To from Sara

[Guest guest]

Hi

Yes, I do think I look better overall post-surgery, despite my nose

turning up a bit. It was far worse immediately after surgery because

of the swelling and since then has come down a bit but I do notice

that it's turned up more than it did before.

As you mentioned I don't seem that bothered by it and this is, even

to me, a surprise. Reason being because I actually had a nose job

when I was 17 (am now 27) so one would think that I would be

infuriated that my precious nose has now been altered. I was

terrified about this happening pre-surgery and in fact stalled on

having it done for a while because of this, among other reasons. Now

that I'm post-surgery I feel (pain wise as I suffered constant

headaches) MILES BETTER and think I look great. My nose may be turned

up a bit but I have a proper chin and a great smile, even with the

braces on. My face just seems to be a heck of a lot more balanced now.

A little more detail on what I had done. I had an upper le forte 3

piece where my upper jaw was dissected into three pieces and

readjusted into its proper position. I had two upper bicuspids

removed and this is where two of the incisions to dissect my upper

jaw were made. In the process they also managed to expand my palet by

4mm. My upper jaw was brought up by 3mm and moved back by 1mm. This

allowed my lower jaw to swing up into its natural position, going up

a total of 7mm. I also had genioplasty performed which shortened by

face by an additional 2mm. I now have two titanium screws on each

side of my face, right underneath my eye-socket area.

When I say that my nose has turned up I mean literally that if you

were to take a finger and press it gently against the septal

cartilage that lies right beneath the tip of your nose...well that's

how my nose turned up. Very slightly and it is really only noticeable

to myself and my family and fiance, none of which feel that it is a

big change. I think I got upset about it for about one day then

looked at the overall pros that have come out of the surgery and

decided the nose factor was no big deal.

That's my experience and there is no way that I can tell you that you

will deal with it as I have. Do talk about this concern with your OMS

however and make sure he is aware of it and is able to give you a

satisfactory response to your fears.

Hope this helps and provides you with some insight!

Sara

PS you can see my pics under SARA.

> Hi All

>

> Well I went to see both my OD and OMS yesterday after 3 months post-

> op. Neither of them had seen me in over a month since I was away in

> Italy.

>

> My OMS was super pleased with my progress. He said that my jaw was

> healing very nicely and I was looking very good. I still have some

> swelling but it's noticeable only to me and the people who know me

> very well. In other words if you were to see me walking down the

> street you wouldn't notice it. I discussed with my OMS the fact

that

> my nose has truly turned up as a result of the surgery. It's not a

> big deal to me since everything else went REALLY well but if I

could

> have had everything turn out perfect I would have liked to have

kept

> my nose at it's former position. Unfortunately that couldn't be

> helped but it seems that if I ever decide to get my slightly

> deviated septum fixed with a septoplasty then my nose issue should

> be resolved. We'll see...I'm certainly in no rush to have another

> surgery. My OMS also gave me the go-ahead to start flossing again

> even though I still haven't regained any sensation in my upper

gums,

> I just need to be careful. He even said I could go get my teeth

> professionally cleaned. Whoohoo!! I'm to see him again in 1 month's

> time.

>

> My OD was also very pleased with how my teeth were coming along. He

> took off 4 of my brackets - 2 from my back upper teeth and 2 from

my

> back bottom teeth. I know it's only 4 brackets but it felt like the

> beginning of liberation!! Right now my bottom teeth are only being

> held stationary by a little piece of wire. Next month I'll get all

> the braces off on them and have a permanent retainer put in. The

top

> teeth still need about 2 more months of braces and then I get to de-

> brace them too after which I will have to wear a retainer only at

> night for 6 months and then for 1 hour every day for another 6

> months. My OD explained to me that it takes about 267 days for a

> bone to truly solidify hence why I need to use the retainer at

> night. I must say when he showed me what my retainer would look

like

> I was impressed because it looks just like an invisalign would - a

> see-through plastic cover. VERY different from the retainers I had

> the past 3 times I took my braces off. Since my adjustment

yesterday

> the gap in between my 2 front teeth is already almost gone. It's

> amazing how fast the teeth move!!

>

> The last piece of news is that I've also been cleared to start

> chewing fully again, with the exception of steak and hard

vegetables

> and fruit like apples, which I am totally fine with.

>

> So that's my LONG update. Sorry for the long and boring email but I

> just wanted to share with everyone and show them that light does

> exist at the end of the tunnel so hold on tight and don't give up!

>

> Thanks for reading!

>

> Sara

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