Re: Not happy with my New appearance

[Guest guest]

Hi Tony,

First of all, that is not an unusual state to be in. I didn't expect

cosmetic change, had it big time, and experienced having to deal

with " the stranger in the mirror " . I had lived with an old familiar

face for almost 47 years, and suddenly it was gone. Family and

friends did not recognize me out of context. I'm more comfortable

with it now. I guess I'm a very accepting person, I can deal with

lemons if that's what life gives me.

The key is to stop focusing on your appearance and comparing

yourself to others. You've still got residual swelling that can take

up to a year to go away. If you stare at your face in the mirror

each day, you'll only make it worse, as the change is so subtle at

this stage.

My advice? Time to stop looking in the mirror. Avoid it. Get on with

your life. Do things that make you genuinely happy.

Having said that, If you'd like to see a good photo spread of the

changes that can occur over a period of a year, log onto the oss2

site, go into the links, and check out 's photos (lmont2000) -

that's not in the photo section but on a separate link offsite.

She's done an amazing job of comparing her pre-op appearance to

immediately post-op, 1 month, 2 months, 6 months, 1 year, etc. You

can definitely see the differences as time goes on.

You can also see my photos there if you like, in the photos section

under Fiddlesticks (you have to join the group to see photos).

You just have to have faith that things will turn out as they are

intended to.

Here's the link to site 2

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/orthognathicsurgerysite2

Hope that helps,

>

> I had my top jaw moved forward 10mm in DEC 04, i was in surgery

for 7

> hours due to a blead that had occured on my right side, i had been

> wearing braces for near on 31/2 years before surgery.

>

> The swelling did calm down after 6 months but in my case and the

OD

> not enough, so they took me back in and removed the surgical

plates on

> july 14 of this year because they thought i may have been ellergic

to

> them.

>

> I still feel very swollen but friends and family dont think i am,

> which gives me more concerned to worry because im realy am not

happy

> with my new appearance at the moment and i feel that i am still

> swollen in alot of places especially around my cheek area.

>

> It is really getting me down because it has been a long time

waiting

> for my end results and the finish product, and i really dont know

what

> to do.

>

> The worse thing is I really do feel selfish because thier is alot

more

> things to worry about then your face and the way you look but to

me it

> is everything.

>

> please help

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for all your help and support it is much appreciated, having

trouble finding (Lmont2000) pictures can you help.

tony

_____

From: orthognathicsurgerysupport

[mailto:orthognathicsurgerysupport ] On Behalf Of

fiddlesticks220002

Sent: 20 October 2005 14:12

To: orthognathicsurgerysupport

Subject: Re: Not happy with my New

appearance

Hi Tony,

First of all, that is not an unusual state to be in. I didn't expect

cosmetic change, had it big time, and experienced having to deal

with " the stranger in the mirror " . I had lived with an old familiar

face for almost 47 years, and suddenly it was gone. Family and

friends did not recognize me out of context. I'm more comfortable

with it now. I guess I'm a very accepting person, I can deal with

lemons if that's what life gives me.

The key is to stop focusing on your appearance and comparing

yourself to others. You've still got residual swelling that can take

up to a year to go away. If you stare at your face in the mirror

each day, you'll only make it worse, as the change is so subtle at

this stage.

My advice? Time to stop looking in the mirror. Avoid it. Get on with

your life. Do things that make you genuinely happy.

Having said that, If you'd like to see a good photo spread of the

changes that can occur over a period of a year, log onto the oss2

site, go into the links, and check out 's photos (lmont2000) -

that's not in the photo section but on a separate link offsite.

She's done an amazing job of comparing her pre-op appearance to

immediately post-op, 1 month, 2 months, 6 months, 1 year, etc. You

can definitely see the differences as time goes on.

You can also see my photos there if you like, in the photos section

under Fiddlesticks (you have to join the group to see photos).

You just have to have faith that things will turn out as they are

intended to.

