Past, current, and future Jaw Surgery patients Unite!
mandy
Member
So i have today booked the first surgery for August. I am having mine in two stages over two years. The first one is to widen and lift my top jaw, then i have 1.5 years of braces and plates in my mouth and the 2nd surgery will bring my lower jaw forward.
Is anyone else doing this is Sydney? I am from the UK originally and have been putting off this procedure for years but have decided to go ahead.
Would be good to know if anyone else on here is in Australia?
Thanks!
Mandy
andy
Member
There's a couple of Aussies around these boards.
I am in Canberra. But I won't be much help as some others here because I haven't even signed up to the surgery yet! I'm still seeking second opinions before I decide if it's right for me.
Well done on making such a big commitment and good luck!
Brandon
Site Administrator
Hi Mandy,
Congrats on getting your first surgery date, and it sounds like you've got the right positive mindset to be patient throughout the process, because it's definitely worth it in the end!
Here is a post with a couple other Aussies:
http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/topic/pain
jadeleary
Member
Can I ask why you have to have your surgery in two parts? Why aren't they doing it all at once.
mandy
Member
Hi Jade, that is just the way the surgeon wants to do it. They have all said that there is evidence to suggest the chance of relapse is less if you do the surgery in two stages (if you require changes to the top and bottom jaw like myself). Because my top jaw's teeth are too low at the back they do not allow my bottom jaw to swing properly when chewing. After the plates that they are inserting have corrected this height problem they want to see how much difference this makes to the retraction of my lower jaw before then finalizing how far it needs to be brought forward.
I think that was all they said, to be honest i get totally overwhelmed with information and moulds and 3D scans. I think a little information is good but i am trying to not think too in depth about the actual processes as it would freak me out and i know i would back out!
I have total faith in the team of surgeons, they are some of the best in Australia and i am just happy to go with their decisions for the best outcome!
I hope that does not make me sound totally dumb!
jware
Member
Hi,
I am from Sydney and having met with numerous surgeons I decided not to take the option of doing two operations like you are doing. I am booked in for my operation on December the 2nd.
I have heard that having two operations is better as you can have better control over the change of your facial features etc.. I am too impatient and couldn't go through with two operations. I had my wisdom teeth out and it was hell, add one extra operation to that and I could no way deal!
Who is your surgeon? Make sure you research all possible surgeons before you go ahead with anything. My surgeon and orthodontist are both south African and they have a practice together like the orthodontist and the surgery place are literally across the hall from each other. I think it is important to have a surgeon and a orthodontist with a good working relationship. They say south Africans are good at their work because they work so closely together, that is why I mainly chose this option rather than the second option of having two surgeries.
I hope that helps? If you want to talk some more feel free to email me; jessware@hotmail.com I know my friends dont really understand, so if you need someone to talk to drop me a line!
mandy
Member
Hi there Jess. Thanks for the reply. I totally know where you are coming from, i would rather go through just one operation. But because of the type of surgery i need they have said this is the best option. I am having SARPE/SARME (i think that is what it is called) in a few weeks which is to expand my top jaw and i then need to where a plate inside my jaw for 3-4 months. Then i am having the lower jaw surgery next year after wearing braces for a while.
The practice is Orthodontic Exclusively and the surgeons (2) and orthodontist all work together. The main surgeon (Dr Peter Mouser) is one of the top specialists in Sydney and was recommended to me by someone who has gone through a similar thing. I have researched them and have seen someone else to compare but these seemed so much more knowledgeable and have been doing this for 20 years, so i feel very safe with them and have total faith.
I just wish i did not have to go through it twice! I am most dreading having the plate thing in as it will make me have a big gap between my front teeth for upto 4 months and i will talk with a lisp. Well to be honest i am dreading the whole thing and starting to wonder why i am doing this!! My first operation is in less than 4 weeks and i feel sick just thinking about it!
The orthodontist has said that the SARPE operation is not too bad and i only need to wear the bands for 10-14 days.
Anyway, thanks lots for your advice. Good luck with your treatment and i will let you know how the first operation goes!
Mandy
Teresa
Member
Hi Jade
I had SARPE just over a month ago and I am having to put up with the gap and the lisp that you are dreading!
The actual expanding finished a couple of weeks ago and the gap was kinda big which worried me but its already getting smaller and Im also getting used to it which i didnt expect. I think knowing that the braces will sort it out eventually helps, I know I have to put up with it for a reason!
About the lisp, that also gets better with time. Again I think its just something you get used to and learn to live with. Another few weeks and it should be off!
Best of luck with everything anyway
:)
Sky
Member
Hi Mandy
Any feedback on your surgery with Dr Mouser? thank you
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