Re: Has anyone else had a SARPE procedure?

[Guest guest]

Amy,

First off being that you don't even have your braces on, you may not

end up needing both procedures. I was at one time informed I would

also be needing both procedures, but fortunately the OD ended up

being able to widen the upper palate wide enough with the braces

alone to where I didn't need the SARPE procedure. I will be having

a Lefort 3 piece procedure next week. So I would ask my OD how much

does he feel he can widen the upper palate with braces alone and is

there any chance of having only one procedure versus two.

You are doing great by asking around for information. There are a

few on this site who have had the SARPE procedure and can offer you

some advice. My best advice is to gather as much information as you

can and weigh in on the pros and cons to decide if this is something

you would want to pursue.

One thing that I was not told before I started all of this is how

long of process it could possibly be. I was at first told by my OD

that it would be an 18 month total treatment time and I have been in

braces so far for 28 months with surgery next week. I have no clue

how long I will have to wear the braces after the surgery, but I

would guess anywhere from 6 to 12 months.

Anyway, I wish you the best & just remember that we always welcome

any questions or concerns you may have!

Best Wishes,

> Hi everyone,

>

> I recently found out that to have the smile I always wanted and to

> close my open bite I have to have 2 procedures. My ortho and

surgeon

> have said I need to have a surgically assisted rapid pallet

expansion

> (SARPE)procedure. The Drs describe this as a 2 hour procedure and

I

> will be outpatient. They said I will have a splint and need to

widen

> my jaw with a key. I am not sure what this means, so was hoping

to

> hear from anyone familiar with the procedure or who has had this

done.

>

> After having this surgery I will have to have a second where they

> will move my upper jaw upward in segements. I will not be wired

shut

> but will have rigid fixation.

>

> I haven't even gotten my braces yet. My doctors want me to decide

if

> I want to go through all this. I would like more info to help me

> decide if I can live with things as they are or go through the

> process. My ortho was no help, as he said about 50% don't go

through

> with this and about 50% do.

>

> Any info someone on the site could provide will be great, thanks.

[Guest guest]

I would suggest to you that your ortho's response wasn't really quite

on target.

I do think it's legit to know that 50 percent decide not to have the

surgical procedures.

But what's more important to me is to have some idea of how many who

do have them wind up pleased with their results and how many don't;

as well as how many who didn't have the surgery wind up pleased that

they didn't, and how many wish they had -- or wish they had had it

earlier.

In some cases, there can be very damaging results from the mismatched

jaws -- deterioration of the joints, migraines, wear on the teeth,

even tooth loss. I'm not saying that would or would not happen in any

given case. But I think it's important to know that such is possible,

and if you can, get some estimate of your own risks and benefits, so

as to be able to make the best informed decision about what you

really want to do.

Cammie

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I recently found out that to have the smile I always wanted and

to

> > close my open bite I have to have 2 procedures. My ortho and

> surgeon

> > have said I need to have a surgically assisted rapid pallet

> expansion

> > (SARPE)procedure. The Drs describe this as a 2 hour procedure

and

> I

> > will be outpatient. They said I will have a splint and need to

> widen

> > my jaw with a key. I am not sure what this means, so was hoping

> to

> > hear from anyone familiar with the procedure or who has had this

> done.

> >

> > After having this surgery I will have to have a second where they

> > will move my upper jaw upward in segements. I will not be wired

> shut

> > but will have rigid fixation.

> >

> > I haven't even gotten my braces yet. My doctors want me to

decide

> if

> > I want to go through all this. I would like more info to help me

> > decide if I can live with things as they are or go through the

> > process. My ortho was no help, as he said about 50% don't go

> through

> > with this and about 50% do.

> >

> > Any info someone on the site could provide will be great, thanks.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the information. I was told that my case was pretty

complicated because my top jaw is narrower than my lower jaw and it

also grew in a way to not completely allow my lower jaw to swing up,

that's why I have the slight open bite. That's why they wanted to

have the SARPE procedure done, to make my jaws match and the other to

raise it to close the open bite.

I was told about 2 years for the whole process - I guess I should

plan for more time, because from what you've said and I have read on

this board it seems to go longer.

Good luck with your surgery and I'll be interested to read about how

your doing. I bet your anxious and nervous - glad to be getting the

surgery finally, but of course none of us wants the diet, swelling,

etc. that comes with it.

Take care,

Amy

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I recently found out that to have the smile I always wanted and

to

> > close my open bite I have to have 2 procedures. My ortho and

> surgeon

> > have said I need to have a surgically assisted rapid pallet

> expansion

> > (SARPE)procedure. The Drs describe this as a 2 hour procedure

and

> I

> > will be outpatient. They said I will have a splint and need to

> widen

> > my jaw with a key. I am not sure what this means, so was hoping

> to

> > hear from anyone familiar with the procedure or who has had this

> done.

> >

> > After having this surgery I will have to have a second where they

> > will move my upper jaw upward in segements. I will not be wired

> shut

> > but will have rigid fixation.

> >

> > I haven't even gotten my braces yet. My doctors want me to

decide

> if

> > I want to go through all this. I would like more info to help me

> > decide if I can live with things as they are or go through the

> > process. My ortho was no help, as he said about 50% don't go

> through

> > with this and about 50% do.

