Greenidgurl...

Message

#1 Post by **Delag** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 9:37 pm

I saw on one of your posts that you have had both SARPE and Lefort. How do the two surgeries compare? I was going to have SARPE and am now having a Lefort this summer. The SARPE is it is not the *best* option for me, but I am still considering it as it is much less expensive.

#2 Post by **Greenidgurl** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 4:07 pm

Well it all depends on what needs to be done to you. My surgeon didn't feel comfortable widening AND moving me forward at one time. He said that in my case it would create alot of instablility while I was healing which he didn't feel comfortable with. That was just my situation though. So back in May I had SARPE, which was a little freaky, especially with not being able to feel my upper teeth or anything and I had alot of swelling but was alright enough to go to class the next week. This one I had just the other day, the LeFort 1, feels a little more intense even though technically he cut along the same lines as last time. Of course the first time, with the SARPE he didn't completely move my upper jaw, just cut it so it could be widened.

#3 Post by **Greenidgurl** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 4:09 pm

Well it all depends on what needs to be done to you. My surgeon didn't feel comfortable widening AND moving me forward at one time. He said that in my case it would create alot of instablility while I was healing which he didn't feel comfortable with. That was just my situation though. So back in May I had SARPE, which was a little freaky, especially with not being able to feel my upper teeth or anything and I had alot of swelling but was alright enough to go to class the next week. This one I had just the other day, the LeFort 1, feels a little more intense even though technically he cut along the same lines as last time. Of course the first time, with the SARPE he didn't completely move my upper jaw, just cut it so it could be widened.

#4 Post by **Greenidgurl** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 4:10 pm

Well it all depends on what needs to be done to you. In my case it turns out that my upper jaw just never developed right. My surgeon didn't feel comfortable widening AND moving me forward at one time. He said that in my case it would create alot of instablility while I was healing which he didn't feel comfortable with. That was just my situation though. So back in May I had SARPE, which was a little freaky, especially with not being able to feel my upper teeth or anything and I had alot of swelling but was alright enough to go to class the next week. This one I had just the other day, the LeFort 1, feels a little more intense even though technically he cut along the same lines as last time. Of course the first time, with the SARPE he didn't completely move my upper jaw, just cut it so it could be widened.

#5 Post by **smile2006** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 7:31 pm

In my case my best option was to widen the upper and decrease the vertical dimension of the upper jaw at the same time. The reason this worked for me (according to my surgeon and ortho) was the amount of widening I needed was rather small which meant my teeth could be aligned enough without widening before the surgery. I was told if the degree of expansion is small and the upper teeth are not overly crowded than it makes sense to do it at once for recovery purposes (one recovery period vs. two). The plus is all the surgery is done at once, the drawbacks are you have to wear a splint for some time after surgery (but there is no expander) and your time in braces after the surgery is generally longer. Having both the expansion and upper jaw done at once was a good option for me professionally since I am a professor. I had my surgery in the summer and dealt with speech difficulties when I was off from teaching. I had six weeks with a splint which I prefered to an extended time with an expander.

#6 Post by **Delag** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 7:51 pm

Hmmmmm, very interesting. In my case the OS wanted to do the SARPE as it is less invasive, but he left it kind of open. The OD says that in my case the only way to not do (more) damage to the TMJ is by going with the Lefort. He said he has seen too many cases of uneven SARPE expantions compromising the joints. As the OD is a TMJ specialist I tend to believe him. I need the expansion (6-8mm), but as long as we are already there he would like to move me up and out just a bit. If I understand both of you, the Lefort is more heavy duty, but the expander is more of a pain in the behind.

#7 Post by **smile2006** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 8:15 pm

The LeForte with widening is more invasive and is generally done if movement of the upper jaw other than widening or in addition to widening is needed. I wouldn't see doing a Leforte if only widening was needed. If you will have the upper jaw moved and widened than in some cases it can be done at once (like mine). In some cases it doesn't work (like Greenidgurl). Confusing, yes!!!!!

#8 Post by **Greenidgurl** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 8:32 am

Sorry about all the multiple posts! I was having serious issues with the site last night!

#9 Post by **Delag** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 8:43 am

Thanks Smile and Greenidgurl - yes it is confusing to say the least. I am sure everything will sort itself out before my surgery date. As they say, knowledge is power and I am doing my darndest to go into this as well informed a I can. Thank you for sharing your information and experiences.