Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi there!

It has been awhile since I posted. Braces start to get rather boring after a few months, and I didn't have a lot of progress on the surgery side of things.

I saw my surgeon yesterday for a consult and got his plan (at least for now). He said double-jaw surgery, which I'm kind of bummed and nervous about, because I was originally told upper only. I'm terrified of being completely numb around my bottom lip--how many of you have experienced that? My BF is worried too, he didn't want me to get bottom jaw surgery at all :/ It sounds like they don't even need to move the top that much (he say bring forward a little and then move up). He also said something about softening the chin, which I guess would be some kind of genioplasty?

I just want to be able to chew properly and not choke on my food and not have pain in my face. I'm worried that there are a lot of changes being made for aesthetics--any advice here?

It's very common for the surgical plan to change entirely between what your ortho's initial guess is and the OMFS's final surgical plan. (I was originally in for lower, and that shifted to upper or both (my choice.))

Pretty much all BSSO patients will experience numbness immediately post-surgery. (If you watch videos of the surgery, the surgeon has to actually manipulate the nerve to get it out of the way; it's easy to spot, being kind of a pale yellow.) There are a small number that experience some permanent numbness, but this is not terribly common.

sirwired wrote:It's very common for the surgical plan to change entirely between what your ortho's initial guess is and the OMFS's final surgical plan. (I was originally in for lower, and that shifted to upper or both (my choice.))

Pretty much all BSSO patients will experience numbness immediately post-surgery. (If you watch videos of the surgery, the surgeon has to actually manipulate the nerve to get it out of the way; it's easy to spot, being kind of a pale yellow.) There are a small number that experience some permanent numbness, but this is not terribly common.

I should probably say I had a different surgeon initially! She moved and my current surgeon took over her practice. I think after the teeth shift they have a better overall idea of what needs to be done.

We are mostly worried about permanent numbness yeah. Did you end up having upper and lower?

i feel you this whole process is anxiety inducing!! initially my surgeon said he'd only really have to operate on my bottom jaw but now that i've progressed in my orthodontic treatment my top jaw sort of shifted and now deviates from my midline. so idk

I experienced the same thing, my Ortho did say perhaps you'll need both but depending on how the teeth move it could be just lower.
I had an overbite, open bite.
I also wanted just lower jaw because to our eye that's the most noticeable part or our problem, I would say just move it forward so there's no over bite, and upwards so the bite closes.
Unfortunately they see things we can't see.
My surgeon upon examination said upper and lower jaw, AND that she needs to fix the asymmetry (something that surprised me as I never though of my face being offline, I guess because it's not extreme, but it is there, I definitely saw it afterwards, one side is smaller than the other) plus a chin implant!
I thought OMG I was not aware I lacked so much!!! lol.

BUT, I trust my surgeon, she's highly experienced and I know she wants the best results for me.

My surgery was 7 days ago and I can tell you I already feel my lower lip, the changes are not extremely drastic as the sounded, when they aligned everything it ends up looking very harmonious and natural.
So far I'm happy with the results but I"m still swollen on my jaw area and cheeks.

My recommendation is..... when you trust your surgeon, truly trust them you won't be afraid, I think.
Have him show you before and after photos of people who got the same thing and that might make you feel better.

That they work on so many things doesn't mean they will completely change you, it could be just very slight movements.

I still look like myself, but better, more harmonious. I honestly thing some people will think I just looks SO GOOD and they don't know why!


Talk to your surgeon, research people online who done it and ask your surgeon for photos.
If you don't feel confident, don't do it. Seriously, the process is long and if you're so nervous it won't help you heal faster.
Wait for the right moment but keep researching until you feel safe.

Urgh i feel you I always thought that i will get a lower jaw surgery but i will be getting a double jaw surgery! They will be breaking so many bones