one year post op, my update

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#1 Post by **asd** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 8:38 am

Hey everyone,

I just thought id let you know how im getting on - im one year post op exactly today! I cant believe how quick the years gone it seems like only a few months ago i was getting ready to have it done.

(i had an overbite and had double jaw surgery)

Overall im very pleased i have had it done, and it has helped me so much with my confidence, i would never smile before if i could help it and was so embarresed of my teeth and jaw. But now m constantly smiling at any chance. I do feel it has improved my facial profile and brought it more into balance with the rest of my face.

I have been left with a scar though on my left cheek from the stitches - it is about a centimetre in length, its strange though as on the other side the scar disapeered within 2 weeks, my surgeon has said though if it bothers me he can remove it but to be honest it doesnt really bother me.

My main issue throughout though has actual been my numb lip. After my operation i was told there was no nerve damage to my lip or chin. My chin seems to be almost back to normal. But my lip is still almost totaly numb, which to be honest i have found quite upsetting - im only 18 and knowing i may never be able to kiss a guy and feel it again isnt very nice!! The surgeon had told me that if it isnt back 18 months post op then its very unlikly it ever will, he also said if i get that tingly itchy feeling then it is still mending - but i havent had that since a few months post op. So its not looking very hopefull

.... id be interested to know if anyone else has had this problem?

#2 Post by **brendan** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 9:53 am

Sorry to hear about the numb lip

That is my main worry about the surgery. I don't want to turn into a sesame kisser because i cant feel my lip

Good luck, Brandy started getting some feeling back even after or around a year so you still have hope!

#3 Post by **Rach** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 10:43 am

Glad to hear from you one year post-op
It's good you said the op has really improved your confidence in yourself and smiling as that is what happened to me aswell. It must be nice to show off your smile now and not feel insecure.
I get my braces off in two days so hopefully I will have a nice smile.
Too bad about the numbness in your lip - is it just your bottom lip? I'm only 4 months post-op and have a bit of feeling there but still feel a bit numb. Hope you get some back in the next 6 months then if the guidline is 18 months! If they said there was no damge then surely you would get at least some feeling back though?

#4 Post by **jawbreaker** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 10:59 am

It's been almost four months since my bsso setback and I still have two small incisions wounds on either side of my upper lateral neck area. They're still red and raised to the touch. The incisions were from the drainage tube so they're only a few millimeters long, but still unsightly to look at. Not sure if these marks will eventually fade away on their own or all will leave some kinda scarring. I didn't experienced any numbness so I can't relate to that. My only issue right now is my right cheek is still a bit bigger than the left one. This may be due to the fact that my right jaw was a bit off-centered prior to surgery, so I'm still waiting for it to heal.

#5 Post by **nullalux** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:13 am

Thanks for the update!

I've heard varying things about time to recover sensation, so I wouldn't give up on it yet. Best of luck!

#6 Post by **loyaltydeath** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 7:42 pm

Yea the numbness had me worried before i did my surgery but my surgeon told me that theres a 90% chance that it'll fully recover but it takes time. For me i did my surgery April 29th, fortunately for me 80% of my numbness recovered a little over a week including my upper lip but my lower lip and chin was still numb, the annoying thing is i keep drooling without knowing and it was really uncomfterable. Fortunately after the third week my lower lip and chin finally started having feeling and by now which is just over a month i have feeling in the left half of my chin and lower lip and every night or whenever i'm relaxed i would feel a lot of tingling and ichyness on the right side where its still numb so i'm hoping that i can fully recover all my numbess. I was also told that age has something to do with numbness recovery, i'm not sure if its true but i'm 20. As of right now i can open my mouth with no problems and i was able to start eating soft foods after 4 weeks but my face is still kind of stiff and theres still some swelling thought its not noticeable but compared to my pre-surgery its still puffy. All in all the surgery was not painful and i didn't even take any pain meds after surgery.