Jaw Surgery Forums » Post-Surgery and Recovery Questions

Cervicomental angle post-op

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  1. Olive
    Member

    Hey. So I'm only 5 days post-op, I KNOW I shouldn't be worrying about how I look at all, but I'm concerned about the effect my surgery has had on my cervicomental angle (the angle between the neck and chin) and length. Even though my lower jaw was advanced a bit, my upper jaw was impacted more significantly, meaning the whole business moved up and the angle is more obtuse now, more of a sloping down toward my neck. I guess it makes sense as my chin is still small, just moved up and the skin is sagging maybe? I did not think of this happening and if I had I would have gotten the genioplasty. I did not get the genio because I thought even without it there would be a slight improvement and it would be enough for me, I never thought there was a chance it could look more regressed.

    Before:

    After:

    My neck doesn't seem that swollen, but maybe some of it is swelling? Did anyone else have this happen after surgery?

    Posted 3 months ago #

  2. RachelM
    Member

    you're five days post op which is possibly the worst day for swelling and trust me, you're seriously swollen! Now is not the time to worry about the angle of your jawline. Mine didn't reappear through the swelling until about three months post op! Once your cute hamster cheeks have gone down you will be able to see the lovely face hiding under the swelling. STOP WORRYING!! ;-)

    Posted 3 months ago #

  3. Olive
    Member

    Thanks Rachel for the reality check. I know I'm really swollen! Cheeks, nose, and upper lip insanely so. My neck and chin are not really swollen. I guess that makes everything look off balance.

    It just makes me emotional to think that I might regret having made the wrong decision re: genioplasty. I probably won't have the means or the desire to go through another surgery. It's vain but even this early on I want to know that I'm going to love the results, to motivate me through the recovery.

    Posted 3 months ago #

  4. RachelM
    Member

    I'm sure you'll love the results, but it's time to worry about chilling out, keeping your energy levels up and recovering from the surgery and nothing else. My surgeon really drilled into me that you don't see the final results until 12 months post op when all of the swelling will have gone. I'm now 8 months post op and delighted with the results, and I'm still swollen!
    You're looking great but if you look at your two photos and just how swollen you are there is just no way you can see the results of your surgery in terms of your facial features just yet.
    I know it's easier said than done but try not to analyse things at the moment. Surround yourself with a bubble of love (people who care about you and will keep you entertained) and just rest, chill out, go for walks and enjoy having a break.
    It's an emotional journey and everyone deals with it different but the less you think about the final results and the more you concentrate on just having some ice cream and a nice day, the better it will be for you psycohlogically.

    Posted 3 months ago #

  5. Olive
    Member

    Thought I would share the improvement I've seen- 12 days post-op now. I can't believe I was so hard on myself at 5 days post-op! Even now it's too soon to scrutinize.

    Thanks again Rachel, you're a positive force around these parts.

    Posted 3 months ago #

  6. RachelM
    Member

    you're looking lovely and swelling is really going down too. Lovely cheekbones!!

    Posted 3 months ago #

  7. Donnataylor
    Member

    Olive you are looking great, really cute. I bet you are really pleased. It is tough looking at yourself in the mirror wondering if you are ever going to look 'normal' again.

    I've had to chill out about the whole swollen thing and trust my surgeon, but I'm still a bit worried that at 6.5 weeks it still feels tight to move my mouth / smile and my lip goes off to the right when I talk. But I'm an old chick compared to a lot of the folks getting this done, as my surgeon frequently reminds me ;) so I need to be patient.

    Pleased you are looking so good xx

    Bsso for overbite on 21st December. Lower advanced 8mm upper impacted by 3mm and moved forward 2mm.
    Posted 3 months ago #

  8. Olive
    Member

    Thanks, I am getting more and more pleased with the results. I am having trouble fitting my bottom teeth the splint, and when I don't I look more like the old me (in the photo I am making sure to bite in it properly.. but when I sleep I'm sure I don't). I'm getting more elastics on Tuesday to solve that :/

    I'm sure it will get better Donna, I don't think the tightness can last forever, it just takes time. Despite my swelling having gone down quite quickly there is just so much stiffness... my smile is nowhere near normal.

    Posted 3 months ago #

  9. overjetset
    Member

    You look really good Olive! Wow! LOVE your cheekbones! And specially your cervicomental angle you worried about. You have a really feminine look, and i think you did right in not choosing the geno.

    Posted 3 months ago #

  10. Olive
    Member

    Thank you, that's so nice! I still think I would have liked a bit of a genio, just a few mm, maybe not even enough to warrant having the procedure. Certainly not enough to regret not having it. I still have a bit of a class 2 profile from certain angles (more than in the pic I posted) but that might continue to resolve as swelling in the upper lip goes down.

    This is really an exercise in learning to love and accept myself. I've read others post this before me, and now I completely understand- this surgery will not solve self-esteem issues. Having an improved smile and profile can certainly help, but if you have the tendency to get down on yourself and pick yourself apart, surgery is not going to change that. That is a problem that I have and it's in my head, not my jaws. I know that I have to work to change that.

    Good news- I get my splint out Tuesday, at just over 3 weeks post-op! Then straight to the ortho for a wire change, meaning I might be able to ditch these surgical posts, too. Then I can start chewing soft foods and maybe gain a bit of weight back. I'll be able to talk better, so I'll probably want to socialize more which should cheer me up a bit. And I should be ready to go back to work at 5 weeks post-op as planned, which is great because I do miss my co-workers, and I'm only getting 55% of my income paid for sick leave (long story, but I had to go through gov't E.I. not private insurance as I originally thought).

    Posted 3 months ago #

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