Metal Mouth Message Board

Hello everyone im new to the forum and as you can see im having surgery this month. Surgery will be performed at UCLA by Dr. Felsenfeld. I have a class III underbite and have been braced and treated by the UCLA resident program since June 09. I have my pre surgery consultation on April 15th and have been told that i will be having a 3 piece on the upper and bring it forward and my bottom jaw back. Anyone else had a 3 piece done?

The thing that has been on my mind is my family's june vacation. On June 8th my family and I will be going to Mexico for 2 weeks. I talked to the oral surgery department and they said it would be safe for me to go but i was just wondering if there will still be some noticeable swelling. I dont want my family and friends over there to think that i look like a freak haha.

Anyways im glad i found this forum!

You should be just fine. I have BSSO on Jan 17, and we went away for the weekend about 12 days later. I had a lot of trouble eating, but overall it was fine--in fact good to get out. We didn't fly however. But my surgeon had said its ok to fly soon after surgery. You would be like 8weeks post op....you should be OK by that point. Most are back to work and back to the gym by then!

If everything goes perfectly, I would say you'll be OK by June 8th in terms of bruising and swelling -- those should be gone or at least not visible externally. But it sounds like you're having upper and lower done, so you may have some sinus discomfort and possibly a longer recovery time than if you were just having a BSSO (lower jaw).

Six weeks after my BSSO was about when I got the green light to eat normal foods again, so you may find that your body weight is down, and that your jaws won't open fully yet, making some foods harder to eat. You will probably have a fair amount of numbness in your chin, lips and possibly cheeks -- check with your doctor. Obviously numbness doesn't "look" bad, but it can affect the way you eat, talk and smile.

I wouldn't cancel anything, but let everyone know that you won't be 100 percent by June.

thanks for the input guys i really appreciate it. im glad i will be able to enjoy my 21st birthday which is the 24th!! then surgery the 27th! ill consider this surgery as a birthday gift haha

You can take naps by the pool or beach!
You will be ok. Happy birthday and we will look for your update.

I have a 5 minute presentation on may 18th for my english class! ill be on day 21 post op. hopefully ill be able to speak haha

Had my pre surgery consultation today. They took some impressions, x-rays, measurements, and pictures. I also had to sign a few consent forms. I will be having a "maxillary LeFort I osteotomy, possibly segmented and mandibular bilateral split osteotomy with maxillo mandibular fixation". Thats exactly what it says on the surgery consent form. I find it kind of weird that the consultation was with one of the senior residents who will be assisting in the surgery and not with the actual oral surgeon. I thought for sure i would be scheduled to see the oral surgeon before surgery but it turns out this is the last consultation before the surgery (Apr. 27). I've only seen the surgeon once and that was before the treatment started. Anyone else find this awkward or am i just thinking too much about it?

P.S. only 12 days till surgery!