Plates/Screws Removal - Expected Changes?

[jcan7]

Hey Everyone,

Does anyone know what changes, if any, would occur from removing the plates and screws after double jaw surgery? I'm about 10 months post-op and my nose is quite a bit wider than before surgery and it seems like 2 of the plates are almost directly under the outer edges of my nose. Would removing the hardware help to reduce the width?

I also still have swelling (I hope it's swelling at least) in my cheeks. It's difficult to notice but I can definitely notice it. Would removing the plates help to bring some definition back in the cheek area?

Any other info on plate/screws removal would be greatly appreciated as well.

Thanks in advance!

[Tezcatli]

My surgeon says it is bulls**t but he can remove the plates if you really want to, it is a very quick procedure under local anesthesia.

I don't think it improves anything, I'd wait more for the swelling to go down.

[needadvancement]

Local anesthesia really? And what if the screws are hard to get to because they're covered in bone. Just curious.

[Tezcatli]

Local anesthesia really? And what if the screws are hard to get to because they're covered in bone. Just curious.

I don't know man, I was at the surgeon office/small clinic waiting and a girl walked out holding some ice on her mouth and talking how she just removed her lower plates on her chin(from a genio I believe), I believe the ones on the upper jaw would be harder to remove.

They probably did a xray at least before.

[jusken]

I've had almost all my plates removed,: the ones under the nose and the ones under the cheeks.  It improved the width issue a tiny bit, mostly while animating (though I could see them a little while talking in the mirror - they were prominent).  If they're fairly prominent right under the nose, just do it.  I'm glad I did, even though my nose is still a touch too wide.  It's a really easy procedure and the swelling lasts about a week - no pain at all.