Curious on Input. Getting a double jaw surgery to correct an overbite/overjet.

[toddstratt]

Hey guys I was just curious to hear what other people's experience were with this kind of surgery. Perhaps some tips for the surgery itself and recovery time? One of the things I am a bit worried about is nerve damage with the surgery. Although I am aware all surgery has its share of minor risks. Also is it preventable to stop a lot of weight loss with recovery if you eat enough liquid calories, until you can eat solid foods again? Also what is the typical time it took for you guys to be able to work out and exercise again after the surgery?

Thanks for any tips and here are some before pictures. I know its kind of hard to tell my bottom jaw is set far back from the front angle, but when I see x rays and the amount my front teeth gap out from the bottom is gargantuan. It is also quite noticable and changes my features quite considerably from the profile angle. My front lip is also pushed out quite a bit from the overjet I have, in turn making me have an unwide smile with teeth that get in the way. My biggest issues have been with sleeping issues, forcing me to sleep on my side. As well as TMJ issues and grinding from the teeth position, as well as sometimes having chewing issues, and probably making me a worse kisser? Never been on the recieving end to know that though haha.

[Gregor Samsa]

If you get a good blender then you can make nutricious soups with minced meat etc so losing too much weight shouldn't be an issue. You can make really tasty smoothies with avocado, berries etc so start experimenting with liquid recipies now so you know what to make while you're recovering from your surgery.

Finding something that will allow you to sleep more upright will also help greatly in the beginning of your recovery process.

[toddstratt]

Thanks man that was very helpful. It's still just really intimidating to have someone break my bottom/top jaw and this whole process I guess.

[Lazlo]

You're a really good looking guy toddstratt --you'll look amazing after surgery. End of story. Don't worry, you just need to go to some pick-up bar on a friday night, get drunk, get girls drunk. "Hey would you like to do a shot with me?" is a great opening line and never gets a refusal if the barvibe is right and then well just chat with people about s**t you know. Most of the times the girl will move in for the kiss.

And remember for everyone it's a matter of probabilities keep chatting up chicks, get rejected, chat-up, rejection, etc. etc. until you hit the right one. Once that happens your confidence will go up and you'll be beter at it the next time. Picking up girls is like chess the more you practice the better you'll geet. You wouldn't have a nervous breakdown if the first time you played chess you got wasted would you? You would be like oh my god i'm so awful I can never do this blah blah. Same thing. Carpe diem.

[PloskoPlus]

Your lip posture gives it away.  Don't worry about weight loss unless you're an underweight ectomorph.  Most  people are overweight. Weight loss after jaw surgery is just them getting to a normal weight.  Prior to surgery I lost about 10 kg on purpose.  After jaw surgery I lost no weight whatsoever.  I bought a can of hospital-grade Sustagen before surgery and ended up using only a fraction of it.  OK, I only had upper jaw surgery, but the point stands - with a good surgeon, immediate recovery should be the least of your problems.  Nerve damage?  Surgeon skill, your age and pot luck.

[toddstratt]

haha thanks for the pick up pointers, and tips! Luckily it is not too much of an issue even though I don't drink  . I know it seems like I am only focusing on the negative of surgeries in the initial post. However its just the parts that I wanted to find out more information on. I am confident my bite will improve. Facial profile will change positively, better sleep, etc.. I just want to  make sure I get this done with the best doctor possible and try to be proactive in avoiding any complications within my own power. You guys definitely do not seem short of much information on these boards after all.

[PloskoPlus]

Don't rush into this.  Seek multiple consults.  Most oral maxillofacial surgeons mainly pull wisdom teeth for a living. Consult with the ones that do a lot of orthognathic surgery instead.  These kinds of max facs often have craniofacial and plastic surgery credentials as well.

[toddstratt]

My Dr. is Arnett Gunson in Santa Barbara. Supposedly he is a specialist for these procedures. My orthodontist is the one who suggested I see him. Really expensive though. The initial appt just to talk to him, and get an evaluation of everything was 500$.
http://www.arnettgunson.com

[dantheman]

Consultations, especially with well respected surgeons is invaluable in deciding the best surgical plan. The consultation fees are a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things. I plan to consult with Dr Arnett myself.

[terry947]

I haven't gotten JS yet but my advice is to educate yourself as much as possible. Without a ceph it's tough to tell but like plosko said the lips point towards a class II bite. Most likely you'd need a lefort 1 with CCW rotation.

My opinion is that fixing a deformity will automatically improve your looks regardless of what the starting point is, is this case a recessed lower jaw.