Kodak moment!
It’s been six months since my face got kicked in with a scalpel. My surgeon told me that the results I experience after six months will most likely be the results I’ll live with for the rest of my life.
I’ll begin with the good news, since I believe we should always focus on the positive (unlike, say, the news). My braces should be off by Christmas time. Apparently they’re only still on so I have a place to hook my elastics on to. That’s going to be a glorious day. I’ll be able to smile while I eat!
I’ve received a lot of positive comments regarding how different I look. I still fail to see the change, but my entire social circle can’t be wrong. (I’ve also been informed that women will come flocking with this shiny new jaw of mine, but that hasn’t happened yet either. Good things take time, though… I think.)
Now for the less than optimal news. I’ve been left with a severe open bite on one side of my mouth. This makes it difficult to chew, especially when it comes to items like steak or gum. I’m considering having a second surgery performed to close my bite. It would be far less intense than the first one, since all the surgeon would have to do is make a single cut along the roof of my mouth and insert enough putty (read: cadaver bone) to fill in the gap that needs to be made to push my teeth together.
I’m also still completely numb in the lower left corner of my bottom lip and chin. I believe this is permanent. It doesn’t actually bother me though, because the only time I notice it is when I’m shaving.
Well, that’s the end of the news! This will be the last post made on this blog. It will remain as a point of reference for others undergoing the wild ride that is jaw surgery. (Edit: Since I was repeatedly asked to post a picture of myself sans hardware, I’ve made one more post: The Final Product.)
Thanks to everyone out there who has taken this trip with me! I’ve enjoyed the messages, emails, in-person encounters and comments that have all contributed to building a community around this odd experience.
November 23, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Hey Graham,
I came across ur blog today while looking for info about the tingling feeling. I had lower jaw surgery to correct an underbite and a shift to the left just over 3 weeks ago. I read some of ur blogs and it made me laugh, but also made me feel like I’m not the only one.
People have been commenting how I look much younger, but to me I look strange guess it takes some getting used to. Im still numb in my lower lip and chin, but hopefully as u said this will go away eventually.
I’ve bookmarked ur blog to go back to when I’m feeling down about this whole process so thanks and it’s great that u have such a good sense of humour about the whole thing! 🙂
November 1, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Hey Graham,
Thanks for the info – that link looks like it’ll become another good resource. I don’t usually talk that much at school anyway, so I doubt people will notice too much of a difference. The whole no smiling or laughing thing may be a little harder…
October 31, 2010 at 5:51 pm
Hey Mandie!
Nice comment, your chipmunk-cheeked car wreck victim thing made me laugh. =)
I wasn’t confident with talking for about 6 weeks. Don’t get me wrong, you’ll be able to say what you need to say, but you won’t be able to smile or laugh or talk very clearly (or very much, for that matter). You’re going to have to embrace a humble lifestyle for a few weeks following that.
Also, I didn’t bruise at all, but I rarely do. I’ve seen photos of others who looked like they’d been run over by a truck, so if you have fair skin, chances are you’ll bruise like crazy. Read here for an example: http://dentalpurgatory.blogspot.com/2010/05/7-days-first-milestone.html
As long as you’re prepared to not be speaking that much, you should be okay. At least you’ll be able to think clearly (that’s actually a problem for the first few weeks).
Best of luck!
October 31, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Hi Graham,
I just stumbled across your site while google-ing for info on jaw surgery recovery. I’m going to have double jaw surgery in December (my upper jaw’s too narrow, and my lower jaw is both crooked and sticks too far out).
I am definitely going to read through all of your posts before then! You have some great info – I think reading someone else’s experiences with the whole jaw surgery thing will really help me figure out what to expect.
I’m planning on going back to school exactly 21 days after surgery (when spring semester starts up – I’m a full-time student). I’ve read through your posts from that time period, but I’m still wondering: Could you talk (legibly) at all? And my surgeon keeps on saying that I’ll have a lot of swelling and *bruising* for the first couple of weeks, but you don’t look bruised at all in any of your pictures. Of course, I’m a glow-in-the-dark-paler-than-a-redhead shade of white, and bruise really easily, so that might have something to do with it. I’m just worried that my new professors’ first impressions of me will be “mute expressionless chipmunk-cheeked car wreck victim”, haha.
October 25, 2010 at 11:44 pm
Hi Kimmy,
Ah, another victim of the open bite, eh? I hope the elastics work out for you because they’re a far better option than surgery. I believe surgery should always be a last resort.
Let me know if you end up going for a consultation for surgery. I’d be interested to hear how they intend to fix your bite.
Good luck!
October 25, 2010 at 7:49 pm
I just found this blog today, and read all the way to Day 40 in one go! I’ve had my braces on for 8 months and have just started to wear elastics because my ortho wants to see how much they can close my open bite before resorting to surgery (my top and bottom teeth in the front don’t touch at all). I started looking for info on jaw surgery to see what I might be in for and came across this and it has been the only site I’ve found that seems to explain what it’s really like to recover from this type of surgery! Thank you for this! You should do one more entry when the braces come off!
