Help! Totally botched?
Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2018 3:08 pm
Hi everyone,
I have been lurking this site for awhile, but this is my first post. I had double jaw surgery to correct an underbite and crossbite (maxilla advanced 5mm, mandible rotated 5mm) four weeks ago and things aren't looking too great. I have a follow up with the surgeon tomorrow morning, and would love any advice you have to give about addressing these issues. Are these legitimate concerns? Am I crazy? Should I push for a re-do or seek out another surgeon entirely?
I've brought up my concerns the last few visits, and so far he's been very dismissive. I brought up the off-center midlines and was told the bones were moved to their correct positions, and not to worry about the cupid's bow (my upper jaw lined up with my face before, and now looks pretty off and slanting away from my face.. actually the whole bottom half of my face seems to be slanting to one side). I believe my upper jaw should have been slightly advanced, and my lower slightly set back, but because he only advanced the upper, my upper lip is looking extremely long and strange. My surgeon countered this by telling me my lip was too short before the surgery (pretty sure it was already on the average to long side). It doesn't look TOO BAD with my mouth closed, but with lips at rest half of my upper teeth show. Whoa buddy. My surgeon says females should show more teeth, but I'm pretty sure this is extreme. The surgical plan was not to lower my maxilla, but it sure seems a heck of a lot lower. My whole bottom face feels very prominent now, and I can see in the X-rays he flared out the backs of my jaw which is making my face bow out strangely on the bottom. I also have lip incompetence now and can't imagine being able to chew food with my lips sealed.
There are some other concerns I have about the orthodontic setup prior to surgery (top incisors are flared out, bottom teeth strangely extruded which isn't great for the long-term stability of my teeth, which is why I had the surgery in the first place). I think these issues could be fixed with orthodontics but may compromise my new bite. For example, if my upper teeth were unflared I would have an underbite again!
I'm pretty disappointed after preparing for two years and going through the hell of surgery to have extremely sub-par results, but even more frustrated that the surgeon seems adamant about admitting no wrong.
Anyone else been there? Words of wisdom? Oof.
My pre-surgery face for reference:
[img]https://s33.postimg.cc/iqyllez0r/IMG_0354.jpg[/img]
[img]https://s33.postimg.cc/4xa8walu3/IMG_0909.jpg[/img]
[img]https://s33.postimg.cc/cq0wo9k3f/IMG_0907.jpg[/img]
Notice the off-center midlines and crazy slant up and to the right?:
[img]https://s33.postimg.cc/r981posnv/IMG_0908.jpg[/img]
[img]https://s33.postimg.cc/rlzfvug2j/IMG_0906.jpg[/img]
I have been lurking this site for awhile, but this is my first post. I had double jaw surgery to correct an underbite and crossbite (maxilla advanced 5mm, mandible rotated 5mm) four weeks ago and things aren't looking too great. I have a follow up with the surgeon tomorrow morning, and would love any advice you have to give about addressing these issues. Are these legitimate concerns? Am I crazy? Should I push for a re-do or seek out another surgeon entirely?
I've brought up my concerns the last few visits, and so far he's been very dismissive. I brought up the off-center midlines and was told the bones were moved to their correct positions, and not to worry about the cupid's bow (my upper jaw lined up with my face before, and now looks pretty off and slanting away from my face.. actually the whole bottom half of my face seems to be slanting to one side). I believe my upper jaw should have been slightly advanced, and my lower slightly set back, but because he only advanced the upper, my upper lip is looking extremely long and strange. My surgeon countered this by telling me my lip was too short before the surgery (pretty sure it was already on the average to long side). It doesn't look TOO BAD with my mouth closed, but with lips at rest half of my upper teeth show. Whoa buddy. My surgeon says females should show more teeth, but I'm pretty sure this is extreme. The surgical plan was not to lower my maxilla, but it sure seems a heck of a lot lower. My whole bottom face feels very prominent now, and I can see in the X-rays he flared out the backs of my jaw which is making my face bow out strangely on the bottom. I also have lip incompetence now and can't imagine being able to chew food with my lips sealed.
There are some other concerns I have about the orthodontic setup prior to surgery (top incisors are flared out, bottom teeth strangely extruded which isn't great for the long-term stability of my teeth, which is why I had the surgery in the first place). I think these issues could be fixed with orthodontics but may compromise my new bite. For example, if my upper teeth were unflared I would have an underbite again!
I'm pretty disappointed after preparing for two years and going through the hell of surgery to have extremely sub-par results, but even more frustrated that the surgeon seems adamant about admitting no wrong.
Anyone else been there? Words of wisdom? Oof.
My pre-surgery face for reference:
[img]https://s33.postimg.cc/iqyllez0r/IMG_0354.jpg[/img]
[img]https://s33.postimg.cc/4xa8walu3/IMG_0909.jpg[/img]
[img]https://s33.postimg.cc/cq0wo9k3f/IMG_0907.jpg[/img]
Notice the off-center midlines and crazy slant up and to the right?:
[img]https://s33.postimg.cc/r981posnv/IMG_0908.jpg[/img]
[img]https://s33.postimg.cc/rlzfvug2j/IMG_0906.jpg[/img]