> >

> > Any info someone on the site could provide will be great, thanks.

[Guest guest]

-

Hi Amy,

Your case sounds simlar to mine. My top jaw was narrower then my

bottom one, plus they need to swing my lower jaw up into place.

I had my top jaw widened in feb 2005 with a Rapid Palate Expander.

It was like a retainer that they clued into place (with bright BLUE

glue!) and it had a cog thing in the middle (not sure if had

the same thing?) My boyfriend turned it twice a day for two weeks

until i got the gap they wanted (9mm). I then had it in place for a

further two weeks with no turning so that my teeth could settle

down. The results are fantastic, my face is wider and not so long

looking. Amazing how much a small thing can change your look, or

maybe i am getting more confident as this commitment goes on?

I haven't had surgery yet and reading a lot of the posts its seems

most people (if having the procedure) have it done at surgery. Not

sure why mine was before, will be something i will ask my OS when i

see him......don't know if they do thing different in the UK or its

just completely every case is different kind of thing.

B

x

-- In orthognathicsurgerysupport , " Amy "

<sachermn@y...> wrote:

> Thanks for the information. I was told that my case was pretty

> complicated because my top jaw is narrower than my lower jaw and

it

> also grew in a way to not completely allow my lower jaw to swing

up,

> that's why I have the slight open bite. That's why they wanted to

> have the SARPE procedure done, to make my jaws match and the other

to

> raise it to close the open bite.

>

> I was told about 2 years for the whole process - I guess I should

> plan for more time, because from what you've said and I have read

on

> this board it seems to go longer.

>

> Good luck with your surgery and I'll be interested to read about

how

> your doing. I bet your anxious and nervous - glad to be getting

the

> surgery finally, but of course none of us wants the diet,

swelling,

> etc. that comes with it.

>

> Take care,

> Amy

>

>

>

> > > Hi everyone,

> > >

> > > I recently found out that to have the smile I always wanted

and

> to

> > > close my open bite I have to have 2 procedures. My ortho and

> > surgeon

> > > have said I need to have a surgically assisted rapid pallet

> > expansion

> > > (SARPE)procedure. The Drs describe this as a 2 hour procedure

> and

> > I

> > > will be outpatient. They said I will have a splint and need

to

> > widen

> > > my jaw with a key. I am not sure what this means, so was

hoping

> > to

> > > hear from anyone familiar with the procedure or who has had

this

> > done.

> > >

> > > After having this surgery I will have to have a second where

they

> > > will move my upper jaw upward in segements. I will not be

wired

> > shut

> > > but will have rigid fixation.

> > >

> > > I haven't even gotten my braces yet. My doctors want me to

> decide

> > if

> > > I want to go through all this. I would like more info to help

me

> > > decide if I can live with things as they are or go through the

> > > process. My ortho was no help, as he said about 50% don't go

> > through

> > > with this and about 50% do.

> > >

> > > Any info someone on the site could provide will be great,

thanks.

[Guest guest]

We do have a similar case. I called my ortho today to let him know I

am going ahead with this. After reading and seeing pictures I feel a

little more at ease with the procedures. I will have a key too. I

have to call the surgeon for more info, but this procedure will be

pre-braces. The reason my ortho gave me is it will widen the jaw

first and that will give him room to move my teeth as needed for the

upper jaw surgery. I asked if mine could be done at surgery and was

told that he couldn't move the teeth enough. I think its a case by

case thing.

Originally in my consultation the surgeon said that my nose will go

wider and then with the upper jaw surgery that my nose will turn up

slightly too. They did some drawings to show me the changes, but its

still too hard to imagine. Isn't it amazing what happens with a few

mm of movement. And that that little bit makes a huge difference.

Have you had any issues with the pallet expander? Eating, talking,

etc. I love to do both, so I am curious. Also was it easier to have

your boyfriend turn the key than do it yourself? I am such a baby

about these things, so I will probably have my husband do it.

Glad to hear you had awesome results. It makes me more confident in

my decision.

Amy

> > > > Hi everyone,

> > > >

> > > > I recently found out that to have the smile I always wanted

> and

> > to

> > > > close my open bite I have to have 2 procedures. My ortho and

> > > surgeon

> > > > have said I need to have a surgically assisted rapid pallet

> > > expansion

> > > > (SARPE)procedure. The Drs describe this as a 2 hour

procedure

> > and

> > > I

> > > > will be outpatient. They said I will have a splint and need

> to

> > > widen

> > > > my jaw with a key. I am not sure what this means, so was

> hoping

> > > to

> > > > hear from anyone familiar with the procedure or who has had

> this

> > > done.

> > > >

> > > > After having this surgery I will have to have a second where

> they

> > > > will move my upper jaw upward in segements. I will not be

> wired

> > > shut

> > > > but will have rigid fixation.

> > > >

> > > > I haven't even gotten my braces yet. My doctors want me to

> > decide

> > > if

> > > > I want to go through all this. I would like more info to

help

> me

> > > > decide if I can live with things as they are or go through

the

> > > > process. My ortho was no help, as he said about 50% don't go

> > > through

> > > > with this and about 50% do.

> > > >

> > > > Any info someone on the site could provide will be great,

> thanks.