Re: Surgery to correct open-bite, overbite & gummy smile

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I had my surgery 14 weeks ago I had upper jaw surgery along with bone graft,

nose job and cheek bone. I had my braces put on in preparation for the surgery

June 2004.

I was told before my surgery that there was a chance that I would need a blood

transfusion. I ended up having one, along with upper jaw surgery I had my nose

done as it was small and flat and for the surgeon to be able to lengthen my nose

he had to cut my head open from one ear to the other and under each eye and took

a bone graft from my hip, and I did loose a fair bit of blood which meant that I

had to have the blood transfusion. I was still drugged up and " out of it " when

they hooked the blood up to the IV line.

I was very exited about having the surgery because not only were they doing my

jaw but they were also doing my nose and cheek bones. I am totally happy with my

apperance now and I would go through it all again if I had to.

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Those are very good questions. I am 12 days post-op from Leforte II

and lower jaw advancement. I also had open bite, overbite and gummy

smile, among other things. Feeling great so far so I felt compelled

to share my experience.

> -Losing feeling in my lower lip/chin. How many here have

>permanently lost feeling?

Too soon for me to say yet. I was 70 - 100% numb over most of my

face during the first days after surgery, but am quickly recovering

feeling. Now my nose and under my eyes are about 50% numb, lips are

coming alive to about 25% numb (crazy tingling feeling like when

your feet wake up after falling asleep, slightly uncomfortable and

very sensitive). My chin is still pretty numb but coming along a

little every day. LOts of little shooting pains, tickling

sensations and itching feelings - all good news.

> -Needing a blood transfusion.

I donated two units of blood for myself before the surgery, per

doctor's advice. I didn't receive any during the surgery but on the

third day in the hospital my blood count was low and I was feeling

pretty weak so my doc recommended a transfusion of one of the units

I had donated. There was practically no risk involved and made me

feel a whole lot stronger.

> -The problem not being completely fixed or not staying fixed.

Don't know about this yet but it's always a possibility. Have

actually experienced very slight shifting side-to-side but the doc

remains unconcerned, so I'm not worried. I'm keeping a *very* close

eye on it, nonetheless.

> -My nose changing. How much will it change from my upper jaw being

> moved?

It will definitely change. The most common change with upper jaw

advancement (forward movement) is a lift of the tip of the nose. My

upper jaw was advanced seven mm and now my nose has a very

pronounced uptip. Not a look I would have chose for myself, but

attractive by common standards nonetheless. I hope it will come

down some as the swelling continues to diminish.

> -Breathing after surgery.

Depending on what you have done, this is one of the added bonuses of

this type of surgery. With most types of upper jaw surgery you will

experience more open breathing passages. Meaning you will be able

to breathe through your nose. I was just like you, a mouth breather

because I couldn't get any air in through my nose. After the

surgery (and after all the crusty goodies that came with it!) both

nasal tubes are open and clear. The first time in my life that I

can breathe comfortably through my nose! Lower jaw advancement can

also open your airway. On my xrays I can see a good couple mm

difference between before/after size of my airway.

> -Throwing up.

During surgery you will most likely have a stomach tube to suck out

anything in your stomach (mostly blood) so when you wake up there

will be nothing to come out. I had nausea when I woke up and did a

lot of dry heaving but nothing came up. Was slightly nauseous

during most of the hospital stay but they kept me pumped up on anti-

nausea meds. Was fine the first day at home but the next kept

throwing up every few hours. I was banded so couldn't open my mouth

too far (hurt to open too far) but thankfully it was all liquid.

Finally found out it was the antibiotics making me sick and nausea

went away as soon as I stopped. Nausea was the only thing about

this whole surgery that I found hard to handle.

> -Going back to school. 3 weeks after surgery I go back to school

Can't yet say as I'm not even two weeks out yet. I feel pretty

good, energy is about 75% and although I get looks when I go out I

don't yet care. You'll probably be alright going back to school

three weeks later but take care of yourself during those first three

weeks and try not to rush your recovery. Patience, my dear, is the

key. At least that's what I keep telling myself!

