Hey everyone! My name is Fred. I am a 4th year undergraduate UCSD student who is studying human biology. My ultimate goal is to become a doctor one day!
I want to tell you my story and how I decided on jaw surgery. It was my senior year in high school when I told my sister that it was hard for me to not hurt my gums when I chew that she said had told me that I might need jaw surgery in addition to braces to fix my bite. My sister had graduated from dental school 3 years before so her expertise with teeth are top notch. I knew I had problems chewing food but never really knew why but I started to realize why after talking to my sister. I tried to deny it and to convince her that she was wrong I went to three different orthodontists who said that they couldn't give me proper orthodontic treatment without jaw surgery. This discouraged me because anything that involved surgery was just scary to me back then. My sister consoled me and said that it's a common procedure done to countless people everyday. I took her word for it this time and got braces. I wore those braces for about 1.5 years before it was finally time for my jaw surgery which only involved the upper jaw. I had done a lot of research on the oral surgeon I chose. He was highly educated and was board certified as both a plastic surgeon and oral surgeon which meant he had both an MD and DDS degree. The surgery went perfectly and I have fully recovered. The only part that I didn't like about the surgery was the recovery process. I had to undergo a 2 month liquid diet! Even so, I love the results from my surgery. It's like night and day to me every single time I look at the before and after pictures!
I really hope to apply my experiences as a patient who had gone through surgery to my outlook as a future doctor who will also deal with patients going through surgery. Jaw surgery was a journey well worth taking in my opinion and I believe anyone who takes on such a journey will become a stronger person for it. Don't be afraid and embrace change because some changes are well worth taking if those benefits improve your life.
Before and After Pictures: These pictures are 2 years apart from one another
I want to tell you my story and how I decided on jaw surgery. It was my senior year in high school when I told my sister that it was hard for me to not hurt my gums when I chew that she said had told me that I might need jaw surgery in addition to braces to fix my bite. My sister had graduated from dental school 3 years before so her expertise with teeth are top notch. I knew I had problems chewing food but never really knew why but I started to realize why after talking to my sister. I tried to deny it and to convince her that she was wrong I went to three different orthodontists who said that they couldn't give me proper orthodontic treatment without jaw surgery. This discouraged me because anything that involved surgery was just scary to me back then. My sister consoled me and said that it's a common procedure done to countless people everyday. I took her word for it this time and got braces. I wore those braces for about 1.5 years before it was finally time for my jaw surgery which only involved the upper jaw. I had done a lot of research on the oral surgeon I chose. He was highly educated and was board certified as both a plastic surgeon and oral surgeon which meant he had both an MD and DDS degree. The surgery went perfectly and I have fully recovered. The only part that I didn't like about the surgery was the recovery process. I had to undergo a 2 month liquid diet! Even so, I love the results from my surgery. It's like night and day to me every single time I look at the before and after pictures!
I really hope to apply my experiences as a patient who had gone through surgery to my outlook as a future doctor who will also deal with patients going through surgery. Jaw surgery was a journey well worth taking in my opinion and I believe anyone who takes on such a journey will become a stronger person for it. Don't be afraid and embrace change because some changes are well worth taking if those benefits improve your life.
Before and After Pictures: These pictures are 2 years apart from one another
Chewing food has never been easier with these teeth!
3 comments:
Hi, I'm getting corrective jaw surgery mid may this year to realign my jaw. However my friends want to go on holiday a couple of weeks after the op which would mean a lot of travelling and flying. I was just wondering, from your personal experience, if you would recommend it or not?
Was it worth all the trouble...I need the surgery, but at 47 years old, I wonder if it is worth the trouble...Was the pain and suffering worth a better functioning jaw?
Alicia, I would not do any type of traveling for the first 2 months after your jaw surgery because you won't be able to eat any solid food. Watching your friends eat delicious food is definitely not enjoyable in my opinion but if you can handle that then I guess its fine for you.
TJAH, I am unsure about your situation. The surgery has both aesthetic and medical value. At your age I would be a bit cautious about getting such a procedure accomplished unless you have medical conditions that can be resolved through this procedure such as sleep apnea, smaller airway to the lungs, and a lack of being able to chew your food for adequate digestion. But please speak to an oral surgeon and let him or her give you a professional opinion about the matter.
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