Thursday, November 12, 2009

Pictures - 6.5 months after upper and lower jaw surgery


I doubt anyone is still reading this blog, but in case you are...it's been six and a half months since my jaw surgery so I thought I would put some pictures up. I still have my braces on and no idea when I will be getting them off, but everything is going great. I'm very happy I had the surgery done.


31 comments:

High Maintenance Mouth said...

You posted! You look great! Did everything settle down with your bite, clicking, etc?

Aimee said...

Hi HMM! Yes, I slacked off on my blog once the surgery was done. It's funny how once you have it behind you, you don't give much thought to it. Everything has settled down and I don't even think about my jaw anymore. I am looking forward to getting these braces off someday though!
I'm going to check out your blog...

Summer said...

Wow! You look amazing Aimee! I love your haircut, too:)

Rita said...

Aimee, you are beautiful. I am so happy for you!!!

Yes, I am still on the jaw scene. Looks like I will be here awhile longer. Oh well.

Check in every once in a while. I know you will be happy when the braces come off. I will too, but mine is still a long time away. : /

And so you know, I am really glad you posted. I miss our old group of jaw bloggers. : )

Bless you!!!!

momto5minnies said...

WOW, you do look great. I know I mentioned a long time ago that I think we had similar issues.

You will look fabulous with the braces off. Already I can see such a difference with the jaw and facial straightening.

stephanie said...

Aimee! You look amazing!

I, too, look forward to getting the braces off someday - but you'll be long before me, I imagine!

Discantus said...

Yes still reading! It's good to get an update on how things are going, your results look fabulous :)

How is your bite now?

Wendylee said...

Hey Aimee,

You look great your surgery was amazing. I am so happy to know that all went well for you and that you are happy with the decision you made to have this done. I want to share with you that I am in the process of having both upper and lower jaw surgery done as well Next month and I have been a bit anxious about it but thanks to people like you and others that share their blog its made me more confident that this is the right thing to do. From your own personal experience Is there anything that you recommend that I do or not do before and after the surgery to help in my recovery? I thank you in advance for any recommendation's and Stay well.

Suzy said...

Hi amiee, today i had my first ortho consolation appt. While i was there i broke down cring in my orthos office because i was so overwhelmed and scared. The thing that really stuck out too me about getting this surgery was that my underbite would worsen i was in complete shock. I can't believe that it has to get worse to get better... but thats just the world we live in right? Anyway did i mention i was a junior in high school? yeah so it will be pretty bad when i start this process, because as we all know underbites are not so...popular. But anyway when i came home i thought i would research other peoples experiences with this proccess. After i researched for about an hour i finally came across your blog and i was happy with what i found. You really give a lot of information, and show decent pictures. And your after shot looks amazing! i have the same jaw problems that you have with the upper jaw being too small and lower not growing enough, so i was really happy too see that you had such great results. Well anyway i'm not even sure what i wrote made sense. But just thanks for posting this.

Aimee said...

Thank you for the comments/compliments everyone! I appreciate it.
Summer ~ thanks! I finally got all that hair cut off! :)You look beautiful.
Rita ~ Thank you. I am going to start checking in more, especially so I can follow how you are doing. I'm sure the second time around is going to go perfectly. I miss our old group of jaw bloggers too. Everyone seems to disappear once they have surgery. :) Either way you are looking wonderful!
Thank you momto5minnies! I wish I knew when I will be getting these braces off. It must be nice! :)You look great!
Stephanie ~ thank you! I need to catch up on your blog! You look great!
Discantus ~ Thanks! I need to catch up on your blog also. My bite feels pretty good so far. I need a little more tweaking with my teeth though.
Wendylee ~ I really appreciate you letting me know that my blog helped you! That has been the most important thing for me when putting this blog together. I can't think of anything you should do before or after surgery that isn't already in my blog. I would say just try to have a positive attitude and know that all of the discomfort will be over before you know it. In the moment it feels a bit overwhelming (especially the swelling) but it does go away! :) Good luck!! And contact me anytime you have any questions.

Suzy ~ aw, you're just a baby. :) I can understand how it can be very overwhelming. I'm 37 so I've been through worse than this and wasn't too nervous about getting it done. Your underbite will get slightly worse but remember it's all for the better! In time it will be behind you and I bet you nobody will even remember that you looked a little worse for a while. You are going to be very happy that you had the surgery done. It's going to be a little blip of time in your life that will be over before you know it. And your results are going to be fabulous. :) Believe me, it's not that bad. The worst part is not being able to eat regular foods. Let me know how it goes. Maybe you can start a blog of your own! :) Good luck!!

Anonymous said...

Hey! I just briefly checked out your blog since I'm having some of the same kind of stuff done too. I had an upper jaw surgery exactly two weeks ago. It was the SARPE surgery to widen my upper jaw. I have to have a lower jaw surgery as well in a few months. I'm not sure of the technical names for that surgery or for the actual problem I have, but I was wondering what kind of lower jaw surgery you had. If it's the same I do have a few questions I'd like answered before my next doctor's appointment. Thanks for your time!! Seeing those pictures you recently posted have made me very hopeful, you look great! =)
-Emy

Aimee said...

