'm not overweight) and TMJ

> problems. I'm concerned that these problems will begin to escalate

> as I get older and believe it may be more beneficial to go ahead

> with surgery now while I'm still in good shape instead of waiting

> for things to get worse. However, I have yet to come across

> significant evidence, scientific or otherwise, that would suggest

> this surgery is very useful at rectifying either sleep apnea or TMJ

> relative to alternative nonsurgical remedies such as oral sleep

> appliances that advance the mandible during sleep. I'm interested

> in knowing whether anyone who has undergone surgery for similar

> reasons as my own can speak on whether the surgery has helped and

to

> what extent.

>

> Additionally, I'm interested in knowing how prevalent relapse has

> been with people post-surgery.

>

> As a final question, I noticed in one of the documents contained in

> the Files folder that one of the checksheets pertaining to what to

> expect with the surgery listed hairloss in the six months after

> surgery as a side effect. I find this interesting and it's not a

> side effect I would expect from jaw surgery. Can anybody either

> verify or refute this effect? I'm not trying to minimize the other

> obviously much more significant potential adverse effects, I merely

> find this particular effect rather interesting and unexpected.

>

> I appreciate any response I get back and I've enjoyed perusing the

> page. It's been very informative and reassuring, I hope it keeps

> going!

>

> Adam

June 4, 2005

onomatopoeiasank wrote:

>Hello everyone,

>

>I'm considering the surgery because I have already begun to

>encounter problems with sleep apnea (despite having none of the

>other risk factors. In particular, I'm not overweight) and TMJ

>problems. I'm concerned that these problems will begin to escalate

>as I get older and believe it may be more beneficial to go ahead

>with surgery now while I'm still in good shape instead of waiting

>for things to get worse. However, I have yet to come across

>significant evidence, scientific or otherwise, that would suggest

>this surgery is very useful at rectifying either sleep apnea or TMJ

>relative to alternative nonsurgical remedies such as oral sleep

>appliances that advance the mandible during sleep. I'm interested

>in knowing whether anyone who has undergone surgery for similar

>reasons as my own can speak on whether the surgery has helped and to

>what extent.

>

Good questions.

The surgical procedures are permanent whereas the appliances aren't. But

surgery can be using a cannon to kill a fly, so to speak.

I had a slight case of sleep apnea and was not overweight, either. I had

a lower jaw that pulled left but no TMJ. But I had other jaw issues,

sinus problems and a tiny windpipe. My breathing issues were making

winters unpleasant and were getting worse every year. I couldn't sleep.

I probably had a dozen minor issues, but they were adding up and some

were clearly getting worse over time. So I had the surgery.

I knew after my first breath after surgery that if I recovered fully, I

did the right thing. I'm nine weeks past surgery, but still recovering <g>.

The lower advancement basically doubled the size of my airway, The upper

advancement increased it my the same amount, so the size is nearly

triple the size before surgery. Apnea is long gone.

Other people can speak toward TMJ.

For me, it appears it will be well worth it.

Bill

June 4, 2005

I am pre op, but I am doing mine for non cosmetic reasons only. My

teeth are straight, and my bite is not off for chewing. But I have

such a deep bite, and my jaws are shortened, so that I cannot chew

food in my mouth. I also have a large tongue, so between the jaw,

the tongue and the deep bite, I have to pocket food in my cheeks,

and feed small bits to my back molars to eat. I choke frequently,

as with my tongue being large and no room to maneuver, I have

difficulty managing food or liquid. I am used to it, but it could

conceivably be life threatening.

It has worsened as I have gotten older. I am nearly 53, and the

wearing down of my teeth combined with a deep bite, has made it

really difficult now.

I will have a cosmetic effect secondary to the changes, but they are

not major changes. I mean, everything looks straight and

proportional, and I have a nice smile, but I definately have some

major functional problems happening. I am actually a little nervous

about the cosmetic changes, as I happen to like how I look, and I

have had a long time to get used to my looks! lol

Since I am a pre op, I cannot tell you the answer as to whether it

is worth it or not, but I really think it is medically necessary to

do. I wish I had done it years and years earlier, but I did not

know then that I even had a problem (I thought everyone chewed food

from their cheeks until just recently - go figure!). When my

dentist brought this up to me as a possible solution for the

choking, I thought he was NUTS! But with some education about it,

and seeing an ENT, three orthodontists and an orthognathic surgeon,

and a plastic surgeon, I can see they know what they are talking

about. If you have functional eating problems, swallowing problems,

breathing problems, pain, headaches or any number of other

functional problems, and the surgery can help, it is something to

evaluate for yourself. I came a long way to decide that I do want

to have functional eating ability, and safer swallowing patterns

than I can do right now. It is a long process for me (I have been

told 2-3 years), but I think it is worth it.

Good luck with your decision!

Fran

>

> >Hello everyone,

> >

> >I'm considering the surgery because I have already begun to

> >encounter problems with sleep apnea (despite having none of the

> >other risk factors. In particular, I'm not overweight) and TMJ

> >problems. I'm concerned that these problems will begin to

escalate

> >as I get older and believe it may be more beneficial to go ahead

> >with surgery now while I'm still in good shape instead of waiting

> >for things to get worse. However, I have yet to come across

> >significant evidence, scientific or otherwise, that would suggest

> >this surgery is very useful at rectifying either sleep apnea or

TMJ

> >relative to alternative nonsurgical remedies such as oral sleep

> >appliances that advance the mandible during sleep. I'm

interested

> >in knowing whether anyone who has undergone surgery for similar

> >reasons as my own can speak on whether the surgery has helped and

to

> >what extent.

June 6, 2005

Adam,

I had the surgery for sleep apnea almost 2 years ago. My husband

still reports that I breathe clearly while sleeping, no snoring

either anymore. I definitly consider my surgery a success. Good

Luck with your decision. I would be glad to answer any questions

that you might have.

a