POSTED UNDER Jaw Reduction REVIEWS
Braces with Upper and Lower Jaw Surgery - Charlotte, NC
ORIGINAL POST
Since I was 10 years old, my dentist told me I...
wrigglesannieJune 3, 2016
WORTH IT$35,000
Since I was 10 years old, my dentist told me I needed jaw surgery, especially surgery to move my lower jaw forward. My parents decided not to perform the surgery since I was so young and I'm glad they did. The technology today is amazing. I was finally at age 44, able to get the surgery performed and braces to correct years of TMJ, sinus infections, and crooked teeth from misaligned chewing. I had braces put on with Marc Allen Orthodontist in Huntersville, NC and he recommended Dr. Brian Farrell to perform upper and lower jaw surgery. He moved my lower jaw forward and my upper jaw down. The upper jaw was recommended since my teeth barely showed when I smiled. They put braces on first and after 9 months, Jaw Surgery was performed, then another 9 months of braces. All in all it took about a year and 8 months for everything to be complete. Braces were difficult, but the jaw surgery was the most difficult. It was uncomfortable especially the first month or so. After getting past the discomfort, I had a hard time with the difference in my look and face. It was a shock, but now, a year and 6 months after the surgery, i really love the results. I decided to post here on real self. I wish I had documented my entire journey, But if anyone has more questions, please let me know and I will be glad to help. My only issue after all this is I wish I had been shown digital pictures of the final outcome so I was more prepared for the physical change to my face. I still have popping sometimes in my jaw and numbing on the right side of my lip and chin. But overall, a great success. Marc Allen Orthodontist was amazing as well as Dr. Brian Farrell. Both were perfectionist and went out of their way to make my journey pleasant. Highly recommend both! My insurance covered the jaw surgery minus the deductible of $3,000. Braces were not covered and the cost was @ $5,500
Replies (39)
June 7, 2016
Awesome...love your new look!
Younger looking too!
Younger looking too!
June 8, 2016
Thank you so much for your sweet comments!!! I am much happier today and have embraced my new look!
September 2, 2016
You know I thought tht too. I was like she's probably happier cuz she looks the way she knows she's supposed too.
August 3, 2016
I think you look great too!! I can, though, understand your comments about getting used to your new look. My daughter is probably going to have surgery next spring, hopefully lower jaw only, but we are not sure yet. This is now round 2 of braces for her! The first time at age 14 no one ever even mentioned a jaw issue. It is clear now. Being her mom, I'm very worried about the whole surgery thing, and having to be any part of the 'decision' brings on a daunting guilt trip! She is all on board. I worry about complications and how she will actually look too! Thanks for the advice on getting digital pics of how she may look. That would be helpful. We have done our research and gotten lots of opinions. Nice to hear a good outcome for sure! I know there are many positive ones out there, but mostly you read about the negative ones for obvious reason. I've learned a lot from reading everything and have asked many more questions because of it. Got my fingers crossed for my daughter. We've done the best we can do at this point, but there will always be doubt until she is done and recovered.
Enjoy your new look and smile ~ you truly look terrific!!!!! Congrats!!
Enjoy your new look and smile ~ you truly look terrific!!!!! Congrats!!
August 3, 2016
Thank you so much!! Good luck to you and your sweet daughter! I'm sure it will all turn out amazing!
August 30, 2016
You look great! Younger too. I'm concerned with my face changing and I am only doing the braces. It's hard after 40 some years to get used to seeing yourself differently but you look amazing.
August 31, 2016
Thank you so much!!! You have made my day!! You will love your look after braces!!!
September 2, 2016
You do you younger... You look freaking amazing...
I'm ready for my face to look different. I'm over my protruding top jaw.. my teeth come forward like a horse and I have a receding chin. I'm not ugly but I think I can look better.
I'm ready for my face to look different. I'm over my protruding top jaw.. my teeth come forward like a horse and I have a receding chin. I'm not ugly but I think I can look better.
September 2, 2016
Did you have braces whn you were a kid?
I was thinking to get my braces first before jaw surgery, my 4 front bottoms are crooked... I don't think I wanna deal with the pain of surgery and braces on top of tht...
