Re: Plastic surgeon recommended orthognathic surgery

[Guest guest]

Hi There-

I absolutely here where you are coming from. I initially sought out to have

plastic surgery to have a chin reduction. I went to one surgeon who told me that

he would do a sliding genioplasty to remove some bone in my chin which would

shorten the length. He has a very good repuation in my city, I felt confident

that he would do a great job, so I booked the surgery. I then went to see

another surgeon just for a second opinion, and he told me that it was

orthognathic surgery that I needed bc my jaws were severely misaligned. He also

said that if I wanted just a genioplasty, he would refuse to do it, bc I would

not like the results, and I would just be covering up an underlying problem I

had with my jaws. I left his office extremely upset, I was really excited about

this plastic surgery I was going to have, and now this other doctor was telling

me I would need to wear braces for a year, have this huge major surgery that

insurance may or may not cover, spend weeks with my jaws wired

shut. It just sounded awful. I thought about it for a really long time, and did

as much research as possible on the web. In the end, I realized he was totally

right. If you have a problem, you should fix it at the root rather have a

cosmetic procedure to cover up a major underlying problem. So I am now in the

process of selecting an oral surgeon and an orthodontist. Its going to be a long

road, but I think it will be completely worth it in the end. Oh and like you, I

also had orthodontics when I was in my teens. But even after 4 years of braces

my bite wasn't right. So it doesn't matter if you've already had orthodontics.

Lots of adults have this surgery, and they also had braces when they were

younger. Right now, I think you just need to get as many opinions as possible.

Go to this website and check out some of the before and afters. The results are

really unbelievable. http://www.drposnick.com/ Oh, and if you are willing to

travel, this guy is in DC, and he is one of the best in

the county. He's a plastic surgeon as well as an oral/maxillofacial surgeon.

Good Luck!!

dshain1 <no_reply > wrote:

Hi all,

Well, when I went to the plastic surgeon (a highly reputed, top-notch

NYC plastic surgeon) to talk to him about rhinoplasty, he ended up

telling me that my problem wasn't that my nose was big, but that my

lower face was too small, and told me I needed some Lefort procedure

(and really, after looking at myself a way that I never did before -

thanks to Dr. Fifth Avenue - I noticed he was right). I went to the

oral surgeon after consulting with my dentist (who thought I was

crazy), and while the oral surgeon said that there would be a cosmetic

improvement (I have a long face and have a hard time closing my lips

together without causing a lot of puckering on my chin due to the

strain, so I've always been a mouth-breather), he recommended against

the procedure because my bite had been corrected when I was a teenager

though orthodontics. I went to see another doctor, this time in LA,

who is top in his field (craniofacial and plastics) and he absolutely

refused to do the surgery.

Now, I would love to be able to not walk around looking silly because

my mouth is always open when I'm not thinking about holding it closed,

and I always look like I'm frowning (unless I'm making a conscious

effort to smile), but since I don't suffer from pain like a lot of OS

candidates do, I wonder if OS is worth having if the effect would

basically be cosmetic. I have one little problem with my jaw popping

on one side when I yawn too widely, but that alone doesn't seem alone

to be justification to undergo the risk of this surgery.

Will someone out there please give me some advice? I know that some

posts say they wouldn't ever have OS for cosmetic purposes, but is

there anyone whose primary goal was a cosmetic improvement? I think

it would make a big difference in my appearance, especially from the

profile, and also allow me to close my mouth comfortably, but is that

a reason to have both my upper and lower jaws moved forward?

Thanks,

Deb

[Guest guest]

One thing I forgot to ask. Do you have a maloclussion? If you don't

have any problems with your bite, then the orthognathic surgery might

not be for you, or at least that's what I've been told. I am a

candidate for it since I have an open and an over bite. I think I

have a cross bite as well.

