Metal Mouth Message Board

I've been wondering if I should take an acting class this fall. It would be with the same teacher and same class format as last semester--scene work, but i would have to miss 2 or 3 classes to go to Costa Rica for my upper, lower, genio, and implants.

It's not the missing of the classes I'm worried about--I could do a monologue at the very end of the semester, or double up on scenework--it's whether after surgery between the fatigue and numbness if I will really be able to get much out of it.

I've taken a fair number of acting classes, and, truth be told, one reason I'm having this surgery is the hope that the changed appearance will make me for viable for casting in a wider variety of theater roles. My underbite has given me a kind of grim, 'chip on my shoulder' look, ya know?

For me, the way I get into a character or scene is to express myself in body language and facial expression; that then 'kicks,' ignites, or triggers the responses appropriate to the character or scene. It becomes a kind of feedback loop. Comprende?

I remember after the Sarpe I had midface numbness for quite a few months that drove me crazy. It's very hard to feel or express emotion in your face if it's frozen.

Anyone else had any comparable experience?

It's really hard to predict how numb you will be, and for how long, and how much it will affect you. I had surgery in March and I am just getting sensation in my lower lip now. The numbness hasn't bothered me, but I don't do any acting. Also, if you use your face a lot, you may be hampered by swelling. I know my face didn't look like "me" for almost two months. It was kind of distressing, actually. As for the fatigue, I was tired for about 3 weeks.

Why were you wired shut? Was your jaw bone weak, or is it something your OMS just does?


I'd be getting back into the swing of the acting class about 3 weeks after my proceedure, so I"m no so worried about fatigue.

What you said about swelling has me thinking. . .did you have a Sarpe previously? Following my Sarpe last year I'd say I was noticeably swollen for about 10 days, then it was almost all gone. Saw my ortho two weeks following the Sarpe and they couldn't tell I'd had the proceedure. So I'm hoping that by keeping w/ daily aerobic excersie and adhering to a very low sodium diet I'll be able to again have minimal swelling.

The most persistent swelling ususally comes from upper jaw surgery, right?

My bones are totally healthy - I think my surgeon wires most of his patients. I was not a special case.

No I did not have SARPE. I had a Leforte 3-piece and BSSO. For me, I think the swelling was equally split between upper and lower. I had manual lymph drainage, took bromelain, and exercised, but it was still pretty persistent. And it wasn't a huge amount of swelling, but it was enough to bother me.

Costa Rica for a major surgery? Boy I would seriously re-think that decision if I were you. How long are you going to stay down there for your post-op follow up care with your OS? What if there is some sort of unforeseen complication? Very scary.