Help in Coping with braces - just want the surgery now! :(

[rektik]

Hi all,

I really need some help right now... im only 2 months and 2 weeks into my orthodontic treatment. I have a slight underbite and am having lower jaw surgery to fix it. My orthodontist said the surgery would take place after about 18 months, so next summer basically - which seems like an eternity away!!

What is really frustrating and depressing for me, is that I went into this whole thing to correct my bite ONLY. since starting treatment, I have spent far too much time in the mirror - checking for breakages, cleaning my teeth loads and just making sure the braces are OK. during this 'mirror' time, I have started noticing more imperfections around the lower third of my face. I have a 'long face' due to a prominent chin and i absolutely hate it! even looking head on in the mirror now really upsets me (which i have never had a problem with before). I understand that the jaw surgery will improve things a little, but the movement is approximately only 3-4mm back which is very minimal, and i cant see it making a notable difference to my appearance, and it certainly wont decrease the length of my chin!!

I recently told my surgeon and orthodontist about the way I am feeling and they said it can take time to adjust at the beginning which I understand. My ortho also mentioned next adjustment appointment he will have a chat with me about the treatment.. Another thing is i have also started counselling which helps as I can vent all of my feelings...

From the research ive done, i understand that a vertical reduction genioplasty in combination with the lower jaw surgery, is the cosmetic fix as well fixing my functional issue. I just dont know how to approach this with my ortho??? Thing is, the surgery is being done on the NHS, and im not sure if they will do this... im a bit afraid to ask them.. but the last thing i want to hear is that they operate on the lower jaw, wait to heal, then i have to go for another operation for the genioplasty! I just want it all done at once.. i guess if its not an option, then i will pay privately for both procedures elsewhere (most likely with the same surgeon), even though it will cost me an absolute fortune, i dont want to go through the whole op thing twice for the sake of a few grand.

Does anyone have any advice for me and how to best approach my discussion with my ortho? I would really appreciate any help, psychologically I am struggling at the moment

[revelvia]

They might well do it!

I'm being treated on the NHS as well. In my first joint consultant they told me very bluntly that during the surgery they wanted to cut the end of my chin bone off as well! Which has given me all sorts of weird issues about my chin but nevermind that, the point is that yes, there is a chance they'll do it. In my case it was nothing other than cosmetic and it was them who brought it up, perhaps when you next see a consultant mention that you're worried about the adverse effects the procedure will have on your profile and see what they have to say.

[rektik]

Hey thanks for the reply! I think they didn't offer me it because I said I was happy with how I look... well now I'm not!

Just a quick question, do you know of the risks with reduction genioplasty - i.e. shortening your chin? One thing I am slightly concerned about is the premature ageing issue ive read about - i.e.sagging skin around the chin area after a few years (+). It's got me a bit worried about it all!