Essay wondering about post op appearance

[Azzanet]

I had double jaw surgery exactly 3 weeks ago under the NHS. I had an underbite so I had my bottom jaw moved back and my top jaw moved forward and up preventing a gummy smile. I have found my swelling to be quite vast looking still compared to most people’s pics after 3 weeks and feeling depressed due to the fact the way I look at the moment. It is much much much worse then what I looked like before, when I have tried to predict what I will look like after the swelling has gone. I am however pleased with my new bite and also when I woke up from the operation I had no numbness what so ever from the bottom lip to the chin also I could still just about feel my fingers on my top lip and cheeks and nose.

I'm 19 and was in great health before. Although the swelling has gone down a lot compared to the first week I am scared I have lost many facial features that I had before the surgery. I mainly went for this surgery because my orthodontist told me when I was 15 that I would need this surgery after my first brace and being honest my top teeth after braces were hacking away at my bottom teeth. My max fac surgeon said after surgery it will just look like I had a new hairstyle to people so I wasn’t looking for much of a change in appearance but now I am frightened I am going to be looking worse after 6months. I’m actually not the kind of person to care to much about looks but if my appearance is dramatically changed for the worse you got to start paying attention. This I one of the only times I have thought about my looks so vainly. I also got freshers week late September which just makes the ordeal worse. (For people from other countries it is the first week of uni where you basically drink till you pass out and get to know your future best mates). I was before my operation a very sociable lively person but now im slightly scared to go out with mates.

. Before I had high cheekbones which were very prominent and I occasionly had girls positively commenting about them lol (i'm male by the way) which I always took for granted and kind of found it funny. I also had a reasonable niceish smile before I got the braces as my teeth were straightish already. My smile now is what I could only describe as a clown smile (it’s creepy!) lol. My cheeks seemed to have diminished and adding to this I now have a wide looking jaw and possibly a duck look with the lips. It gets worse. My chin is non existent unless I do the biggest grin, compared to most peoples surgery post-op pics my chin area/size looks like its reduced much greater. To top it off my nose got damaged in the operation. I have a deviated septum which is made worse by the fact my nose looks bigger, now crooked and wider. ENT have said they won’t do anything for 6 months to fix this but even looking at it now its going to need a septoplasty to straighten it. Compared to most peoples surgery post-op pics my chin area/size looks like its reduced much greater.

I not trying to give the impression i’ve gone from a model to Quasimodo but from normalish looking male to less normal, well In my eyes anyway. Am I just being totally over the top? Should I wait longer and hope I look more normal when the swelling has gone down? Also does anyone believe next time I see my surgeon I should tell him straight that i think I am likely to look much worse even after swelling has gone down because I know that a surgeon is unlikely to tell me I look worse even if I did after month or 2 ?( he’ll prob say give it 6 months). I understand there are soft tissue changes but I doubt they could change the face dramatically. Has anyone else had a simlar experience.

To people waiting to get the surgery please do not be put off. The surgery pretty much always works out great from what ive seen on the web and from people i have met. I am probably just having my depressive stage that I didn’t have in the first week lol. Also I was told by the surgeon I was hard work as my bone was so solid and dense that that the normal chisle they use wasn’t even scratching the surface lol. SORRY for the years length worth of blog writing but been a bit stressed recently with the lack of good food and exams results only 2 weeks away. (':?')

[ohmyjaw]

Give it time... My face didn't look normal until 6 months post-op, at least. My nose was crooked after the surgery, too, and that took even longer to go back to normal. About a year, I would say.

[loulou123]

Definately give it more time. Im over 5 months post op (tho have had complications) and am still swollen on one side more than the other. It will get better but its a very gradual process and 3 weeks is a tiny amount of time.

[Jaydees]