> -My appearance.

I did not have this surgery for cosmetic reasons. I had had TMJ

surgery two years before and needed this surgery to correct and

equalize my bite. So the biggest worry for me was how I was going

to look different, because I was fine with the way I looked before.

Now, less than two weeks out, it's hard to say. I'm reserving

judgement for some time when the swelling is gone. At this point,

I'm not unhappy with the way I look (attractive by most standards,

as I said above) but it's not a look I would have chosen for

myself.

I hope you got through all of this! Just wanted to write to share

what I know. If you've got any questions don't hesitate to call up

your surgeon. I am very close with my doc and he has been right by

my side throughout this whole process, checking in on my morning and

night in the hospital and calling every night for the first week or

so at home. It has made all the difference.

Good luck with your surgery!

> Hello I just recently joined this community and have been looking

> through pictures and old posts etc. so I figured I'd share and get

> any advice or input on my upcoming surgery (which is on the 22nd!

> only 8 more days)

>

> I'm 16 and have had my braces on for six years. Originally they

> didn't day I'd need surgery and not until 2 or 3 years ago did

they

> decide my over bite was not fixable with just braces. I'm going to

> have upper jaw surgery at UCSF (I was wondering if anyone had it

> there, Dr. Chigurupati will be doing the surgery) Although she

told

> me it will only be upper jaw surgery there is a slight chance

she'll

> need to do lower jaw surgery as well, but won't know until she's

> actually doing the surgery.

>

> The main things I'm nervous about for surgery include:

> -Losing feeling in my lower lip/chin. How many here have

permanently

> lost feeling?

> -Needing a blood transfusion. My doctor said it's rare to need

one,

> but possible, so again I'm wondering who did need one and how did

> that go?

> -The problem not being completely fixed or not staying fixed. I've

> found a few people on here with cases like this which I didn't

even

> think of or know of before so I'm wondering if it's possible with

> the type of surgery I'm getting and if so how likely is it? and in

> what time frame can it happen (like 5 years after surgery could my

> open-bite/gummy smile/overbite or all three come back)?

> -My nose changing. How much will it change from my upper jaw being

> moved?

> -Breathing after surgery. The reason I have an open bite is

because

> I breath through my mouth, my nose is too small to get enough air

> and I often feel like I'm suffocating when I try breathing through

> it. I've also read about how your nose gets bloody and clogged

after

> surgery and most people are wired or banded shut, so how do

you/did

> you breath?

> -Throwing up. Has anyone here done that while there mouth was

> wired/banded shut? I read on someone's website that they did, but

> they didn't go into much detail about it. I also know that I'll be

> on some sort of medicine that takes away nausea so I most likely

> won't throw up, but I'd still like to know.

> -Going back to school. 3 weeks after surgery I go back to school.

By

> that time is the swelling and bruising gone for most people? Will

I

> be banded shut still? Will I have enough energy to be going to

> school? My doctor said it was ok, but I talked to someone who went

> to Kaiser and they had their surgery in late July and their doctor

> said they wouldn't be able to start school (although her school

> starts in the end of August, not the beginning of September, she

> still had over 3 weeks and yet she won't be able to go back)

> -My appearance. I used to be excited for it to change, because I

> read orthognathic surgery normal improves appearance, but I've

known

> some people who liked it better before surgery etc. so I'm

wondering

> who felt their appearance was improved? and who felt their

> appearance was worse after surgery?

>

> That's all I can think of for now. I'd ask my doctor some of these

> questions, but I already had my pre opp. appointment and the next

> time I'll be seeing her is the day of my surgery. So to all who

> offer any advice or share their experience with me thank you so

> much, I really appreciate it.

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much for writing all of that, it really helps me. And

I'm glad to hear you're feeling great after 12 days!