> Hi all,

>

> Well, when I went to the plastic surgeon (a highly reputed, top-

notch

> NYC plastic surgeon) to talk to him about rhinoplasty, he ended up

> telling me that my problem wasn't that my nose was big, but that my

> lower face was too small, and told me I needed some Lefort procedure

> (and really, after looking at myself a way that I never did before -

> thanks to Dr. Fifth Avenue - I noticed he was right). I went to the

> oral surgeon after consulting with my dentist (who thought I was

> crazy), and while the oral surgeon said that there would be a

cosmetic

> improvement (I have a long face and have a hard time closing my lips

> together without causing a lot of puckering on my chin due to the

> strain, so I've always been a mouth-breather), he recommended

against

> the procedure because my bite had been corrected when I was a

teenager

> though orthodontics. I went to see another doctor, this time in LA,

> who is top in his field (craniofacial and plastics) and he

absolutely

> refused to do the surgery.

>

> Now, I would love to be able to not walk around looking silly

because

> my mouth is always open when I'm not thinking about holding it

closed,

> and I always look like I'm frowning (unless I'm making a conscious

> effort to smile), but since I don't suffer from pain like a lot of

OS

> candidates do, I wonder if OS is worth having if the effect would

> basically be cosmetic. I have one little problem with my jaw

popping

> on one side when I yawn too widely, but that alone doesn't seem

alone

> to be justification to undergo the risk of this surgery.

>

> Will someone out there please give me some advice? I know that some

> posts say they wouldn't ever have OS for cosmetic purposes, but is

> there anyone whose primary goal was a cosmetic improvement? I think

> it would make a big difference in my appearance, especially from the

> profile, and also allow me to close my mouth comfortably, but is

that

> a reason to have both my upper and lower jaws moved forward?

>

> Thanks,

> Deb

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your answer. I am back and forth every day on what I

think I should do, assessing the pros and cons constantly. There are

days I am absolutely for having upper and lower jaw surgery; other

days I'm not. I've researched the issue rather extensively - what's

left is an " is it worth it? " determination (and I don't mean

financially). Setting aside money issues (I'll end up a face lift

candidate probably if I don't fix the actual structure of my facial

skeleton - and that's not cheap). I'm 30 and my initiation by the

plastic surgeon into Lefort land was about 10 years ago. What I am

most concerned about is nerve damage, tooth root damage, etc. I've

read a ton of posts here, and while I see that there is a good deal

of concern regarding numbness, it seems that most everyone has healed

rather nicely. Are there horror stories out there? I know that this

group is to support, but is going through OS so rough that someone

out there would recommend that if my primary motivation is cosmetic,

not to have surgery? I did know about the potential for gum disease

due to mouth breathing, but none of my dentists have been alarmed by

the prospect; however, I personally don't want to lose my teeth down

the road because my gums went south.

ly, everyone's photos and stories make this seem less terrible

than what I originally believed. I couldn't believe that people were

up and out of bed and dressed and looking nearly perfect (swollen,

but perfect) three days after such major surgery. And while I'm

definitely not looking to be dissuaded from having OS, I'm concerned

that I will wake up from surgery (I know that no one feels well when

they first wake up) and a week later be suffering so much that I ask

myself why I put this misery on myself.

Any thoughts?

> > Hi all,

> >

> > Well, when I went to the plastic surgeon (a highly reputed, top-

> notch

> > NYC plastic surgeon) to talk to him about rhinoplasty, he ended up

> > telling me that my problem wasn't that my nose was big, but that

my

> > lower face was too small, and told me I needed some Lefort

procedure

> > (and really, after looking at myself a way that I never did

before -

> > thanks to Dr. Fifth Avenue - I noticed he was right). I went to

the

> > oral surgeon after consulting with my dentist (who thought I was

> > crazy), and while the oral surgeon said that there would be a

> cosmetic

> > improvement (I have a long face and have a hard time closing my

lips

> > together without causing a lot of puckering on my chin due to the

> > strain, so I've always been a mouth-breather), he recommended

> against

> > the procedure because my bite had been corrected when I was a

> teenager

> > though orthodontics. I went to see another doctor, this time in

LA,

> > who is top in his field (craniofacial and plastics) and he

> absolutely

> > refused to do the surgery.

> >

> > Now, I would love to be able to not walk around looking silly

> because

> > my mouth is always open when I'm not thinking about holding it

> closed,

> > and I always look like I'm frowning (unless I'm making a conscious

> > effort to smile), but since I don't suffer from pain like a lot

of

> OS

> > candidates do, I wonder if OS is worth having if the effect would

> > basically be cosmetic. I have one little problem with my jaw

> popping

> > on one side when I yawn too widely, but that alone doesn't seem

> alone

> > to be justification to undergo the risk of this surgery.

