Re: no longer contemplating surgery--moving foward!!

[Guest guest]

Dana - Sounds like you have found yourself a great Surgeon.

Congratulations on taking the first steps on your Orthognathic

Journey! The diagrams you mentioned might be Cephalometric tracings;

I think most Surgeons do these as part of the surgical consult. Did

he take measurements too? Mine did at my first Consult appointment.

Then my OMS sat down next to me and put his hands in mine, and told

me that I would need two procedures (the BSSO + LeFort) - needless to

say, I was shocked, as he had previously told me that there was only

a slight chance I would need the LeFort. I think my initial response

shocked him; I totally freaked out, shook my head saying that all I

wanted was a BSSO, and continuously repeating " No, No Way " . He

managed to calm me down enough to explain how he had come to his

decision, and proceeded to describe the surgeries he would like me to

let him perform. He began with the BSSO, describing the procedure in

detail using a plastic model of a skull, and answered the questions I

had brought with me. Then, he proceeded to explain the LeFort

procedure, using the same plastic skull. I had brought no questions

with me because I wasn't expecting him to tell me I would be needing

it. He held my hand as we continued to discuss the surgeries. He told

me that if I decided against the LeFort, he would do everything in

his power to persuade me to let him do it. He told me NOT to worry

about anything, just think about it all and we would get together a

few weeks later to discuss everything again. I returned to work and

sat at my desk in shock, fighting to hold back tears (a shed a few

that day). Well, with the help and support from this group I was able

to come to grips with the LeFort. At my next appointment with him, I

told him I would let him do the LeFort. I also told him " no more bad

surprises " and he said " fair enough " . My OMS is awesome: supportive,

compassionate, caring, understanding. In December, I will be going

back to him for a progress check-up; at that time he will confirm my

need for the LeFort by doing another set of xrays and comparing them

to my pre-ortho set. I am hoping that he will give the green light to

a possibly earlier surgery (a month or two)- right now it is expected

that I will be ready for surgery in June. My teeth are continually

moving, thanks to the Continuous Force Wires my OD uses. Well, that's

my surgical consult story. Sounds like you will have one of your very

own soon, along with a set of braces! Take care. ~~ Diane (Idaho)---

In orthognathicsurgerysupport , danajoy24

<no_reply@y...> wrote:

> I was very, very impressed with the OS that I met yesterday. He's

> the 3rd OS I saw since I starting thinking about having jaw surgery

> (back in 2001). He suggested taking a different approach to

surgery

> than what the other 2 OS suggested. I liked what he had to say and

> actually feel very excited about all of it instead of feeling

> apprehensive and indecisive. He was very thorough in his

> explanations and took a lot of time with me.

>

> I am definitely going forward with the surgery. This is what we

> talked about:

>

> I have a 5-5.5 mm overbite. It is definitely within the margins to

> be a candidate for surgery. He said surgery is not worth it if a

> patient is 3mm or smaller. Anyway, the 2 previous OS suggested

> advancing lower jaw and chin and a 3rd option was breaking the

upper

> jaw to reduce my gummy smile.

>

> This OS, at this point, feels upper jaw surgery alone can correct

my

> overbite--something about the way my upper jaw is slanted. He said

> there is less chance of nerve damage than with lower jaw surgery. A

> chin advancement will most likely be done, too. He took x-rays and

> wants to do a more involved analysis/study of everything to make

> sure upper surgery is the best way to go (also mentioned something

> about drawing up diagrams for me so I can visualize what he plans

to

> do). I'll meet with him again next week.

>

> He's the first doctor who told me what he'd do if he were me.

Other

> doctors would give me my options but left it up to me. I'm not the

> expert--I want to be told what would be best for me.

>

> We talked about having no insurance coverage. Previously, he has

> done surgeries in his facility to cut costs; but as of now, all

> upper jaw surgeries were done in the hospital. I'm hoping I don't

> have to go to the hospital, but I want whatever is best.

>

> Hope I didn't get to lengthy! But I'll keep you posted.

[Guest guest]

Diane what is the BSSO surgery. I'm sort of in auto mode with the

braces and I'll be writing a brief summary of what happened when I

finally saw my surgeon again (hadn't seen him in nearly a year since

our first consultation).

> > I was very, very impressed with the OS that I met yesterday.

