Full of Gratitude!

Last winter I started to really struggle with the cosmetic outcome of my ortho care as a teenager. I should have had jaw surgery, but they had removed some teeth instead. After spending so much time on video conference calls and in front of a mirror at home during the pandemic, I knew it was time to make a change. It took me several months to work up the courage to see someone about it because I was sort of running on the hope that nobody else noticed what I was noticing, and seeing a specialist would make it feel like a real issue. I initially thought that maybe a chin implant would be a good solution, but Dr. Wittenberg recommended a sliding genioplasty instead to avoid bone reabsorption and it was also a more comprehensive structural adjustment with soft tissue changes too. He didn't ever make me feel ashamed of how I looked before (I think I was quite hard on myself), he was really matter-of-fact and kind. I knew almost immediately that he would be my surgeon.
When surgery day came I was nervous about twilight sedation, but everything went really smoothly. One moment I was talking before the procedure and the next I was waking up all bandaged up and ready to go home. The recovery process was definitely an experience. I was pretty bruised and swollen for several weeks, but I did sort of expect this because I consider myself pretty sensitive and I bruise like a peach. It's obvious that this a very routine surgery for Dr. Wittenberg (he's performed thousands) but it's still good to keep in mind that this surgery has a long recovery period. Patience (not my virtue) is key. I'm only 2 months post now and I still have swelling, but I feel really good. The before and after photos honestly shocked me and I didn't even recognize the person in the before photo because the after looks so natural. I sent them all to my friends who had the same reaction I had.
And for anyone else who is frantically scanning the internet because your ortho as a teenager cut corners instead of treating you properly and now you're left with jaw/chin issues... Just do it. If you have reservations about having plastic surgery, let me tell you that what matters most is how you feel about yourself. Make sure that you are taking care of your mental health and doing this for yourself and not for anyone else. My one regret is that I didn't explore this sooner and I'm excited to see what I look like in another 4 months.