> >

> > Will someone out there please give me some advice? I know that

some

> > posts say they wouldn't ever have OS for cosmetic purposes, but is

> > there anyone whose primary goal was a cosmetic improvement? I

think

> > it would make a big difference in my appearance, especially from

the

> > profile, and also allow me to close my mouth comfortably, but is

> that

> > a reason to have both my upper and lower jaws moved forward?

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Deb

[Guest guest]

Sometimes you might be able to do just genioplasty to correct a short

chin a small vertical lowr face. Is that an option? In that case, you

dont need to move the jaw and the teeth wont change as far as bite.

The nerve numbness risk is still there but it is generally less

invasive than jaw movement. Did you ask your oral surgeon if

genioplasty is an option? They can lengthen or shorten the chin to

compensate in either direction, even three dimensional movements.

> > > Hi all,

> > >

> > > Well, when I went to the plastic surgeon (a highly reputed, top-

> > notch

> > > NYC plastic surgeon) to talk to him about rhinoplasty, he ended

up

> > > telling me that my problem wasn't that my nose was big, but

that

> my

> > > lower face was too small, and told me I needed some Lefort

> procedure

> > > (and really, after looking at myself a way that I never did

> before -

> > > thanks to Dr. Fifth Avenue - I noticed he was right). I went to

> the

> > > oral surgeon after consulting with my dentist (who thought I was

> > > crazy), and while the oral surgeon said that there would be a

> > cosmetic

> > > improvement (I have a long face and have a hard time closing my

> lips

> > > together without causing a lot of puckering on my chin due to

the

> > > strain, so I've always been a mouth-breather), he recommended

> > against

> > > the procedure because my bite had been corrected when I was a

> > teenager

> > > though orthodontics. I went to see another doctor, this time

in

> LA,

> > > who is top in his field (craniofacial and plastics) and he

> > absolutely

> > > refused to do the surgery.

> > >

> > > Now, I would love to be able to not walk around looking silly

> > because

> > > my mouth is always open when I'm not thinking about holding it

> > closed,

> > > and I always look like I'm frowning (unless I'm making a

conscious

> > > effort to smile), but since I don't suffer from pain like a lot

> of

> > OS

> > > candidates do, I wonder if OS is worth having if the effect

would

> > > basically be cosmetic. I have one little problem with my jaw

> > popping

> > > on one side when I yawn too widely, but that alone doesn't seem

> > alone

> > > to be justification to undergo the risk of this surgery.

> > >

> > > Will someone out there please give me some advice? I know that

> some

> > > posts say they wouldn't ever have OS for cosmetic purposes, but

is

> > > there anyone whose primary goal was a cosmetic improvement? I

> think

> > > it would make a big difference in my appearance, especially

from

> the

> > > profile, and also allow me to close my mouth comfortably, but

is

> > that

> > > a reason to have both my upper and lower jaws moved forward?

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > > Deb

[Guest guest]

The upper jaw surgery would be to correct the long face, plus my face

is very flat - to have a balanced face, my jaws should have been more

forward. I look very young, like I'm early to mid-20's, but certain

things like the lack of structure in my face make the nasalabial folds

is more pronounced which I can see already are making me look more

tired and drawn. Also, because my face is long, the ends of my upper

lip are pulled down and I always look like I'm frowning. Genioplasty

would only fix the tip of the iceberg (or the tip of the chin in this

case ). The main issue is that I was lucky in that my bite was

corrected with orthodontics, but my face is actually crooked, and both

my jaws slant up towards one direction, in addition to having the long

face issue, the inability to close my mouth without straining, and one

thing that I hadn't even mentioned before, because I didn't know how

to express it, I have a feeling of pressure that is located somewhere

behind my nose, or right at the back of my roof of my mouth (and I

don't have a deviated septum or nasal blockage), and I've read that OS

can help with breathing. So the benefits of upper and lower jaw

surgery would be cosmetic improvement, as well being able to close my

mouth. And those of you who had trouble closing your mouths know what

it is like to wake up feeling like you swallowed the Sahara. Is

surgery worth it just for that?

