Jaw Surgery Forums » Pre-Surgery Questions

Friends' Reactions and Age

(12 posts)
  • Started 9 months ago by Porcupine
  • Latest reply from Porcupine
  • 1 Members Subscribed To Topic
12

  1. Porcupine
    Member

    Hi! My name is Dani and I'm new to this forum. I'll be having double jaw surgery to correct my under bite on August 10th. I have two questions about the surgery.

    First, what were your friends and family's reactions to your surgery? I'm explaining to one of my friends how I will look different after surgery hopefully tomorrow, and another friend on Saturday. I do have some friends that aren't as close that I won't be able to tell until AFTER surgery, though, and I'm more worried about their reactions.

    Secondly, how old were you when you got your surgery? I'm 15 and I'll be 16 in October. I haven't seen anyone younger than me or the same age as me get their surgery. I have seen people close to my age, though, just a little older. For anyone who has gotten surgery in high school (This goes along with the first question, sort of), how do you deal with people who bully you about your surgery?

    Any other general advice would be welcomed as well. :) Thank you everyone, and good luck to everyone who is preparing for or recovering from surgery! :)

    Posted 9 months ago #

  2. giltzer14
    Member

    I am shocked that you are able to have surgery at such a young age. I had to wait til i was 21 to make sure i was done growing because growth of the jaw after surgery can be an issue. at least that's what i was told.

    I am 21 years old and had the surgery a week ago. I can't speak of having the surgery myself in high school, but people i knew went thru high school after major surgeries, including stuff on their face, such as a nose surgery. I believe you will be just fine even though you're in the middle of high school. I do advice you take AT THE VERY LEAST 1 week off of school because just the uncomfort level is awful then. I only had 1 jaw worked on, so i can only imagine that having double will be even worse.

    if you have good friends surrounding you, you will be just fine. Obviously i would suggest that you not bring attention to yourself or try to make people feel bad for you....that won't help. People will obviously ask you what happened, etc etc etc and just be honest, if anything they will be nicer to you during your recovery!

    Goodluck!

    Check out my jaw surgery experience here: http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/topic/kevins-before-and-after-upper-jaw-surgery-pics
    Posted 9 months ago #

  3. sunlight17
    Member

    My surgery is in 2 days and I actually just turned 15 a few days ago. I haven't been able to see friends reactions obviously since I haven't gotten it done yet but so far telling my friends about it I have only told close friends and I have tried to not make it seem like a huge deal. when I go back to school I will most likely only be telling people if they ask me why I look different or whatever. just trying to make sure I don't come off like I am like bragging about it in anyway. if anyone bullies u about it I would just tell them that u needed the surgery to improve ur bite, maybe mention that it is making it easyer for u to eat, sleep, so on,.. and that it shouldn't concern them.

    Posted 9 months ago #

  4. kelly2011
    Member

    Wow- you're having surgery at a very young age! I'm 19 and my double jaw surgery is set for August 18th. Hopefully everything turns out okay, and you don't have to end up having another surgery in 4-6 years.

    I just told my friends i'll be having double jaw surgery to fix my underbite. I didn't go into much detail about it because I hate my underbite and any attention being brought to it/about it. I'm just ready for surgery!!!

    Good Luck!

    Double jaw surgery to correct underbite and crossbite, August 18th, before and after pictures: http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/topic/kellys-before-double-jaw-surgery-pics
    Posted 9 months ago #

  5. momo lee
    Member

    I'm surprised too that you guys are getting surgery so soon. I'm 18 now and I have stopped growing since I was 16, which was the time I started treatment (braces) and he didn't want to start sooner! I guess it works differently depending on who/where it is.

    My surgery is August 17th and I'm finished with high school so I can't say anything about it, but I know a few who said that people in general are just curios so it's "better" or easier to just answer their questions. They didn't get bullied or anything, people are usually nice in high school.

    GOOD LUCK!

    — Bi-jaw surgery to correct crossbite & underbite (17/8-11): Before & After
    Posted 9 months ago #

  6. bobbyknight
    Member

    You should get surgery when you already stopped growing.
    There will be a possible of relapses if you've done the surgery while you're still growing.
    Guess, age 20 and up is the proper age since this time you already stop growing.

    Posted 9 months ago #

  7. RachelM
    Member

    16 seems very young and it's unlikely you've stopped growing yet. I'd check with your surgeo why you're having ti done now and ask them to confirm that they are positive you've stopped growing otherwise it's going to mean having the same thing done when you're older and this isn't surgery you want twice in a lifetime! I really hope thigns go well if it all goes ahead. I do find it surprising you're having it done so young though

    Posted 9 months ago #

  8. Porcupine
    Member

    Thanks everyone! :) I told my first friend, and she was fine with it, despite my awkwardness telling her. :P Now I'll tell my other friend tomorrow, and I'll probably be just as awkward. :P My orthodontist has checked to see that I stopped growing, so unless he was wrong that shouldn't be an issue. Also, I'm not planning on taking off any school, I was told that I should be able to bounce back pretty quickly because I'm young... hopefully that's true.

    Posted 9 months ago #

  9. giltzer14
    Member

    I would highly recommend taking some time off school. Most surgeons tell their patients that the earliest they can go back to work is 2 weeks. Especially those first couple days ...theres no way you will want to go to school! YOu said your surgery is August 10th...when does school start?

    I only had upper jaw surgery and am taking 3 weeks off work FYI. Yeah i'm about 1.5 weeks into recovery - I can tell you I would not want to go to work w/ my swelling as it is. LET ALONE BEING WIRED SHUT STILL! Very uncomfortable.

    You are having double jaw surgery which likely means you will be wired shut even longer than me...like for a month. very uncomfortable just to let you know. And don't get me started on how hungry I am right now! lol

    Posted 9 months ago #

  10. MNB
    Member

    I turned 16 in January and am having surgery in 3 weeks! Girls tend to stop growing rather young whereas men normally do have to wait till their 20s or so for surgery such as this because men take a longer time to stop growing. I had a xray taken of my growth plate in my wrist 2 years ago to see if I was done growing and I was already done growing even then. They said there is less than a 1% chance that my underbite will return after surgery. It is very rare in any case actually and any good surgent and even orthodontist will make sure to check prior to treatment to make sure growth has stopped!
    All my close friends know I am getting surgery and if people ask when I return to school, my hope is they are asking because I look better and why not tell them? :) The old bite is in the past so why not let people know! As long as your are confident after surgery with how you look people will most likely not be mean at all just surprised! Remember, change is good!

    Goodluck with surgery and school! It'll all probably be better than expected :)

    Posted 9 months ago #

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