BEFORE SURGERY:
I'm 19 years of age and currently at university.
I had a Orthognathic Maxillary Advancement Osteotomy performed on me at the start of December. In short I had an under-bite which was going to be corrected by a le forte II advancement.
I hated having an under-bite, not being able to smile normally, bottom jaw always being further forward than the top and the general look of disposition.
I didn't think the surgery was really a big deal. I have always believed you don't moan or be scared you just get it done and deal with it.
While in hospital in the morning, there was a lot of waiting around. I was laying on a hospital bed with my parents talking to me. The left after an hour or so, to enable me to relax and get some rest - I think this was an excellent idea as often others create stress.
In the afternoon around 3pm I was wheeled down to the 'waiting' room. My surgeon and i had a good relationship with each other, and i have met him on several occasions. He was joking around with me and saying how I will look good afterwards etc. I think this was important to put your mind at ease.
Then, I was wheeled into the prep room. Again more familiar faces were looking at me, talking to me and joking with me. My blood pressure was high, but of course this is expected when you are to have major surgery on your face.
THE RECOVERY:
I woke up in the recovery ward, this is where you are kept straight after surgery, with constant supervision. I remember briefly opening my eyes and seeing several people looking at me. Then at some point later I awoke and threw up literally a bowl of blood, and this happened twice in the recovery room. I can honestly say even now, i remember hardly anything from there, due to the drugs your on etc. I do remember however my surgeon in a change of clothes (a suit) so obviously i hadn't woken up that soon if he has had time to change and saying to me everything went 100% surgically perfect.
Next I remember opening my eyes on my ward as i was being wheeled out of the lift and into my corridor and seeing my parents at the end, and my father's face in shock. Then I wake up again in my room, parents, doctors and nurses all staring at me. I remember only one thing, which was my dad saying, you'll be okay son and be trying to acknowledge him with a mumble. Then I fell asleep. The whole experience from waking up straight after surgery is a very surreal one of constantly waking for a split few seconds and then falling asleep again and this happening over and over. As I stated previously I still now have hardly any reallocation of waking up.
I believe from my mother telling me, after the surgery which lasted around 4 hours and leaving the recovery ward. I was back on my ward around 10pm (i was wheeled down for surgery at 3pm). I then woke up I believe around 2am. This is when the experience really began. I knew a LOT about this surgery before I had it done but some things took me by surprise. For example, not being able to breathe through your nose, as they cut your nasal passage in half. The constant and I mean CONSTANT bleeding of your nose from when your sinuses get full of blood in surgery. The inside of my mouth also bled a lot, but that was expected after having 40 or so stitches in your mouth.
However, as I was clearly told by my surgeon, the first night post operative is not the worst. Why? one simple answer, you are on morphine.
The whole hospital experience is a very quick one. I went in Tuesday Morning and left the next afternoon.
On Wednesday morning, the nurses helped me walk to the toilet. But, on the way out of the toilet I saw a mirror. And rightly so was intrigued to see what I looked like. I can personally assure you, nothing prepares you for what you see back. You cannot see the 'correct new bite' because the swelling is SO bad you cant even see your teeth. I did manage to drink a lot of water, and i attempted to eat porridge and had a glass of milk.
Anyhow, I got discharged and my father drove me home. I got home and sat on the sofa, i clearly understood that you must sit up right after surgery. Due to the fact sitting up right makes it easier to breathe and will help drain the swelling.
Once the morphine had worn off the pain I experience was and still is indescribable. Everything in my face hurt, the bones, the swelling; everything!
I was prescribed to take an unearthly amount of medicine. Codeine, paracetamol, ibuprofen, 2 different types of antibiotics.
However, that evening when I laid upright in my bed. Something happened, the swelling had increased so much my eyes actually started to close. My parents around 2am rushed me back to hospital. Here they drained my nose full of the blood. The pressure was increasing the pain. They gave me a injection, which I cant remember what it done, except I know it was to reduce swelling. I believe they give this to you in surgery also. The surgeon who I saw said she had only ever seen one more person this swollen more than me! I must add when I was discharged I wasn't given codeine, so that surgeon gave me it because I was in so much pain.
I was told days 4 - 6 are your worst and this is completely true. They are uncomfortable difficult, physically and mentally.
MY ADVICE
If your going to be getting jaw surgery, I would advise you to not think about it at all. Just deal with it once you wake up. If like me you think family members may stress you out tell them to stay away from you because they are having a negative effect on you.
It is very important to have someone look after you who is positive and cares. Whoever is they must keep a record of your medication, times given and times needed. There is a lot to keep record of!
Be prepared for the next month of your life is going to be a difficult one. However, I found after 3 weeks I was near enough back able to do 'normal' things.
I'm not in my fourth week post operative and swelling still exists in cheeks and upper lip. However, I can chew normally, not in any pain what so ever (get aches sometimes though) and I did stop medication after about 2 and a half weeks.
I was lucky to have one of the best surgeons in Europe doing my surgery, so clearly I was very relaxed. You must trust the man / women who is going to break your skull and bolt it back together again! this is an important thing to help you stay calm!
My upper jaw was advanced by 5mm. I got told the week before they moved a mans upper and lower jaw to a total of 20mm and my swelling is worse than his! I never had surgery before this so I found out I swell and bruise terribly bad!
I am happy with how I am starting to look. You must just be prepared to undergo hell for a short period of your life. But you must remember, you endure the worst for several weeks, but for the rest of your life you are going to have a better facial profile.
Joseph Woodward
