Re: I'm new - lower jaw surgery .. deciding

[Guest guest]

HI Liana,

My name's I am 20 years old and had upper jaw, major nose reconstrustion,

cheek bone and bone graft surgery May 2005. I decided to go through with the

surgery because I found it impossible to eat some things, and I would get some

pain in my jaw, and to improve the way I look. i have always wanted something

done about my jaw and when the maxillofacial surgeon said that he could do the

surgery I said yes from the word go.

I was born with a cleft lip and palate which meant that the surgery would be

more complicated. My surgery lasted just over 14 hours , I was told we can

either do it the easy way (jaw surgery only) or the complicated way (which is

what I opted for as I would get the best out of the surgery and it was the

choice for me).

\i am very happy with the results of the surgery though I will be having further

sureries done. My recovery was very slow and my surgeon had my on liquids for 9

weeks and soft foods that didn't need chewing for anoth 7 weeks as the bone

hadn't healed yet.

I had my braces put back on June 2004 and was told that I would be in them for

12-18 months but my teeth moved quickeer than thaught and after 9 months of

braces I was ready for surgery and scheduled surgery for the month after so I

was in braces for 10 months prior to surgery.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Liana: I had lower jaw surgery on Aug. 2nd of this year, I am 59 yrs. old.

I've been in braces for 16 months; the surgery is done with the braces on. The

orthodontist is the one that suggested the surgery; before that I wasn't aware

there was such a thing. I don't regret my decision at all even though I'm still

in the healing process and on a soft food diet. I go for a 4 week check up on

Monday. Surgery took approx. 3 hrs.; I was in the hospital for approx. 30 hrs.

The worst discomfort is just the first two or three days. The dr. and hospital

allowed a friend to stay in the hospital room with me the entire time which was

a huge help. When you can't talk, it's nice to have someone there right away

when you need assistance or request. I was back to work in less than two weeks

which also requires me to answer the phones. Hope this information helps you.

lianakeller wrote:

Hi,

My name is Liana. I'm 33 years old and I just finished a battle with

Cancer and now I want to pursue with braces. I would have gotten them

2 years ago but I became ill. I have received 3 ortho consults. Two

of them sugguest lower jaw surgery due to the fact that my lower jaw

needs to be moved forward and to the right in order to line up my bite

properly. After all I have been through and some very serious

surguries already I don't want to realy go forth with another surgery.

I wanted to join this site to see how all of you have come up with

your decisions and how things worked out for you. Are you happy with

the results, how long did it take to heal? How long on liquids? How

long is the surgery? Did you have braces before surgery then

afterwards as well? One of them suggested surgery first then braces

and another suggested braces then surgery then braces again. One

orther didn't want to suggest surgery and would rather pull teeth. I

don't want to have teeth pulled that could create a whole new realm o

other problems. Can anyone give me advice. Anyone my age or older

that has decided to go forth with the surgery? HAs anyone opted to

not do surgery and just get braces if so how did things turn out?

I could just go for braces but I wouldn't get the same results but

there would be improvement. I " m not asking for a perfect mouth but I

would like improvement.

If anyone can help me out I would appreciate it.

Thank you,

Liana