Surgery consultation mid-treatment - advice needed

[harridann91]

I'm in my twenties and I got braces just over a year ago. My problem is retrognathia/retrogenia - a relatively mild overbite, crowding and a big overjet, plus very narrow dental arches. Unfortunately, I didn't get orthodontic treatment as a child/teen, but I've always been very aware of how crooked my teeth were and that there was something off about my bite, so, finally, I put away some money and consulted several orthodontist in my town. They all said more or less the same thing, ie. that I would need extractions and bands to pull my upper teeth back. One orthodontist - my current doctor - admitted that he would not be able to fix my problem perfectly with just braces and that, in his opinion, I might be a candidate for surgery. He referred me on to an NHS consultant, who claimed that my problem wasn't serious enough to warrant surgery on health grounds and that braces should do the job. I wasn't convinced or entirely happy, but I had no choice - so I went ahead with the extractions and the braces.

My orthodontist is a good specialist and is doing his best, so I have no complaints about him and the treatment per se. With time, though, and the progress of the treatment (which has probably more to do with my face aging slightly than actual teeth movement - the teeth haven't really been pulled back so far and I am yet to start wearing elastics), I have been more and more aware of and bothered by my bite and how asymmetrical my face is in general (as a result of it). I have a really long and narrow face and retruded chin with my cheeks "falling down", which is something I had always hoped to get fixed once I'd get my orthodontic treatment. As things are now, it looks like my bite isn't going to change and, if anything, I fear that my face might become even more narrow (though my orthodontist doubts it, in my case). Now, I'm not the most deformed and ugly person in the world, but the bite really does bother me and I am unhappy with it. On top of that, since I started braces (or maybe just with age), I've developed issues with TMJ (I clench my teeth like crazy), swallowing and sinuses, which I feel are getting worse...

It's kind of late SPAM SPAM SPAMMING, but I've decided to seek a second opinion from a very experienced and acclaimed surgeon abroad (well, in my country of origin, but in any case - outside of the UK, where I live) - first of all, because of how renowned they are and secondly, because I would actually be able to afford surgical treatment over there, as opposed to Britain. I don't really know, though, what I should do if they do say that I would be a good candidate for surgery - should I ask my orthodontist for another referral through the NHS to seek a second opinion (if the private consultant says that the treatment wouldn't be purely cosmetic)? Or maybe it wouldn't make much sense and I should just opt for the private surgery abroad? Obviously, it would be ideal if the prep orthodontic work could be done by my current orthodontist in co-operation with the surgeon, but I'm skeptical that my ortho would agree to that...

Or maybe the consultant will just say I'm mad and refer me to a psychiatrist instead :D - but in any case, if anyone had a similar situation or has any advice to share, I would greatly appreciate it!