Past, current, and future Jaw Surgery patients Unite!
chai-latte
Member
When you shift your lower jaw to make the midline centered, do you notice that the sides of the face are not equal? Like the chin is centered but one side of the face is more chubby than the other?
I was wondering if it was necessary for any of you with jaw asymmetry (chin deviated off midline, one side of jaw higher than other, one side of face more slim than the other) to get one side of the mandible shaved down to match the other for a more cosmetically symmetrical appearance? Thanks!
jasminedawn
Member
Hello, I had my jaw shifted during my surgery to make the midline centred but I didn't notice any difference on either side, pretty much swelled up and went down at the same rate. Not sure that's the same for everyone though.
Eric
Member
I had my lower jaw shifted to reposition my chin and midline. Before the surgery, my midline and chin were pretty off and my left jawline was more slanted i.e. right was more chubby. After surgery, my chin is centered but I can still see some of the asymmetry in my face. I would say orthognathic surgery can fix facial asymmetry to certain extend. If your asymmetry is like at behind your jaw, then BSSO wouldn't fix it.
I think facial asymmetry can be hardly noticed, especially for other people. But we usually notice asymmetry in our own photographs because we're used to seeing our face flipped (right-left) in the mirror and when we see our actual face from the photo, asymmetry presents itself like TWICE as extreme, even though it actually might not be easily noticeable at all.
My surgeon didn't shave down mandible and I'm satisfied with my result. I notice my asymmetry but I bet no one actually sees it.
cwade
Member
Hi I am getting surgery end of next year and know exactly what you mean! My midline is off by 5mm due to more growth on the right side of my jaw making the asymmetry of my face and jaw really bad. The left side of my jaw is defined and bigger, the right/longer side sinks in and is smaller. I am waiting on my surgeons response on what he would have to do but i understand where your coming from dont want to go through the surgery and feel one side of your jaw looks completely different. will let you know what my surgeon says
chai-latte
Member
Hey cwade,
Please do let me know what your surgeon says. I am having my orthognathic consultation on Sept.26th but it's a long ways away! I would love to have SOME peace of mind and idea of what I would be getting into.
smithbob12
Member
I have asymmetry too and I'm finding it is a lot harder to get surgery to fix it. When people say their asymmetry is like 4mm off how do u measure that?
cwade
Member
This is my most recent X-ray. I have to get double jaw surgery and they are going to do a 3D CT scan to decide how they will cut and position everything so my jaw is balanced and one side isn't bigger/longer/different then the other.
RachelM
Member
I had asymmetry too and it's all fixed now! I've no idea exaclty how they do it but I had my bottom jaw rotated left 3mm. My top jaw was also at an angle horizontally which has been realigned to be straight during surgery so when I smile now I don't show loads of gum on one side like I used to.
I find it incredible what my surgeon has done. Some of the smallest adjustments have made everything fit together really nicely. So pleased with the final result. Especially over the past few weeks!
cwade
Member
Sounds a lot like my circumstances. They are all small adjustments they are making but Im so scared of how my face will change even though I trust my surgeons. Do you have any before and after pics RachelM?
dlue
Member
Instead of shaving down one side of my mandible I will be having a second surgery 6 months later to put in an implant on my right side to match the squareness of my left side. I'll also get another implant put in on the right side of my chin to even out the fact that my left side has slightly more bone.
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