> > > > Hi all,

> > > >

> > > > Well, when I went to the plastic surgeon (a highly reputed, top-

> > > notch

> > > > NYC plastic surgeon) to talk to him about rhinoplasty, he ended

> up

> > > > telling me that my problem wasn't that my nose was big, but

> that

> > my

> > > > lower face was too small, and told me I needed some Lefort

> > procedure

> > > > (and really, after looking at myself a way that I never did

> > before -

> > > > thanks to Dr. Fifth Avenue - I noticed he was right). I went to

> > the

> > > > oral surgeon after consulting with my dentist (who thought I was

> > > > crazy), and while the oral surgeon said that there would be a

> > > cosmetic

> > > > improvement (I have a long face and have a hard time closing my

> > lips

> > > > together without causing a lot of puckering on my chin due to

> the

> > > > strain, so I've always been a mouth-breather), he recommended

> > > against

> > > > the procedure because my bite had been corrected when I was a

> > > teenager

> > > > though orthodontics. I went to see another doctor, this time

> in

> > LA,

> > > > who is top in his field (craniofacial and plastics) and he

> > > absolutely

> > > > refused to do the surgery.

> > > >

> > > > Now, I would love to be able to not walk around looking silly

> > > because

> > > > my mouth is always open when I'm not thinking about holding it

> > > closed,

> > > > and I always look like I'm frowning (unless I'm making a

> conscious

> > > > effort to smile), but since I don't suffer from pain like a lot

> > of

> > > OS

> > > > candidates do, I wonder if OS is worth having if the effect

> would

> > > > basically be cosmetic. I have one little problem with my jaw

> > > popping

> > > > on one side when I yawn too widely, but that alone doesn't seem

> > > alone

> > > > to be justification to undergo the risk of this surgery.

> > > >

> > > > Will someone out there please give me some advice? I know that

> > some

> > > > posts say they wouldn't ever have OS for cosmetic purposes, but

> is

> > > > there anyone whose primary goal was a cosmetic improvement? I

> > think

> > > > it would make a big difference in my appearance, especially

> from

> > the

> > > > profile, and also allow me to close my mouth comfortably, but

> is

> > > that

> > > > a reason to have both my upper and lower jaws moved forward?

> > > >

> > > > Thanks,

> > > > Deb

[Guest guest]

A few thoughts for you:

First, I definitely would not want surgery at the hands of a surgeon

who was in any way reluctant to perform the procedure on me.

Second, some people do have these procedures done by plastic surgeons.

Third, yes, many people have had oral and maxillofacial surgery for

aesthetic reasons alone. Insurance companies, however, are reluctant

to pay for the surgery for that reason.

Fourth: The only reasons for YOUR doing/not doing are your own. In

my case, I did it to improve what my periodontist subsequently called

my " very destructive bite, " although she didn't say that until after

the shooting was all over. She said that ortho would definitely help

with my gum problems, and the ortho said I needed the surgery. The

surgeon agreed, saying that it would help with long-term retention of

the orthodontic work, and would " let Dr. S. finish the job. " (I too

had worn braces as a child, but back then they didn't know as much

about matching up the teeth.)

Fifth: Yes, there are a few " horror stories " out there. There was one

young man who used to post quite regularly and bitterly about the

results he had and disliked. There have been people who have had as

many as two relapses, that I'm aware of. One young man who was a

talented trumpet player remained enduringly numb and lost his

embouchure and his ability to play the trumpet. Some people also have

a great deal more pain than most of us do. But these are, I believe,

very much the exception, rather than the rule.

For me, it also resolved some problems of popping and headaches, not

to mention grinding. I wasn't aware that I was grinding, but my

surgeon said, " Well, let me put it this way: Either you're grinding

your teeth or you've been eating betel nuts, from the way your back

molars look. "

And yes, if you have a difficult recovery, you may well find yourself

wondering why you ever agreed to the surgery. That phase usually

lasts about two weeks at the most, and then you wonder why you ever

stewed so much about deciding to do it. At least that's my experience.

Best,

Cammie

[Guest guest]

Deb - I know from personal experience how difficult it is to decide

on this surgery. I'm a forty-seven year old woman with an underbite.

