facial changes going into jaw surgery?

[streo]

So I've been in braces since November 2010 as prepartion for a BSSO sometime within the next 12 months. About two weeks ago, I was at a party and somebody took my picture and posted it on facebook. I have to admit that I didn't recognize myself as the lower half of my face looked kind of "missing" (?)...

Just wondering if such a dramatic change in appearance is something to be expected. I started with a 5mm overjet, and I just measured about 8mm. My lower incisors need to be uprighted, and I'm thinking that I may have the full 10mm overjet that I had 20 years ago (when I should have had this surgery done!).

Anybody else notice a change in appearance while being treated for lower jaw surgery? It's also getting harder to hide the lower jaw deficiency even when jutting my lower jaw out. (Eating and sleeping are becoming ever more difficult as well!)

[class3underbiteboy]

I have been told by my orthodontist that things will get worse before they get better. To overcome the problems with bite, teeth align themselves in different ways, braces put them the way they should be which makes the problem more noticeable. In my case (underbite) the lower teeth will get pulled out more and upper teeth in, making the problem much more visible.

[streo]

I have been told by my orthodontist that things will get worse before they get better. To overcome the problems with bite, teeth align themselves in different ways, braces put them the way they should be which makes the problem more noticeable. In my case (underbite) the lower teeth will get pulled out more and upper teeth in, making the problem much more visible.

Thanks! It makes sense. Just needed to make sure as my facial appearance has changed quite dramatically. The change is subtle for sure, but definitely noticeable.

[Rizzie]

Things most definitely get worse prior to surgery! It's all about getting things right for the new jaw placement. Don't you just love candid photos?

[streo]

Things most definitely get worse prior to surgery! It's all about getting things right for the new jaw placement. Don't you just love candid photos?

HAHAHA THANKS! I'm avoiding cameras right now because I don't look anything like I did a year ago. I just hope that I get the most out of this surgery and all goes well. I'm at the point where I just want something to happen soon!

[Bullfighter]

Not sure why your face would be changing so noticeably, if at all. True, your teeth will be aligned "worse" in the preparation for surgery, but your jaw wouldn't have moved.

I would chalk it up more to lighting, photo angle, etc.

[streo]

Not sure why your face would be changing so noticeably, if at all. True, your teeth will be aligned "worse" in the preparation for surgery, but your jaw wouldn't have moved.

I would chalk it up more to lighting, photo angle, etc.

So the best way to describe it, and why I am asking is because I was wondering if the following made sense or not.

My teeth were so far forward they were pushing my lips forward. I would get some chin length when moving my lower jaw forward and it would change the appearance of the soft tissue around the lip area. Now with the braces in, the front teeth are moving back and changing the position of my lips on top as well as the bottom. Not only that, I have TADs in and my upper teeth are impacting upward further changing the way my lips come together.

Does that make sense? I was wondering if anybody else may have experienced something similar.

[Bullfighter]

Not sure why your face would be changing so noticeably, if at all. True, your teeth will be aligned "worse" in the preparation for surgery, but your jaw wouldn't have moved.

I would chalk it up more to lighting, photo angle, etc.

So the best way to describe it, and why I am asking is because I was wondering if the following made sense or not.

My teeth were so far forward they were pushing my lips forward. I would get some chin length when moving my lower jaw forward and it would change the appearance of the soft tissue around the lip area. Now with the braces in, the front teeth are moving back and changing the position of my lips on top as well as the bottom. Not only that, I have TADs in and my upper teeth are impacting upward further changing the way my lips come together.

Does that make sense? I was wondering if anybody else may have experienced something similar.

Your initial overjet sounds slightly less than mine was (7 mm or so, per my orthodontist). However, if your teeth were really protruding then maybe there would be some change, certainly in the shape of your lips. I would think pulling your front teeth back would make your lower jaw/chin more prominent...

My experience was that braces made a big difference in how my teeth were positioned, but had little or no effect on the proportions of my face. I would guess that the change is to how your lips meet, but maybe someone else had the same experience.

[streo]

Thanks for the reply amigo!

I compared my current "facial configuration" to the before pictures prior to the braces being put on -- massive difference! Should have done it before posting I suppose.

I'm seeing the ortho on Wednesday and I intend on asking him (but I keep forgetting) if I will be needing upper jaw surgery as my incisors are barely visible when I naturally smile. I didn't notice it until recently but I've been resting my upper lip over my braces in order to get maximum exposure of the incisors. When I let my upper lip rest over the braces in a relaxed way, they hang over the incisors. When I smile with this lip position you can barely see the upper braces.

The lower incisors have not been uprighted as of yet, but there has been a subtle increase of the chin.

[IamSam12345]

I've only been wearing my invisalign for about 4 months now and I have definitely experienced a worsening of my underbite. As others have said, your teeth move to try to make your jaws "align" and "work" correctly. Bless their little roots for trying! All of my bottom teeth, including the molars have tilted inwards to try to meet my top teeth. Because they are being aligned with my jaw, my underbite is now much more noticeable. Before, I didn't have a gap between my top and bottom teeth, but now I do and I can almost fit my tongue through it. My upper face looks flatter and my upper lip gets more and more flat every day. wahoooo! But, don't worry too much, as with most things, you notice it a LOT more than anyone else does. I can't stand it, but no one I know has any idea what I'm talking about and they say I look beautiful... blah blah blah. I know it's hard to deal with this regression, but just think, when surgery time comes you'll be that much more ready and excited for it. At least that's how it is for me!