New - concerns about surgery, can you help? (Pic attached)

[Nohopenojustice]

Hi there
I'm a 20 something male who is considering jaw surgery purely for aesthetic reasons as I have a very short face. I am extremely self-conscious of my facial appearance and it has caused me a great deal of pain over the years since the problem started during my growth spurt in puberty, however now atleast I know what the problem is (thanks to Professor Piet Haers, my surgeon).

The problem is vertical growth deficiency of the maxilla and mandible - Picture below
http://imgur.com/O573uDZ

As you can see, both the mandible and maxilla are recessed and short. Professor Haers plans (atleast in theory) to advance both jaws and lower the maxilla, placing bone grafts in the gap between where it used to be and the new position.
He says that as the jaws drop downward, my chubby cheeks will finally be gone and my face will appear much leaner and more defined due to the fact that the soft tissues will no longer be compressed.

My concerns are: -
1. How stable are bone grafts? Is there a very real chance that I could relapse and have my face go back to the way it looks now? I think I would be very very disturbed if this happened.
2. Is the rest of the face (the mid-face specifically) affected by a lefort 1 osteotomy? The eyes or cheeks at all?
3. I've heard horror stories of people waking up throwing up blood but having their mouth wired shut post surgery, should this be a concern of mine or not?
4. I very much get the sense that I am deformed (technically I am), how common is this kind of thing in the general population?
5. How do I convince my parents that I am doing this for the right reasons? Any ideas? They say I'm selfish for wanting it done and that there is 'nothing wrong with my face' and my looks aren't why I can't attract women or have a normal sex life.

Thank you for any responses.

[katsface]

1. Some relapse is expected, and your surgeon should plan it into your surgery.
2. Lefort 1 is just the maxilla I think - to affect the midface (cheeks and eyes) you start getting into Lefort 2 and 3.
3. I threw up after my surgery but it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be.
4. I don't know how common this specific condition is, but I would guess it's fairly common.
5. If your parents are concerned b/c you are choosing this for cosmetic reasons, I'm not sure there's much you can do to convince them. Most of the people on this board have functional problems and are having surgery to correct those. You say you're 20-something. Do you need to convince your parents for financial support, or just for emotional support?

[revelvia]

I can't answer your first two questions, but...

3. I threw up blood three or four times the first day. Honestly, it wasn't THAT bad. The first time I realised it was going to happen I got really stressed wondering how it was going to be but actually it was fine. They'll use this thing to clean the blood up, and you'll be so drugged up you won't actually care all that much.
4. More than you think, I think. Ever since I started the process many years ago and found out more and more I got a bit of a fixation with teeth and jaws, and noticing the problems strangers and friends have, haha. The difference is whether they care or not, generally.
5. No idea. But you're in your 20s, it's your choice really isn't it?

[Nohopenojustice]

[quote="katsface"]1. Some relapse is expected, and your surgeon should plan it into your surgery.
2. Lefort 1 is just the maxilla I think - to affect the midface (cheeks and eyes) you start getting into Lefort 2 and 3.
3. I threw up after my surgery but it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be.
4. I don't know how common this specific condition is, but I would guess it's fairly common.
5. If your parents are concerned b/c you are choosing this for cosmetic reasons, I'm not sure there's much you can do to convince them. Most of the people on this board have functional problems and are having surgery to correct those. You say you're 20-something. Do you need to convince your parents for financial support, or just for emotional support?[/quote]

Basically my parents will have to help me financially afford the surgery, I'm still a student (masters) so dont have the financial independence i would ideally have yet.

Thank you for the replies

[gutsygumshoe]

The only question is can really help with is number 3 - I wasn't sick after surgery. I did cough up a lot of blood however (to the point where they did a chest x-ray right there in the recovery room) but they just suctioned it all out of my mouth. I did specifically mention to my anaesthetist beforehand that I was really worried about throwing up as it's a phobia I have anyway and he said I'd be given drugs to minimise the risk - I think that's fairly common. It's not everyone who has that reaction to anaesthetic anyway - have you ever had anaesthetic before?