I've known I needed this surgery for as long as I can remember; I've

had this underbite for almost forty years now. This is the third time

in the last twenty-five years that I have considered getting it

fixed. The first time I wasn't really ready to do this for ME. The

second time I was referred to a really nasty Surgeon who told me that

it was HIS decision on what procedures would be performed on MY

mouth, and I would have NO say in any part of all this; what a

control freak!! This third time is the charm, as the saying goes! I

have the BEST Surgeon and Orthodontist I could've ever hoped to have

and I feel truly blessed to have them taking care of me. My OMS says

it is MY decision what is done, and he will help me to come up with

the best decision regarding which procedures are performed to give me

the best possible outcome. Right now he is unsure if I will need the

upper surgery, also known as a LeFort, but we are both certain that a

BSSO (Bilat. Sagittal Split (Ramus) Osteotomy) to set back my

mandible will be done, as well as some neck and chin Lipo.(my Surgeon

is also a board-certified Cosmetic Surgeon). My OD put my braces on

2.5 weeks ago, and I will have them for up to ten months prior to

surgery and up to six months after. Already my teeth are doing alot

of moving, and I hope I can get my surgery done ahead of schedule; my

OD is aiming for May to send me to my OMS for my pre-surgery consult,

with surgery to be done in June. I've waited so long to get this done

that now all I want is to get it done and over with. My OMS is really

surprised/pleased with my enthusiasm. The reason I pursued this now

was because my functions of speech and mastication were getting

worse. Yes, I will benefit from the cosmetic/aesthetic improvements,

but I need to be able to chew my food completely instead of swallow

it partially chewed, and I would like to speak more clearly and not

mumble. I also would like the jaw pains, headaches, neckaches, and

noise from my jawjoints to stop. So, here I am - ready to undergo

surgery! I hope my story has helped you, even just a little bit, to

come to a decision about your own situation. And, it's YOUR decision

to make! All I know is that I am very happy and relieved that I have

decided to undergo all this, and I know I will be very pleased with

the results. If you would like to email me, my address is:

dmd13cyto@... . Please let us all know what you've decided.

Good luck!! ~~~~~ Diane (Idaho)

> Hi all,

>

> Well, when I went to the plastic surgeon (a highly reputed, top-

notch

> NYC plastic surgeon) to talk to him about rhinoplasty, he ended up

> telling me that my problem wasn't that my nose was big, but that my

> lower face was too small, and told me I needed some Lefort procedure

> (and really, after looking at myself a way that I never did before -

> thanks to Dr. Fifth Avenue - I noticed he was right). I went to the

> oral surgeon after consulting with my dentist (who thought I was

> crazy), and while the oral surgeon said that there would be a

cosmetic

> improvement (I have a long face and have a hard time closing my lips

> together without causing a lot of puckering on my chin due to the

> strain, so I've always been a mouth-breather), he recommended

against

> the procedure because my bite had been corrected when I was a

teenager

> though orthodontics. I went to see another doctor, this time in LA,

> who is top in his field (craniofacial and plastics) and he

absolutely

> refused to do the surgery.

>

> Now, I would love to be able to not walk around looking silly

because

> my mouth is always open when I'm not thinking about holding it

closed,

> and I always look like I'm frowning (unless I'm making a conscious

> effort to smile), but since I don't suffer from pain like a lot of

OS

> candidates do, I wonder if OS is worth having if the effect would

> basically be cosmetic. I have one little problem with my jaw

popping

> on one side when I yawn too widely, but that alone doesn't seem

alone

> to be justification to undergo the risk of this surgery.

>

> Will someone out there please give me some advice? I know that some

> posts say they wouldn't ever have OS for cosmetic purposes, but is

> there anyone whose primary goal was a cosmetic improvement? I think

> it would make a big difference in my appearance, especially from the

> profile, and also allow me to close my mouth comfortably, but is

that

> a reason to have both my upper and lower jaws moved forward?

>

> Thanks,

> Deb

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much for your response, Cammie,

You are absolutely right, I want a surgeon who will be completely

cooperative, but frankly, I don't want a plastic surgeon to do the

work because I'm sure they don't do as many OS's as oral surgeons -

why go to someone with less experience?

