Surgery needed..don't know where to start! HELP!

[exodus24]

Hello Everyone, I am 16 years old 17 in April, live in California. I have an under bite and it really bothers me and want to get surgery as soon as possible. Two years ago I went to the orthodontist, he told me i would need surgery to fix my under bite, but I said no. Now i came to the decision that I want to get the surgery done. The problem is I don't know where to start, what is the first step to the surgery process? Where do I call? I am really confused and don't know where to start.

Question: I play football(soccer) and I was wondering if this surgery would keep me from playing?

[lionfish]

Surgery usually goes hand in hand with orthodontic treatment. You don't get one without the other. Search for nahky's story: he had an underbite for which he had some 12 months of ortho treatment, then surgery, then several months of follow up ortho treatment to fine tune his bite. There are others who have also had surgery for underbites, and several of them have posted here on the orthognathic board. The first port of call is an orthodontist.

I'm unable to answer your question about how surgery might affect your playing football.

[CeramicLisa]

exodus24: First, talk to your orthodontist and let him know that you've decided surgery will be okay. He will refer you to a great surgeon that he probably works with alot and then you'll go see him. They will walk you through the whole process.

[misskristen]

Hey Exodus, I had something similar to an underbite - it was an edge-on-edge bite - and I had double jaw surgery on 1/31. Where in California do you live? I might be able to recommend my surgeon to you. I'm in the Bay Area.

Kristen
http://bracemyself.blogspot.com/

[exodus24]

hey kristin, i live in the Los ANgeles area, question..does blue cross help pay costs?