Also not everyone is wired shut afterwards - I had a couple of bands and that was it. I get the impression that wiring isn't all that common anymore as most use bands instead, and only certain circumstances require wiring. I would imagine your surgeon would warn you beforehand if there was a chance you'd need to be wired shut.

[Nadira]

I am wondering have you been diagnosed with a poor bite? Malocclusion ?

If that is so then this would not be pure cosmetic reasons. Also as this is major surgery are many things to consider and without a working crystal ball, no guarentee with the results.

I would say that as I am only Day 14 of recovery, I am hoping my new bite will stop the clenching headaches, chipping and cracked teeth and even though I did not expect This I think my smile will be straight. Bonus.
Because I an having this later in my life, I will need a whole lot of restorative work afterwards. This may or may not been avoided if I had an earlier surgery.

I had a BSSO advancement without grafts. When I told some people they said you look fine, why would I do this?
Another question is what is selfish? As a person you make decisions and live with the consequences. Is it wrong to wish to look better?
Hope you find your answers.

[Nohopenojustice]

[quote="Nadira"]I am wondering have you been diagnosed with a poor bite? Malocclusion ?

If that is so then this would not be pure cosmetic reasons. Also as this is major surgery are many things to consider and without a working crystal ball, no guarentee with the results.

I would say that as I am only Day 14 of recovery, I am hoping my new bite will stop the clenching headaches, chipping and cracked teeth and even though I did not expect This I think my smile will be straight. Bonus.
Because I an having this later in my life, I will need a whole lot of restorative work afterwards. This may or may not been avoided if I had an earlier surgery.

I had a BSSO advancement without grafts. When I told some people they said you look fine, why would I do this?
Another question is what is selfish? As a person you make decisions and live with the consequences. Is it wrong to wish to look better?
Hope you find your answers.[/quote]

My bite is fine (normal) after having 4 premolars extracted:
http://imgur.com/WmylX3x
http://imgur.com/jSxhKGV


The surgeon said - "Your orthodontist did fine with the teeth but forgot the face" LOL... i wanted to die at that moment.
I'm in big trouble here - my looks are holding me back. Wonder if I could get it done on the NHS with the amount of emotional turmoil it's caused me over the years.

[Nadira]

I had a similar experience. Not a full treatment.
20 years ago I had braces for the first time, and that orthodontist said surgery would be 'overdoing' it and not needed. My bite seemed ok.

My current orthodontist at first did not think I would need surgery, but would not know for certain until the splint balanced my muscles. Well the splint did such a good job, I got the surgery added and now checked off on my to do list.
Now the healing.

So starting 2011 with a spint then braces then surgery and continued braces.

I have had friends that have spent thousands of dollars on restorative dental, implants, bridges, and teeth are chipping breaking bridges. Yet there dentists say braces and or surgery was not needed.
I hope they are getting good advice.

As your bite is good, it still sounds this for you have decided to plan for a future surgery. If you feel your looks are holding you back, that almost sounds like another piece of information you could investigate for yourself.
I spoke to a counsellor many times before I was ready to have the surgery, my reasons are personal, but I did learn what motivated me and how to make a decision. I also consulted with a financial planner to help me pay for my service.
Basically there are many paths, and perspectives in my journey.

Kind of rambling and jumping around tonight, long day with lots of pain from regeneration of my nerves in my chin, and back on the codeine to manage this pain. Supposed to be good news for my nerves.
Another version of perspectives.
Good luck in your decisions.

[Nadira]

Reviewing my post I apologise for going off topic, and not answering your questions.
My experience is not that similar in any major physical way, and it was wrong of me to minimize your pain.

Nadira

[justices]

Hi nohopenojustice

Just wondered if you had the surgery done as im looking to have the same done with the same surgeon


many thanks

Simon

[glennstanzalone]

"why I can't attract women or have a normal sex life"

Is this your main motivation for the surgery? Unfortunately, I can see why your parents don't want to fork over 30k. I empathize because aesthetics were a huge motivating factor in getting my surgery but if insurance didn't cover me, I wouldn't have been able to afford it.