October 5, 2010 at 10:39 pm
I just wanted to comment: Comment!
October 1, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Hey Bender,
I lost 30 lbs in the first few weeks, but that’s way above average. I’d say if you lose roughly 10 lbs, you’re on par with most people.
My appetite was pretty strong the entire time. It has a lot to do with your metabolism though. I found I was hungry until about my 10th week of recovery when I could finally start eating solid food again.
Ensure will be your best friend for the first few weeks. I never want to see Ensure on the table ever again. =)
October 1, 2010 at 3:18 pm
how was your weight loss, and appetite. ive lost about 10 pounds so far (day 3) and my appetite isnt that great, i have a can of ensure every 4-5 hours and maybe some soup, my mother is trying to feed me more but im not too hungry> how was everyone elses appetite.
September 30, 2010 at 11:02 am
Hi Graham,
Thanks for the reply. I am just worried about my bite closing although I have been assured in time it will. Can’t chew just now cause of it! Hopefully my back molars will touch soon. Good luck with the rest of your treatment.
Julie
September 30, 2010 at 9:57 am
Hi Julie,
If I wore elastics for another year or so, my teeth would probably come together by another millimeter or so, but my surgeon told me they won’t close completely.
However, teeth will keep on growing naturally until they hit opposition (other teeth), so an open bite will naturally close over the span of a few years.
I can eat alright so I’m not too worried about it.
September 30, 2010 at 7:48 am
Hi Graham,
great blog.
I am 2 months out from lower jaw surgery for an overbite and have an open posterior bite on both sides. My very back molars are not far off touching (started wearing elastics last week). My ortho and surgeon seem unphased by the open bite, just will take time to close. Is there any reason why your open bite can’t be closed by longer treatment?
Thanks!
September 30, 2010 at 12:25 am
Hey Vicky!
I went and saw my surgeon today and he said he’d perform the second surgery free of charge if I wanted to go through with it.
I’ve decided not to take on another surgery to fix my open bite though. It’s another big recovery and, quite frankly, I don’t think it’s worth the trouble. I can chew nicely on one side of my mouth, and I have a feeling that most people only chew with one side of their mouth anyway!
September 30, 2010 at 12:21 am
It’s really weird to me that in your video slideshow, a lot of the pictures look like sequential action shots, taken frame-by-frame, even though they were taken ~24 hours apart. It really feels like I’m seeing you in action! I was totally thinking of doing something like this after it’s all over, like the guy who took a picture of himself every day for a year.
I’m no good at offering words of encouragement, but I can say this: Once you’ve conquered the behemoth that is double jaw surgery, you can conquer anything! So if it really comes down to getting a second surgery, you know you’ll handle it all swimmingly 🙂 And whatever your decision, be sure to let your website groupies know!!
September 23, 2010 at 8:52 pm
You must be super excited to be getting your braces off soon. God knows I am!
September 23, 2010 at 8:39 pm
I’m glad to see that your face looks normal (:D), but I’m sorry that your bite isn’t quite right. If you do get the surgery later, you really should update the blog. Second surgeries are kinda rare, and it would be good to have that point of reference.
My orthodontist thinks I can get my braces off before the end of the year, possibly in November. But maybe not. I’m betting you’ll get them off first, though. 🙂
September 23, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Sandy, that’s no good at all! I wonder why your bone isn’t healing up the way it’s meant to.
I really hope they’re just a little slow and that it’s not going to be a longterm problem.
How long ago did you have the surgery?
September 23, 2010 at 9:50 am
Your going to have to update us at least once more to let us know if you’re going through with the second surgery. I’m happy to see you doing so well. I’m almost four months out and still a mess. My face is still really swollen and my braces in the back are still completely engulfed in the swelling so are constantly poking me. Ouch! My surgeon is not happy that I can only open my mouth to a 20 and wants to see at least 30 in the next two weeks (not going to happen). I’m also numb on the bottom left lip and chin…weird. I was doing pretty well for a while there and now I’m at a dead end. I went to my dentist and saw my bones for the first time since a week after surgery and my chin looks just like it did. The bones haven’t even begun to grow back together and my jaw bones are still miles apart. I still have trouble eating anything but soft foods. Steak…I wish! Anyway, you’re my idol! Would love to be recovering as well as you. All my best to you and may your jaw surgery journey continue to get better every day and whatever you decide on the second surgery…all my best!
September 22, 2010 at 9:53 pm
I’m banking on the braces coming off in December! Hopefully…
September 22, 2010 at 4:17 pm
wooow, its been 6 months already?? time does fly by..like always results r amazing, your blog is givin me hope on my journey
&& that sucks that you still have an open bite -_-
by the way i think all surgeons tell their patients after surgery your going to have ppl chasin you but idk hmm
good luck n hopefully ull be done wit braces soon
-maya