-

Hello I just recently joined this community and have been looking

through pictures and old posts etc. so I figured I'd share and get

any advice or input on my upcoming surgery (which is on the 22nd!

only 8 more days)

I'm 16 and have had my braces on for six years. Originally they

didn't day I'd need surgery and not until 2 or 3 years ago did

they

decide my over bite was not fixable with just braces. I'm going to

have upper jaw surgery at UCSF (I was wondering if anyone had it

there, Dr. Chigurupati will be doing the surgery) Although she

told me it will only be upper jaw surgery there is a slight chance

she'll need to do lower jaw surgery as well, but won't know until

she's actually doing the surgery.

The main things I'm nervous about for surgery include:

-Losing feeling in my lower lip/chin. How many here have permanently

lost feeling?

-Needing a blood transfusion. My doctor said it's rare to need one,

but possible, so again I'm wondering who did need one and how did

that go?

-The problem not being completely fixed or not staying fixed. I've

found a few people on here with cases like this which I didn't even

think of or know of before so I'm wondering if it's possible with

the type of surgery I'm getting and if so how likely is it? and in

what time frame can it happen (like 5 years after surgery could my

open-bite/gummy smile/overbite or all three come back)?

-My nose changing. How much will it change from my upper jaw being

moved?

-Breathing after surgery. The reason I have an open bite is

because I breath through my mouth, my nose is too small to get

enough air and I often feel like I'm suffocating when I try

breathing through it. I've also read about how your nose gets bloody

and clogged after surgery and most people are wired or banded shut,

so how do you/did you breath?

-Throwing up. Has anyone here done that while there mouth was

wired/banded shut? I read on someone's website that they did, but

they didn't go into much detail about it. I also know that I'll be

on some sort of medicine that takes away nausea so I most likely

won't throw up, but I'd still like to know.

-Going back to school. 3 weeks after surgery I go back to school. By

that time is the swelling and bruising gone for most people? Will I

be banded shut still? Will I have enough energy to be going to

school? My doctor said it was ok, but I talked to someone who went

to Kaiser and they had their surgery in late July and their doctor

said they wouldn't be able to start school (although her school

starts in the end of August, not the beginning of September, she

still had over 3 weeks and yet she won't be able to go back)

-My appearance. I used to be excited for it to change, because I

read orthognathic surgery normal improves appearance, but I've known

some people who liked it better before surgery etc. so I'm wondering

who felt their appearance was improved? and who felt their

appearance was worse after surgery?

That's all I can think of for now. I'd ask my doctor some of these

questions, but I already had my pre opp. appointment and the next

time I'll be seeing her is the day of my surgery. So to all who

offer any advice or share their experience with me thank you so

much, I really appreciate it.

[Guest guest]

I'm glad to hear you're happy with your appearance now, it sounds

like quite an ordeal. I have one question about your blood

transfusion, did you donate your own blood before surgery and was

that what they used for your transfusion? or was it some random

person's donated blood?

Thanks for sharing

-

Hello,

I had my surgery 14 weeks ago I had upper jaw surgery along with

bone graft,

nose job and cheek bone. I had my braces put on in preparation for

the surgery

June 2004.

I was told before my surgery that there was a chance that I would

need a blood

transfusion. I ended up having one, along with upper jaw surgery I

had my nose

done as it was small and flat and for the surgeon to be able to

lengthen my nose

he had to cut my head open from one ear to the other and under each

eye and took

a bone graft from my hip, and I did loose a fair bit of blood which

meant that I

had to have the blood transfusion. I was still drugged up and " out

of it " when

they hooked the blood up to the IV line.

I was very exited about having the surgery because not only were

they doing my

jaw but they were also doing my nose and cheek bones. I am totally

happy with my

apperance now and I would go through it all again if I had to.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I donated a unit of blood prior to the surgery as my Dr thaught that I wouldn't

need a blood transfusion after surgery and if I did that one would be enough,

but I ended up having some donated blood. My Dr said that it was like the niagra

falls when they opened my head.

I am happy with my appearance now, but i will have further surgery at some

point.

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