Hi Emy,

Honestly, I don't know all that much about my surgery. I didn't ask a lot of questions. I should have. All I really know is that my top jaw was moved forward about 4mm and the bottom was moved back and rotated to straighten it. I have a plate on one side of my bottom jaw and a screw in the other side.
Good luck with everything!

Leah said...

Hey Aimee,
Glad to see your update :)
Just left the ortho this morning and these braces are coming off on January 28th! It's been 2 years and 3 months...I am SO excited!
Your debracing date can't be too far from now :)
I'll see Dr Relle, one last time in February and then this whole thing will be over!
SO glad I did it, though!
Happy Holidays!

~Leah

Danny said...

Looks awesome!

MistzfitArtisty said...

you look great! I have a class III bite as well! wish me luck!

LA said...

Aimee, I just found your blog because I was trying to find out how I should look/feel on day 12 post surgery. The crabby part I can totally relate to. The part about blender food I can relate to, too. It's nice to see that the things we are experiencing (ghost pain and tingling) are normal to this surgery. I was really hoping to have something a little more substantial, food wise, soon. But, I see that is not an option and THAT made me want to cry, lol. I go to the orthodontist today. I don't think they want to do anything imparticular, just take a look. I got a copy of my xrays from my surgeon. I have 26 screws in my mouth and nose area. I am still taking pain meds about once every 4 hours. I have bruising clear down into my lower neck breast bone area, lol. Thank you so much for posting your experience. I have only lost 12 pounds so far, but looks like I can expect more. One funny note is the things we eat. I thought I was being so original with KFC and Taco Bell. Looking forward to seeing the other sites that have ideas for blender foods. Take care, LeeAnn

stephanie said...

Hey, are those braces still on? Hope you're doing well :)

Vince's Maxillofacial Surgery said...

Hi Aimee,

I did my double jaw surgery 9 days ago.

Your after photos are great. I used to have a long chin that was slanted to the right. Not to mention a protruding lower jaw and some other deformities.

Thanks for your blog!

Lord of Wings said...

I see you haven't posted since 2009. I hope the swelling has subsided by now. Yes, people still read it, in fact I am reconsidering surgery again and for the looks of it I will have to have upper & lower surgery as you did. So, I am very interested in your experiences.

Dr. Ordon plastic surgeon said...

the process is not easy and I think you have recovered and looking good.It is imperitive to be with a good surgeon to make sure that the procedure does not lead to too many complications.

Anonymous said...

Hi I came accross your page hoping to find some comfort. I also had both upper and lower jaw surgery. I had this done 3 months ago. I am really worried because my right cheek is slightly puffier than my left and looks weird, so upset. Can this really still be swelling? I saw my surgeon today and he said that I need to give it time but I hope he's not b'sing me.

Aimee said...

Yes, I'm sure it's just swelling. It took a full year before all of my swelling was gone. Good luck!

Patti Guarino said...

Hi Aimee! Could you tell me how old you are....I'm asking because I have a large lower jaw, a small upper jaw, and facial asymmetry and would like to get this done...BUT one surgeon I went to said that at my age (33) I might have permanent nerve damage. Also, how did you pay for this? I understand it's not covered by insurance?? You look fab btw!!!

patti :)

Aimee said...

Hi Patti - I was 37 when I got the surgery done. I actually do have permanent nerve damage on the right side of my bottom lip and chin. Honestly, I don't even notice it anymore. It doesn't affect movement or anything; it just feels weird.
My entire surgery was covered through Kaiser Permanente. I had an amazing surgeon - Dr. Robert Relle. Actually most insurances will cover it (you will have to fight harder with some insurance) because it is a skeletal deformity. Good luck!!

miketaylor said...

looks good

Patti Guarino said...

Hi!! I have to have my upper jaw widened and my lower jaw moved into position (it deviates to the left). I'm so, so, so, so, so scared. Any advice?! you look amazing btw!


Patti :)

Patti Guarino said...

Hi!! I have to have my upper jaw widened and my lower jaw moved into position (it deviates to the left). I'm so, so, so, so, so scared. Any advice?! you look amazing btw!


Patti :)

vazem said...

Hi I know it's been a while but I just read ur blog. U look great. How long did u have your braces on after surgery? Thanks n congrats!

vazem said...

Hi there, u look great! How long did u have braces on post op? I really enjoyed the effort u put into this blog...very detailed time line. This gave me a little more confidence to pursue this. I have a similar long chin like your before... Thank you...

Aimee said...

Hi Patti - Sorry for the late reply. I think we are all scared when it comes to this surgery, but honestly, it's not as bad as it sounds. I think the anticipation of it is worse than anything. It's really not as bad as it sounds - I don't even remember my recovery. I don't even think about my surgery or my jaw anymore. It's a nonissue. :) Good luck!! You'll be fine!

Aimee said...

Vazem - thank you! I'm really glad my blog was helpful. That is the reason I wanted to do it. I was really thankful there were other blogs out there before I had my surgery so I knew what to look forward to. I think I had my braces on a full year after the surgery. Honestly, I can't even remember. It's funny how once everything is behind you, you don't even think about it anymore. :)