22 y/o female in braces who is looking forward to her upper & lower jaw surgery (and possible genioplasty). It will be performed at Oakland Kaiser in California on a date not yet decided. I have just about completed the proper movement of my teeth prior to the surgery and am waiting to see the surgeon for my measurements. I have a class II malocclusion and a small chin, which altogether cause chronic jaw pain, teeth grinding, joint abnormalities, lip incompetence, lifelong TMJ, among other things. I have watched plenty of videos & read reviews and stories of other people who have undergone the surgery, and all I can say is that I'm nervous but very ready. My greatest fear is that I will not receive the desired result after the surgery has been completed, or that my alveolar nerve will be hit and my face will be numb forever. On the flip side, having this procedure done would not only boost my self confidence but also cater to many mechanical and functional abnormalities. I am choosing to begin sharing my journey and cannot wait to see the final result. Updated on 1 Apr 2019: I have officially made plans for my surgery which will take place on May 21st, 2019. I have no other words in anticipation other than I AM EXCITED. This is what I have been waiting for even before I knew these type of surgeries existed. I couldn't be happier and I would go in tomorrow to get it done if I could. So much has shifted in my personal life that I feel like a whole new person, for the better. I can't help but feel nostalgia for the life I once lived as a child and adolescent. For some reason I've always been infatuated with butterflies, and I suppose this process is much like the caterpillar shedding it's cocoon. I feel similar to a butterfly in that I am shedding my "old skin" day by day, awaiting the final fruition of my accomplishments. I will be keeping updated on this platform, and should be doing so more regularly now that the surgery pre-appointments and dates are in motion. Please reach out if you have any questions; If I can help at least 1 person on a similar journey that would be enough. Take care everybody Updated on 20 May 2019: Big day tomorrow. I’m pretty nervous but just so excited to be getting this done. The hooks have been placed and I am taking these few final moments in before my lovely liquid diet. I can’t wait to see the final result and I should be updating a lot more often now that the surgery is finally happening tomorrow. I am having upper, lower, and genioplasty. Going to be a huge difference, follow along if you’d like to see the results. Updated on 22 May 2019: I got my surgery yesterday 5/21/19 and I am currently recovering at the hospital. Yes, it is a very invasive surgery and I had much anxiety before the procedure. But, side effects from anesthesia only lasted for me 1 day and I can already see the difference in my profile. It was all worth it and I absolutely cannot wait to see the final result. Anybody who has questions about this procedure or would like to give some words of encouragement please feel free to comment. I will be cooped up in the house for the next week so I have all the time in the world to chit chat. Thanks for following :) Updated on 22 May 2019: I am back home now, and trying my best to keep up with pain medication and icing 20 min on/off. I’m utilizing all of the nasal decongestants, misters, and ice packs the hospital gave me and some that I bought myself. In all, I would say I am already happy with the result and can’t wait to show you guys the final result. Updated on 23 May 2019: I think cheek swelling has gone down a bit, and I’ve been doing my best to keep up with the medications and cleanings. I just can’t wait for these next 7 days to be over! I miss food but I’m trying to mix it up with different baby foods and blended things, like beans and vegetables. My mom is going to make soup for dinner for me tonight and I can’t wait for that. I also think I’m getting bored just sitting here at home so I’m going to try and read, do crafts, etc to keep myself busy. Updated on 27 May 2019: I am almost 1 week post-op, and wow what a journey! I have heard many horror stores of post-surgical complications with this procedure and I must say I do feel like one of the lucky ones. Pain is ever-present at about a 4/10, especially since I’ve ditched the Vicodin a few days ago to get rid of constipation. On POD #4 I was experiencing shortness of breath because of the swelling fluid draining into my lungs, and on POD #5 I developed irritant contact dermatitis from the medical adhesive. Both no fun at all, but I have the problems under control and they are getting better with each day. I spend my healing time watching crime shows, reading books, doing small tasks around the house, and keeping up on the medications/icing. It is a serious task to keep up entirely with your care schedule, but you just feel so much better when everything is clean & done. I’ve also reached out to support groups/people who are healing with me from the same procedure; this really helps. It feels good to know you’re not the only one. That being said, I want to thank every one of you who has taken the time to comment on my posts with your positivity & encouragement. You have no idea how much this helps & gets me by with the pain & swollenness, looking like a balloon. I’m ready to be healed & back to my normal schedule, and I know that will come with time & patience ! Updated on 12 Jun 2019: Hello world! I am hanging in there; still waiting for the swelling to completely subside so that I can feel confident being out in public again. It is weird getting used to my new chin and bone structure. I have been doing lip exercises to strengthen mainly my upper lip. After my surgery I’ve continued to suffer from lip incompetence which was a main contributor to me wanting surgery in the first place. After discussing this with a few oral surgeons and doing some of my own research I’ve learned of the “battle button” exercise and other exercises to help strengthen your orbicularis oris. I have also had to learn how to breathe exclusively through my nose as I have been a mouth breather my entire life; mouth breathing contributed to my weak facial structure and atrophied upper lip muscle. It is quite fascinating once you start to delve deeper into the mechanics of orthognathic repair and different approaches from surgeons. The process of changing your jaw and face does not end once you have done the surgery, as I previously thought. You must continue to work towards nose breathing, correct tongue posture, lip and facial exercises, etc during and even after you have healed from your procedure. It is a long, life-changing process but the good thing is that it’s all worth it. The pain, persistence, and patience will pay off when this is all over as I have seen it do for others. Updated on 18 Jun 2019: The swelling goes down more and more every day, and Ibuprofen has never been more useful. I have officially left my cocoon and feel like a new, fresh butterfly ready to explore the revitalized world around her. How could I have gotten through this process had it not been for the relentless support and encouragement gained from various jaw surgery groups online. Please join as many support groups as you can when you are going through ANY process, you will be amazed at how much they help. When you don’t know anyone in your real life going through similar circumstances, there are people there in that group to talk to, going through exactly the same things Updated on 30 Jan 2020: Hello everyone! Long time since I have updated here. If I can reach any of you thinking about getting the same type of surgery as me for a similar bite, I would just like to tell all of you, it is worth it in the end. It's crazy to think back to the time I was in the same exact shoes as many of you- desperately wishing my jaw would look like the "after" pic of a person who got jaw surgery but being so scared to take the necessary steps for myself. This entire journey has been humbling to say the least, and I am filled with gratitude for the surgeon, nurses, and fellow patients I've connected with online throughout this course. Making my jaw look like everyone else's (and being able to close my mouth properly) was the one thing I always wanted, and with hard work I finally achieved it. What a journey well worth it. Please message me or leave a comment if you have any questions or would like to chat! This is your reminder that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. Updated on 30 Jan 2020: Also! I forget to mention this with the last update but I will be answering all the questions I've gotten asked a lot about my surgery, in a Youtube video once the braces come off. It won't just be about my surgery, it will be a video on general tips everyone getting this procedure should know. Should be in about a month or so. I will definitely post the link on here when I do. I have been writing my best tips down in my notes ever since I woke up from my surgery. I am also a third semester BSN (nursing) student so I have a little bit of background knowledge up my sleeve ;) I look forward to getting my braces off and posting the video!! I will see you guys then :D