Here's the link to site 2

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/orthognathicsurgerysite2

Hope that helps,

>

> I had my top jaw moved forward 10mm in DEC 04, i was in surgery

for 7

> hours due to a blead that had occured on my right side, i had been

> wearing braces for near on 31/2 years before surgery.

>

> The swelling did calm down after 6 months but in my case and the

OD

> not enough, so they took me back in and removed the surgical

plates on

> july 14 of this year because they thought i may have been ellergic

to

> them.

>

> I still feel very swollen but friends and family dont think i am,

> which gives me more concerned to worry because im realy am not

happy

> with my new appearance at the moment and i feel that i am still

> swollen in alot of places especially around my cheek area.

>

> It is really getting me down because it has been a long time

waiting

> for my end results and the finish product, and i really dont know

what

> to do.

>

> The worse thing is I really do feel selfish because thier is alot

more

> things to worry about then your face and the way you look but to

me it

> is everything.

>

> please help

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Tony,

I just posted you on another thread, but wanted to say something

more here to you. If your family and friends do not see the

swelling, that does not mean it idn't there! I have had other

facial surgery, and there is some more subtle swelling that lasts

for a long time. Other people would tell me, even my Mom and my

husband, that they didn't see it. But I could. And the fact is, it

has gone away (I am 13 months post op). But it took a long time.

And my face surgery was not nealy as involved or deep level as jaw

surgery! So I am thinking that even though you are tired of the

wait, you probably are going to need to be patient for a while

longer.

I still would talk to your OMS if I were in your situation. But I

am thinking you may be experiencing the subtle side of swelling that

can last longer than the obvious trauma swelling. I know I have had

it with less invasive procedures myself. Let us know as you

progress if you see any changes with this. I am interested in how

you progress.

Hugs,

Fran

>

> I had my top jaw moved forward 10mm in DEC 04, i was in surgery

for 7

> hours due to a blead that had occured on my right side, i had been

> wearing braces for near on 31/2 years before surgery.

>

> The swelling did calm down after 6 months but in my case and the

OD

> not enough, so they took me back in and removed the surgical

plates on

> july 14 of this year because they thought i may have been ellergic

to

> them.

>

> I still feel very swollen but friends and family dont think i am,

> which gives me more concerned to worry because im realy am not

happy

> with my new appearance at the moment and i feel that i am still

> swollen in alot of places especially around my cheek area.

>

> It is really getting me down because it has been a long time

waiting

> for my end results and the finish product, and i really dont know

what

> to do.

>

> The worse thing is I really do feel selfish because thier is alot

more

> things to worry about then your face and the way you look but to

me it

> is everything.

>

> please help

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Tony,

Try cutting & pasting this link into your brower's address window.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/orthognathicsurgerysite2/links/M

embers__photo_links_001102990826/

Or:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lmont_2000/album?.dir=7d89 & .src=ph & stor

Sorry if I sounded a bit harsh yesterday, but honestly, sometimes

tough love is best.

Big Hug,

> >

> > I had my top jaw moved forward 10mm in DEC 04, i was in surgery

> for 7

> > hours due to a blead that had occured on my right side, i had

been

> > wearing braces for near on 31/2 years before surgery.

> >

> > The swelling did calm down after 6 months but in my case and the

> OD

> > not enough, so they took me back in and removed the surgical

> plates on

> > july 14 of this year because they thought i may have been

ellergic

> to

> > them.

> >

> > I still feel very swollen but friends and family dont think i

am,

> > which gives me more concerned to worry because im realy am not

> happy

> > with my new appearance at the moment and i feel that i am still

> > swollen in alot of places especially around my cheek area.

> >

> > It is really getting me down because it has been a long time

> waiting

> > for my end results and the finish product, and i really dont

know

> what

> > to do.

> >

> > The worse thing is I really do feel selfish because thier is

alot

> more

> > things to worry about then your face and the way you look but to

> me it

> > is everything.

> >

> > please help

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>