I totally know what you are going through! I'm feeling the same way about my surgery but I'm now at 9 weeks post op. Also on the NHS. I had lower moved forward and bone taken out of upper to reduce the gummyness. My septum was already deviated so they were going to fix that during the surgery but like you I was "hard work" the surgery ran over and they didn't have time to address my nose. I use to have high cheek bones (also one of my best features, but I'm a girl) and quite a narrow face, well I guess you would say oval face. Anyways I wasn't bad to look at to begin with but my overbite was a big insecurity of mine and it was recommended so surgery seemed like the best option. My swelling hasn't gone down the way that many others have. See my post "will the swelling ever go down, there are some very good recommendations on how to reduce swelling". My mouth has changed alot, my top lip is very thin now and my mouth faces downwards, it looks like I am constantly frowning. My cheeks are also still swollen, the left side worse than the right. My nose not having been fixed is now bigger, wider and crooked, one nostril is actually higher than the other, this is probably due to the swelling. When I smile it all lifts into a grimace with a big nose sticking out. All I can say is I know what you mean when you say clown. A family member took a photo of me this weekend and they sent it through about an hour ago, I feel sick just looking at it.
Right, now for the positive stuff... my nose will be fixed in a few months time when I go in for surgery, if the swelling is persistent my ortho said we could look at lypo suction for the cheeks during the nose surgery which should welcome back the high cheek bones. Also I have to remember that I am only 9 weeks post op and you have to remember that you are only 3! Not everyone is the same and there are cases in which it takes a year for the swelling to completely reduce.
Just be patient, 3 weeks is still very early to tell. Be positive and have a sense of humour, it gets you through!
All the best!

[Azzanet]

Thx for the replies every1. Jaydees, is the lypo offered under NHS. Also not to worry you too much but if when you say you have a crooked nose if it is deviated and you have have breathing difficulties out of a nostril there is a greater chance of sinus infections which can significantly slow down swelling.
Therfore if you have any unusual pain of the cheeks, headache ears i would go to ur GP asking for antibiotics or maybe anti-inflams. When i saw the ENT surgeon he didnt tell me any of this, either did my max fac surgeon but my mum works in ENT and told me all of this. Also make sure you get the surgeons to do the nose surgey under general as my mum said that patients who have local often have compromised results i.e nose not totally straight

[Jaydees]

Hi Azzanet,

Thanks for all the insider info, I wasn't told anything like that either. Its actually amazing how much they don't tell you. I'll definitely go for the general when I have my nose done.

I can only assume that the lypo would be under the NHS, I wasn't told otherwise and it would be done the same time as my nose. I'm hoping the swelling goes down on its own though, lypo seems quite drastic, but it's nice to know its an option.

Give it a few weeks and then maybe look into manual lymphatic drainage, I've been twice and highly recommend. I found my therapist on http://www.mlduk.org.uk/. Also try taking Bromalin.

Good luck!

[Class III Blues]

Wow - Azzanet - I just posted a similar message today. I am 4 weeks post-op and have most of your same complaints. I plan to have a discussion with my surgeon and ortho about the aesthetics and see what they say. I'll keep you posted. I also plan to do the lymphatic drainage as suggested. Maybe we can be each other's support system here:)

[yse]

3 weeks post op is nothing; I still looked like something the cat'd dragged in at that point. It took me a good 7 weeks before I thought I look human again.

You'll be fine for freshers' week!

[Azzanet]

2 months on after surgery. Still look horrible eventhough most of the swelling has gone down. Went to see the surgeon who was like you look better then b4 after i said i looked horrible. Worst part is i only reli did the operation for a better bite and although that is alrite i look terrible.(possibly worse then michael jackson nose) no offence. Also been told i need a rhinoplasty to fix my deviated septum/ nose but have to wait 6 months.It dosnt look like my surgeon wants to know anymore which is annoying as hes ment to be a well respected surgeon and what he disccused with me preop about facial changes is mostly incorrect and unfinished.':(' o well lol!

[Azzanet]

http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b346/ ... urgery.jpg

Try not too laugh too much! Appaz according to the surgeon i look better lol!

[fromjersey]

Which is before and after? Can't tell from this collage.
Helen

[Azzanet]

Sorry i thought i tagged them. The two in the middle with the green jumper are after with the deviated nose.

[fromjersey]

Azzanet: Do you have any profile photos? Totally side views.
On deviated septum, I had mine done over 30 years ago with local anesthetic. Heard every snap, crackle and pop. No pain. If I were to do it today I would probably choose Versed with local too.
Helen

[Azzanet]

Afraid i onli have the photos taken by others. Lost the cable for my camera so cant upload. Ive been told they will fix my nose in Dec sumtime under general ana. Will however only be 30-50 mins. My mum wrks in ENT and said that under local the results arnt as good.

[amd]

I think you looked cute before surgery. I can see what you mean about your nose. Don't worry about it too much though, especially considering that your nose will be fixed in December. I'm sure you will look cute/handsome afterward. You're certainly not ugly right now.