Why did you have to pay $35,00?
I was thinking to get my braces first before jaw surgery, my 4 front bottoms are crooked... I don't think I wanna deal with the pain of surgery and braces on top of tht...
Why did you have to pay $35,00?
September 3, 2016
I did have braces as a teenager, but they became crooked over time. I actually paid $3500 for our insurane deductible...we had a high deductible for surgeries
September 3, 2016
The total cost of the surgery was 35,000, but insurance paid it all minus the 3,500 deductible
September 11, 2016
$3500 is good... I'll that deductible any day over $35,000 cuz now I'm like how a I'm going to come up with $35,000. Which is honestly what I thought I had to pay but to not get overwhelmed i told myself $17,000.
I appreciate your answer n my question and I'm learning a lot about what I have to do.
I'm going to get insurance whn I'm ready to this surgery and I'm glad you have a supportive husband.
I appreciate your answer n my question and I'm learning a lot about what I have to do.
I'm going to get insurance whn I'm ready to this surgery and I'm glad you have a supportive husband.
Replies (6)
September 7, 2016
Wow, what a fantastic result! You are lovely. Did you have your upper jaw moved forward as well or just down? How many mm advancement was your lower jaw? Just curious .... I had a Leforte 1 downfracture 15 years ago but it has since collapsed because the Dr. moved just the upper jaw (I've since learned that with this type of surgery you want to move both jaws). Alas, live and learn.
September 7, 2016
Thank you so much. I went back in my files and couldn't find the exact mm for my lower jaw advancement, but in medical terms, my jaw surgeon wrote, My patient suffers from a class II deep bite skeletal malocclusion that stems from both maxillary and mandibular hypoplasia. I believe the surgeon moved my upper jaw down and possibly out a bit as well. Sorry, I couldn't find the specifics in my files. But both upper and lower jaw surgeries were recommend together for fear that just doing one or the other alone could create similar jaw issues later and more surgeries required. I'm so sorry to hear you may have to redo your surgery. I hope this time around it's a success. Good luck
September 8, 2016
I had the same diagnosis of "maxillary and mandibular hypoplasia" and same symptoms: deep bite, no tooth show, flat profile. So happy for you that yours worked out!
September 9, 2016
Thank you! I hope you can have similar results...I hate that you have to redo your surgeries, good luck
September 11, 2016
What do you mean by it collapsed? I assume some part of your mouth is hanging and not functioning properly.
April 21, 2021
I’m hoping to have my surgery done with Dr. Farrell as well. And have the same skeletal malocclusion. I’m curious if you happened to still have anything listing the surgical names for the movements you had done. Your results are so incredible. They make so confident about going through with this. Thanks so much for sharing!
UPDATED FROM wrigglesannie
1 year post
More Jaw Surgery Photos
wrigglesannieSeptember 14, 2016
I found my before/after orthodontist photos from their office. The last row of photos were taken after surgery and braces off, October 2015.
Replies (7)
September 15, 2016
Wow! What a difference. I can't wait to do mine.
October 16, 2016
So nice to read a great review. Your lips are incredible! And your teeth at smile and repose are perfect. I'm scheduled for upper jaw surgery next month and it's a relief to read about the good ones. It seems there are more bad than good and that's disheartening sometimes. Thanks for the review!
October 16, 2016
It is a difficult surgery, but I am definitely happy with the end result. Good luck to you!!! I'm sure you will do wonderfully!!!
February 25, 2018
is this something insurance might cover or is it considered fully cosmetic?
March 7, 2018
My insurance covered the costs minus the deductible since it wasn't cosmetic for me, it was a medical necessity based on my ortho and dental doctors review.
April 5, 2019
My insurance covered it because it was considered a medical necessity, not cosmetic. They will not cover cosmetic jaw surgery I assume. You would have to be assessed by your dentist, orthodontist and/or jaw surgeon to confirm. I was told as a young child that my jaw was misaligned and needed to be reconstructed, so it was definitely a necessity in my case.
Congratulations on getting results that you're happy with. It sounds like you're doing well with your recovery and getting used to the new you. Thanks for sharing your story with this community, and for offering to answer questions from other members.