Knowing that people do have upper and lower procedures for cosmetic

reasons helps with my decision a bit - I feel kind of vain and

frivolous even thinking about it sometimes, especially since pretty

much everyone here needed the surgery just to be able to eat their

food! I found an option of having implants (paranasal - behind and

around the nose - and in the chin), but there are issues with those as

well, and while the surgery is simpler, I'm not sure that just a

" cosmetic " approach to the fix is best. Having OS will hopefully

address issues that implants wouldn't, especially if I can keep my

lips together without conscious effort. I am very tired of waking up

every morning with a terribly dry mouth, and I tend to mumble and as

my mother says, swallow my words a lot, but I never attributed it to

having underdeveloped upper and lower jaws. If surgery would help

this, then I think it would for sure be worth it.

I am waiting for an OS that I saw in NY years ago to call me back with

a referral for a top OS in Los Angeles or Beverly Hills. Hopefully

he'll know someone. If anyone else reading this post can recommend

someone in Los Angeles County, I would love to have a recommendation.

Thanks again.

> A few thoughts for you:

>

> First, I definitely would not want surgery at the hands of a surgeon

> who was in any way reluctant to perform the procedure on me.

>

> Second, some people do have these procedures done by plastic surgeons.

>

> Third, yes, many people have had oral and maxillofacial surgery for

> aesthetic reasons alone. Insurance companies, however, are reluctant

> to pay for the surgery for that reason.

>

> Fourth: The only reasons for YOUR doing/not doing are your own. In

> my case, I did it to improve what my periodontist subsequently called

> my " very destructive bite, " although she didn't say that until after

> the shooting was all over. She said that ortho would definitely help

> with my gum problems, and the ortho said I needed the surgery. The

> surgeon agreed, saying that it would help with long-term retention of

> the orthodontic work, and would " let Dr. S. finish the job. " (I too

> had worn braces as a child, but back then they didn't know as much

> about matching up the teeth.)

>

> Fifth: Yes, there are a few " horror stories " out there. There was one

> young man who used to post quite regularly and bitterly about the

> results he had and disliked. There have been people who have had as

> many as two relapses, that I'm aware of. One young man who was a

> talented trumpet player remained enduringly numb and lost his

> embouchure and his ability to play the trumpet. Some people also have

> a great deal more pain than most of us do. But these are, I believe,

> very much the exception, rather than the rule.

>

> For me, it also resolved some problems of popping and headaches, not

> to mention grinding. I wasn't aware that I was grinding, but my

> surgeon said, " Well, let me put it this way: Either you're grinding

> your teeth or you've been eating betel nuts, from the way your back

> molars look. "

>

> And yes, if you have a difficult recovery, you may well find yourself

> wondering why you ever agreed to the surgery. That phase usually

> lasts about two weeks at the most, and then you wonder why you ever

> stewed so much about deciding to do it. At least that's my experience.

>

> Best,

>

> Cammie

[Guest guest]

Diane, congratulations on taking the giant leap, and thanks for your

response. I am at least going forward with finding a new OS for a

consult. The OS and plastic surgeon I saw were in NY, and I now live

in LA and do not know who is good out here. My dentist couldn't even

refer me to an OS (maybe I should find a new dentist?). If anyone

knows of a good OS in Los Angeles County (or Beverly Hills) I would

love to have a recommendation.

> > Hi all,

> >

> > Well, when I went to the plastic surgeon (a highly reputed, top-

> notch

> > NYC plastic surgeon) to talk to him about rhinoplasty, he ended up

> > telling me that my problem wasn't that my nose was big, but that my

> > lower face was too small, and told me I needed some Lefort procedure

> > (and really, after looking at myself a way that I never did before -

> > thanks to Dr. Fifth Avenue - I noticed he was right). I went to the

> > oral surgeon after consulting with my dentist (who thought I was

> > crazy), and while the oral surgeon said that there would be a

> cosmetic

> > improvement (I have a long face and have a hard time closing my lips

> > together without causing a lot of puckering on my chin due to the

> > strain, so I've always been a mouth-breather), he recommended

> against

> > the procedure because my bite had been corrected when I was a

> teenager

> > though orthodontics. I went to see another doctor, this time in LA,

> > who is top in his field (craniofacial and plastics) and he

> absolutely

> > refused to do the surgery.

