Re: Plastic surgeon recommended orthognathic surgery- To Deb

[Guest guest]

Hi Deb,

I wanted to post because I just had some ideas that you might

consider while chewing over in your mind the prospect of this surgery

and your motivations for it...

I personally did not have my surgery done solely for cosmetic

reasons. That said, the prospect of cosmetic improvement definitely

was one motivation. I just wasn't personally able to justify the

surgery to myself or the expense, etc. without having the underlying

other problems also factoring into the equation. Basically, it was a

combination, that included cosmetic, but not only..... you get what I

am trying to say, I think!

I discussed open-mouth breathing with my own surgeon regarding my

case because it was one " symptom " going on (to a lesser extent than

what you have described).... From what he told me, and you might want

to consider that apparently open-mouth breathing can/does lead to

gingival disease which IS serious. Furthermore, problems down the

road may await you (I don't know your age now). Avoiding possible

future problems was definitely another factor for me.

Lastly, when I can't decide about something, I try to look at my

problem the other way around. Try to imagine that you decided one way

or the other and then imagine the rest of your life.... Is there one

decision you would regret later? Would you regret trying for the

surgery, or possibly would you regret it more later down the road if

you never tried? This can be a very illuminating way to consider the

decision.

Regardless, this at least deserves your time and consideration.

Research this surgery so you know what you are facing and therefore

are making an informed decision. There could be factors about it that

may decide it for you instantly, or not! You may decide it is

definitely worth it or not. Expenses can be another consideration. If

your case would be cosmetic solely, this surgery could be incredibly,

possibly prohibitively expensive. (I would definitely mention the

open-mouth breathing and gingival disease concern to the surgeon, you

never know so it's worth a try....)Continue meeting with

surgeons..... and this will probably necessitate braces for you a

second time, at least for some shorter period of time simply as a

function of the surgery. That is another huge expense.... Reasearch

and learn what you can! This message board is an invaluable source of

information and support! Good luck and keep us posted!

Katja

> 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