1 year, 3 months post-op...LeFort 3-piece upper..w/pics

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#1 Post by **spartanfan72** » Tue May 12, 2009 10:09 am

I found this board to be extremely helpful pre and post surgery. There was an AWESOME amount of info and the people were fantastic.

I haven't posted or been on in a long time...however, I am completely done and wanted to post my results for anybody looking to have the same procedure done.

I'm 36 years old, married with 4-daughters..my biggest reason for the surgery and orthodontic work was i was having problems biting through food. But i also hated to smile for any pictures and when you have 4-daughters, there are a LOT of pictures

The surgery was not painful at all, in fact i don't remember there being much pain associated with the surgery. The recovery was tough...mentally and physically. I was off work for 13 days, and that was probably not long enough. It took some time for me to feel like it was a good idea and it was all worth it.

Looking back now, i would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Knowing what i know now, would make it much easier.

Long term problems?? Nothing major at all... i have VERY minor numbness in my upper gums, mainly right between my two front teeth. Doesn't bother me at all...in fact, it makes flossing much easier

I have before and after pics...Sorry they are a little grainy, they are pictures of pictures.

If anybody has any questions, i'd be more than happy to answer to the best of my ability...

Braces on Jan. 31 2007
Surgery date Feb. 18, 2008
Braces off March, 2009
Last Ortho appointment TODAY

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c176/ ... /teeth.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c176/ ... 72/001.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c176/ ... 72/002.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c176/ ... 72/004.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c176/ ... 72/005.jpg

Tue May 12, 2009 12:17 pm

congratz on making it through your treatment and it seems you are very happy with your results!!!!! Its nice to see people still on here even though they are done their treatment!!!

#3 Post by **OzzysMom** » Tue May 12, 2009 12:57 pm

Great results and thanks for sharing.
I especially enjoyed reading your timeline that said "last ortho appointment TODAY" what a good feeling that must be for you!

#4 Post by **spartanfan72** » Tue May 12, 2009 1:25 pm

OzzysMom wrote:Great results and thanks for sharing.
I especially enjoyed reading your timeline that said "last ortho appointment TODAY" what a good feeling that must be for you!

Not quite as good as the splint removal 6-weeks after surgery...or feeling my teeth for the first time in two years when the braces came off, but yes it was a GOOD FEELING...

The OS was pleased the the Ortho's work, the Ortho was thrilled with the OS's job and I was VERY happy with both of them.

I can bite through food, eat corn on the cob without leaving half of it on the cob AND i'm not ashamed to smile for pictures anymore

#5 Post by PJ » Tue May 12, 2009 2:44 pm

Thanks for showing the light at the end of the tunnel to those of us just recently out of surgery.

I keep telling myself this is going to be worth it, but after my extremely painful first ortho visit, since surgery, today, I was feeling pretty unhappy. You made me put things into perspective.

#6 Post by **chicago29** » Tue May 12, 2009 3:16 pm

Spectacular!

Congratulations on reaching the end. I love reading stories like this as it shows what all the inconvenience is for, and how it is so worth it. I can't wait until that day comes for me, but in the meantime as I go through my journey it is very refreshing and helpful to hear these success stories.

Best of luck to you, and smile away!!

#7 Post by **Lyndsay** » Tue May 12, 2009 5:16 pm

Thanks for posting those pictures! It really does help.

#8 Post by **spartanfan72** » Wed May 13, 2009 5:47 am

Glad the pictures could help in a small way...

Trust me, I know all too well what you guys are going through...

It DOES get better... a lot better. I'm sure everybody is different, but my recovery was pretty tough. Search for some of my old threads...i had to be hospitalized a week after surgery for dehydration.

My recovery was during the winter...in Michigan. It's not a fun time of the year to begin with, then add to the fact that I was stuck in a lazy boy chair for 2-weeks.

Keep your spirits up...in the end it IS worth it.

#9 Post by **kittenmaisey** » Thu May 14, 2009 6:16 am

Wow! you must be over the moon with those teeth.

well done.