> >

> > Now, I would love to be able to not walk around looking silly

> because

> > my mouth is always open when I'm not thinking about holding it

> closed,

> > and I always look like I'm frowning (unless I'm making a conscious

> > effort to smile), but since I don't suffer from pain like a lot of

> OS

> > candidates do, I wonder if OS is worth having if the effect would

> > basically be cosmetic. I have one little problem with my jaw

> popping

> > on one side when I yawn too widely, but that alone doesn't seem

> alone

> > to be justification to undergo the risk of this surgery.

> >

> > Will someone out there please give me some advice? I know that some

> > posts say they wouldn't ever have OS for cosmetic purposes, but is

> > there anyone whose primary goal was a cosmetic improvement? I think

> > it would make a big difference in my appearance, especially from the

> > profile, and also allow me to close my mouth comfortably, but is

> that

> > a reason to have both my upper and lower jaws moved forward?

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Deb

[Guest guest]

Hi Deb,

I can empathize with your dilemma. My bite was " corrected " by an

orthodontist 10 years ago while I was in college. After 18 months in

braces, my bite was as close to perfect as could be...

As the years went on however, I noticed that I had an " assymmetry "

to my face which didn't bother me too much at first. Then a couple

years ago I began experiencing problems chewing and felt some

clicking in my jaw. This got a little worse and then I went to an

oral surgeon who informed me that the clicking and chewing

difficulties were due to the very assymmetry that I had noticed (and

that my original orthodontist never mentioned!). I could have lived

with the chewing and clicking problems, but I decided to go ahead

and have the surgery which would also fix the assymmetry.

So here I sit in braces again, waiting for my December 2005 surgery

date. It was a little depressing when the braces went on two weeks

ago, but I'm already used to them. Notice that since I've had braces

before, my teeth are pretty straight already and I only need them on

for 4 months pre-surgery. Pretty cool, huh?

I say go for it! I know that " long-faced " look that you are talking

about where you can't close your lips without effort. If you are

uncomfortable with the way you look, I say have the surgery.

Everyone I talk to who has undergone it has been happy with the

results. When your jaw is positioned just right, it will change the

entire appearance of your face for the better. My surgeon has

cautioned me that some folks may not even recognize me at first!

Good luck, Deb. Feel free to drop me an e-mail or IM at

playsweetmusic@... or playsweetmusic (AOL screenname).

Cheers,

> Hi all,

>

> Well, when I went to the plastic surgeon (a highly reputed, top-

notch

> NYC plastic surgeon) to talk to him about rhinoplasty, he ended up

> telling me that my problem wasn't that my nose was big, but that my

> lower face was too small, and told me I needed some Lefort

procedure

> (and really, after looking at myself a way that I never did

before -

> thanks to Dr. Fifth Avenue - I noticed he was right). I went to the

> oral surgeon after consulting with my dentist (who thought I was

> crazy), and while the oral surgeon said that there would be a

cosmetic

> improvement (I have a long face and have a hard time closing my

lips

> together without causing a lot of puckering on my chin due to the

> strain, so I've always been a mouth-breather), he recommended

against

> the procedure because my bite had been corrected when I was a

teenager

> though orthodontics. I went to see another doctor, this time in

LA,

> who is top in his field (craniofacial and plastics) and he

absolutely

> refused to do the surgery.

>

> Now, I would love to be able to not walk around looking silly

because

> my mouth is always open when I'm not thinking about holding it

closed,

> and I always look like I'm frowning (unless I'm making a conscious

> effort to smile), but since I don't suffer from pain like a lot of

OS

> candidates do, I wonder if OS is worth having if the effect would

> basically be cosmetic. I have one little problem with my jaw

popping

> on one side when I yawn too widely, but that alone doesn't seem

alone

> to be justification to undergo the risk of this surgery.

>

> Will someone out there please give me some advice? I know that

some

> posts say they wouldn't ever have OS for cosmetic purposes, but is

> there anyone whose primary goal was a cosmetic improvement? I

think

> it would make a big difference in my appearance, especially from

the

> profile, and also allow me to close my mouth comfortably, but is

that

> a reason to have both my upper and lower jaws moved forward?

>

> Thanks,

> Deb