CK - It's really quite hard to say and I'm sure this varies patient to patient. I can imagine some want to know more than others and have different expectations of the doctor. By the time I went in for my final records I had scoured the internet and read at least 20+ blogs from start to finish (majority being bi-max), posted on the forums, looked at before and after pictures, researched the risks, and so on. You get the point.
That being said let me answer your first question regarding how he pointed out the asymmetry - It went something like "You look like a banana head!". Sorry, I'm only kidding here but had to say it. He started examining my face and made a generalized statement that I had a lot of asymmetry. He than would mention things as he saw them - "One eye seems to be a tiny bit lower than the other (I never noticed this and dont think anybody else could but him). Some more asymmetry exists between your cheekbones. Your left is larger than the right." He than explained how the HA would even that out. That was it until he got to my lower jaw and than explained how my jaw lines were asymmetrical (right larger than left and not even) and that he would even out with the HA. He was very thorough through the entire record taking process and at making me aware of what issues existed (not solely the cosmetic ones - explained all the tilts/cants I had going on with both jaws etc.)
I'm hoping that answers your question. I prefaced this reply with that initial statement because I feel as though I walked into the office knowing what to expect. I knew that my nose could change from advancing or widening the maxilla. I was aware of potential numbness and whatnot. Hell, I had even watched YouTube videos of both a Lefort I and a BSSO. That being said, Arnett did an amazing job going over everything with me as did the assistants. Being just a little over 3-weeks post-op now I have no qualms or complaints. I didn't have exceedingly high expectations in terms of what my final result would be. My bite is now how it should have been my entire life and my facial profile is so much more balanced than it was before. I'm extremely pleased and just want the swelling on my right side to come down!
-Z-
thanks for the response. i definitely entered the surgery with far less info and explanation on what would happen, and my surgery was similar to yours. maybe gunson is just quieter? i don't know. he briefly explained a CCW (after I asked), but spent most of the face time was going over the risks. in fact, most of the talking was about risks. I might move this to my own thread later, a lot more to explore but I need to look over my notes and make sure I'm not forgetting anything. It's good to know Arnett is very thorough in explaining how things will go down during the surgery.
I haven't looked to closely at your pre-op and post-op photos, but in areas where Arnett specifically pointed out where the cheek grafts were placed and HA designed to even everything out (to the best he can), can you see it yourself? Like he said your left is larger than your right, and then provides a treatment plan in addressing that. And you think so far, based on what you're seeing, the asymmetry is fixed compared to pre-op? I mean areas above the jaw, for example.
This questions may sound redundant, feel free to ignore them if you want. It is your thread after all.
This really helps me a lot.