He's

> > the 3rd OS I saw since I starting thinking about having jaw

surgery

> > (back in 2001). He suggested taking a different approach to

> surgery

> > than what the other 2 OS suggested. I liked what he had to say

and

> > actually feel very excited about all of it instead of feeling

> > apprehensive and indecisive. He was very thorough in his

> > explanations and took a lot of time with me.

> >

> > I am definitely going forward with the surgery. This is what we

> > talked about:

> >

> > I have a 5-5.5 mm overbite. It is definitely within the margins

to

> > be a candidate for surgery. He said surgery is not worth it if

a

> > patient is 3mm or smaller. Anyway, the 2 previous OS suggested

> > advancing lower jaw and chin and a 3rd option was breaking the

> upper

> > jaw to reduce my gummy smile.

> >

> > This OS, at this point, feels upper jaw surgery alone can

correct

> my

> > overbite--something about the way my upper jaw is slanted. He

said

> > there is less chance of nerve damage than with lower jaw

surgery. A

> > chin advancement will most likely be done, too. He took x-rays

and

> > wants to do a more involved analysis/study of everything to make

> > sure upper surgery is the best way to go (also mentioned

something

> > about drawing up diagrams for me so I can visualize what he

plans

> to

> > do). I'll meet with him again next week.

> >

> > He's the first doctor who told me what he'd do if he were me.

> Other

> > doctors would give me my options but left it up to me. I'm not

the

> > expert--I want to be told what would be best for me.

> >

> > We talked about having no insurance coverage. Previously, he

has

> > done surgeries in his facility to cut costs; but as of now, all

> > upper jaw surgeries were done in the hospital. I'm hoping I

don't

> > have to go to the hospital, but I want whatever is best.

> >

> > Hope I didn't get to lengthy! But I'll keep you posted.

>

[Guest guest]

Hello there, " belgoboy " ! - I'm sorry: I don't recall what type of

surgery you will be having. The BSSO I mentioned stands

for " Bilateral Sagittal Split (Ramus) Osteotomy " and is the most

common type of mandibular (lower) surgery performed because it can be

used to set back and advance the mandible. I have an underbite and

therefore will be having a BSSO to set back my mandible. I will also

be having a LeFort, which is the maxillary (upper) osteotomy. I have

an underdeveloped upper jaw, which will be advanced forward and

dropped down in front because my resting smile only shows my lower

teeth (should show my upper teeth). What type(s) of procedures are

you having done? What type of malocclusion (bad bite) do you have?

When will you be having your surgery? ~~~ Diane (Idaho)

> > > I was very, very impressed with the OS that I met yesterday.

> He's

> > > the 3rd OS I saw since I starting thinking about having jaw

> surgery

> > > (back in 2001). He suggested taking a different approach to

> > surgery

> > > than what the other 2 OS suggested. I liked what he had to say

> and

> > > actually feel very excited about all of it instead of feeling

> > > apprehensive and indecisive. He was very thorough in his

> > > explanations and took a lot of time with me.

> > >

> > > I am definitely going forward with the surgery. This is what

we

> > > talked about:

> > >

> > > I have a 5-5.5 mm overbite. It is definitely within the

margins

> to

> > > be a candidate for surgery. He said surgery is not worth it if

> a

> > > patient is 3mm or smaller. Anyway, the 2 previous OS suggested

> > > advancing lower jaw and chin and a 3rd option was breaking the

> > upper

> > > jaw to reduce my gummy smile.

> > >

> > > This OS, at this point, feels upper jaw surgery alone can

> correct

> > my

> > > overbite--something about the way my upper jaw is slanted. He

> said

> > > there is less chance of nerve damage than with lower jaw

> surgery. A

> > > chin advancement will most likely be done, too. He took x-rays

> and

> > > wants to do a more involved analysis/study of everything to

make

> > > sure upper surgery is the best way to go (also mentioned

> something

> > > about drawing up diagrams for me so I can visualize what he

> plans

> > to

> > > do). I'll meet with him again next week.

> > >

> > > He's the first doctor who told me what he'd do if he were me.

> > Other

> > > doctors would give me my options but left it up to me. I'm not

> the

> > > expert--I want to be told what would be best for me.

> > >

> > > We talked about having no insurance coverage. Previously, he

> has

> > > done surgeries in his facility to cut costs; but as of now, all

> > > upper jaw surgeries were done in the hospital. I'm hoping I

> don't

> > > have to go to the hospital, but I want whatever is best.

> > >

> > > Hope I didn't get to lengthy! But I'll keep you posted.

> >

>