Added: May 14, 2008
From: afb3199
Duration: 4:1
Jaw surgery to fix my underbite.
Channel: People
Tags: jaw mandibular orthognathic surgery underbite
Rating: 4.66 (35 ratings) Views: 23705 Comments: 100
afb3199 Says:
May 14, 2008 - they put a hole in each cheek on the side to put in a screw on each side of my lower jaw. aside from that, the rest of the operation was done through my mouth. i have no other scars and the scars that were on my cheeks are not noticeable.
afb3199 Says:
May 14, 2008 - peanut butter and ice cream was probably my favorite thing to eat/drink. i remember being in the same situation where i kind of just ran out of things to eat/drink. i must have drank so much Ensure during those 5 weeks. whatever it is you drink, just make sure it has a lot of protein... it will help with the recovery.
afb3199 Says:
May 14, 2008 - yeah, pretty much my whole face tingled for the first month... and then it was my chin for a few months after that. not much tingles anymore and i have all of the feeling back in my chin. and speaking of brushing your teeth... that first couple of weeks was tough because i couldn't brush my teeth very well. i think i went a whole week without brushing them after the surgery.
brandietg Says:
May 14, 2008 - thanks today eating refried beans and one of those budget meals blended, not to bad anymore since I know I have to eat, Ive actually acquired the liquid diet taste although i don't like sodas right now
brandietg Says:
May 14, 2008 - i teach school which starts tomorrow, i will have a sub in my room with me, but its going to be hard not being able to talk to first graders, i just want to talk normally, i have this splint in between which makes it sound like i mumble, mostly everyone understands me though
jeffeezy Says:
May 14, 2008 - Wierd question: My surgery is next week, and I am 17 and considering enlisting into the Marines. Due to this surgery would anyone know that there is any chance of me getting in?
afb3199 Says:
May 14, 2008 - I wouldn't think this would hurt your chances of getting into the Marines, but I would minimally assume you would have to wait until you are fully healed (6+ months).
jeffeezy Says:
May 14, 2008 - Thank you, I didn't think so either, I read it makes the bones stronger. I just wanted a opinion from someone who's had it. And the wait would be 6 months for post surgery enlistment, even if it is somethig minor like a tonselectomy.
tiffanyjdias Says:
May 14, 2008 - yeaaa just recently they a couple fell out and i had one of my follow up appts yesterday and the dr said it's normal
tiffanyjdias Says:
May 14, 2008 - wow? my mouth is literally wired and they gave me a scissors to carry around when i go out in case of an emergency (someone can cut open the wires)...but i cant believe you only had your mouth shut for 3 weeks..i think im scheduled for the 7th week to get these off...but after the 3 weeks of your mouth being shut you basically ate soft foods (apple sauce, pudding, mashed potatoes) for 2-3 weeks?
afb3199 Says:
May 14, 2008 - i'm surprised they still use actual wires. i only had these tight rubberbands around my upper/lower jaw to keep it closed. i was on only liquids the first couple of weeks while my jaw my closed (and in the splint)... then once i was able to open my mouth a little, i started eating the soft foods. after 5 weeks i was able to eat some normal foods again.
brandietg Says:
May 14, 2008 - yeah, I get the wire out tuesday which will be a couple of days earlier than going the whole four weeks, I will have to wear bands for 2 weeks but I am going to pig out, im starving for some chik-fil-a
BengaliHunni Says:
May 14, 2008 - Omg this freakin me out so bad i think im gettin the same thing done n im shakin..i dont know if i shud get it done :S
brandietg Says:
May 14, 2008 - Don't turn back now, I don't regret it one bit, it took me seven years to get the surgery.
jeffeezy Says:
May 14, 2008 - Just a few hours away...
billynare Says:
May 14, 2008 - Thank you for sharing your video. I just got lower jaw surgery last week and am starting to panic about whether or not I made the right decision. In addition to the swelling, pain and tingling that other people mentioned, I have firm tissue in my cheeks where the incisions were made. I'm worried that the tissue won't soften and go away. Did you or anyone have a similar experience?
afb3199 Says:
May 14, 2008 - how long ago did you get the surgery? it is going to take some time before things start to heal. you should definitely talk to your surgeon about the firm tissue. i don't recall having anything like that... but i do remember all the pain and swelling... that part of it is expected.
jeffeezy Says:
May 14, 2008 - Damn I gotta ask mine about that. My face looks so different right now. I can't wait till the swelling goes down. Tho I had mine on tuesday. Man I didn't imagine anything like this. Good advice for some food though if anyone wants it blend some cream soups, they are actually kinda good and satisfying. I hate drinking that ensure stuff.
soundship Says:
May 14, 2008 - You look so great! I'm terrified of getting this done, but I've been avoiding it for years -- it's time to finally do it. What scares me the most, I think, is the thought of having numbness in the chin and lips...but you say yours went away completely after a while?
hookedonlucy Says:
May 14, 2008 - its been 3 weeks for me and i only feel numb. but the tinglyness goes away after like a week. well for me
afb3199 Says:
May 14, 2008 - that was my biggest concern as well. i was numb all over for pretty much the first 3 weeks. then i slowly got back the feeling in my upper lip and my cheeks. it probably took a couple of months for the feeling to come back completely in my chin... but it did come back.
hemoiyashiman Says:
May 14, 2008 - I had had lower jaw surgery + chin 3 weeks ago. Now the swelling has gone down alot but somehow the right side of my face is little bigger than the left. It feels hard when I touch it so I dont know if the right side is just more swollen or the surgeon didnt cuz enough bone from the right side...(if thats the case I will be very pissed cuz i look unbalanced lol) Did u feel your face were unbalanced during the swollen time?Thanks :)
afb3199 Says:
May 14, 2008 - one side of my face did take a little longer to heal than the other, but eventually all the swelling went down and it looked fine. you should see what your surgeon thinks about it.
hookedonlucy Says:
May 14, 2008 - i have the same problem. was urs bilateral one? where they cut right down the middle?
afb3199 Says:
May 14, 2008 - my mouth was wired (not really wired, but bounded by rubberbands) for about 3 weeks following the surgery. i was able to open my mouth, but not very wide. even though i could open my mouth, i was told not to eat solid food until 5 weeks after surgery... but even after 5 weeks it was difficult because i was not able to open my mouth that wide yet.