I don't have much to report this far down the road. Unfortunately, the feeling in the right half of my lower lip and chin has not returned. My husband was told that my nerves were in the correct place and that all of my feeling would return, but a year and eight months out, I don't have much hope left. It's definitely a tiny price to pay for everything that was improved post-surgery. I hardly even notice it anymore, though I do occasionally get food on my face (that I can't feel), which is why it helps to have non-judgmental friends who will grab a napkin and wipe it off for you while you both share a laugh. I have also gotten into the habit of occasionally wiping the corner of my mouth with my hand to make sure I'm not drooling. That's really the only "problem" that I am left with from my surgery, which, again, is hardly noticeable.
Additionally, the past couple of months, I haven't been able to open my mouth as wide, and I am also having a little bit of popping on the right side. My guess is that the cold weather is affecting my jaw, but if it continues into the spring/summer, I might go see my surgeon to make sure everything is okay. It doesn't really hurt much, so I'm not too concerned. I'll post another update in a few months. For now, I am just having a hard time opening my mouth wide enough to bite into a cheeseburger, which is only a minor dilemma.
Socially, at this point, I'm mostly meeting new people, so I haven't had to explain my surgery as often. It's still weird running into people that I haven't seen in years, because I'm not sure who recognizes me and who doesn't. So I'm shy about saying hello sometimes. Fortunately, most people are cognizant of the situation thanks to social media.
Overall, I'm still so glad that I had jaw surgery, and given the choice, I would definitely do it all again. The benefits have far outweighed the costs. I'm a healthy, confident, soon-to-be college graduate with a wonderful husband, a supportive family, and awesome friends. Who could ask for more? :)
April 2016
October 2016
December 2016
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ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI'm considering getting jaw surgery for similar structural misalignment as yourself.
If you feel comfortable answering- was your jaw misalignment genetic or developed over time, also, what enabled you to cover the procedure with insurance and, finally, what was the timespan over which you inquired into it, and got the surgery etc.
Also, as a fellow kiwi, i'd love to know the details surrounding where you had your surgery and who conducted it.
You look amazing, thanks a lot for your help :)
Hello! I'll try to answer your questions as best I can!
DeleteI think there was some genetic role in my misalignment, but it was definitely something I grew into. I always had a somewhat gummy smile, but it got more pronounced as I got older. No one else in my family had as much misalignment and over/under growth as I did, but a long upper jaw is somewhat common in my family.
My insurance covered the procedure because the misalignment of my jaws caused me to have a very small airway, which is just dangerous in general. My narrow nasal passages made it difficult for me to breath out of my nose. I was also at risk for TMJ because of the rubbing on the right side of my jaw, and sleep apnea was also a concern down the road.
I started thinking about and researching the procedure around August of 2014, had some consultations in September, got denied by my insurance company the first time, and then had to appeal. Was able to schedule the surgery sometime in the spring of 2015, and actually had surgery in May 2015. So the timeline was about nine months. I probably could've scheduled for an earlier date, but I needed to finish the school semester.
My surgery was performed at Cooper University Hospital by Dr. Guy Lanzi.
Hope I answered all of your questions! :)
Hi, Im just a medical student who stumbeled upon your blog while searching some surgery study materials. I have to say what you did with this whole blog is VERY Impressive! And you even look so much better and beautiful! So I just had to say it.
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