Jaw Surgery Forums » Post-Surgery and Recovery Questions

scared- help???

(10 posts)
  • Started 1 year ago by Penworthy
  • Latest reply from jennamoran
  • 1 Members Subscribed To Topic

  1. Penworthy
    Member

    Hi. I'm a teenage girl, and I have an overbite/openbite. I'm really scared about the surgery I'm getting this summer, and I have some questions-
    1): Is there any vomiting involved?? MAJOR concern here, I'm an emetaphobe.
    2): Will I look drastically different? I'm really worried no one will recgonize me, or I'll look worse :(
    3): Will my jaw be wired shut?
    4): How much pain is involved?

    I don't know the name of the surgery I'm getting, but it involves cutting open both sides of my jaw and moving my bottom jaw forward. I'll also be getting braces on my bottom teeth. Has anyone else on here gotten that? If so, what's the recovery/end result like?
    Thanks! xx

    Posted 1 year ago #

  2. jasminedawn
    Member

    Hi, I'm 19 and I had jaw surgery 6 weeks ago today! I can honestly say it's one of the, if not, the best things I have ever done! and I defiantly do not regret it!
    I had an under bite which was also a little wonky.

    I had braces on for 2 years prior the operation and then had my bottom jaw moved backwards and top jaw forwards, and also both straightened so they are perfectly centered. All the work was done from the inside of my mouth so no scars!

    1. No vomiting was involved with me, but for some people it's different.

    2. You will look different but I'm sure it won’t be a difference that no one will recognise you. It does depend from person to person. But I think I look 100 times better after the surgery although I am still recovering at the moment.

    3. My jaw wasn't wired as so to speak, but everyone(?) has to wear elastics while your jaw is recovering. This enables you to open your jaw a little but not too much. Some people do have their's wired however, but my surgeon said it wasn't too common.

    4. Post surgery pain is worse for the first week! it's more a mix of feeling sorry for your self, swelling, bruising, and your a little in a daze. First week or few days is by far the worse and then it starts getting a lot better!

    It's the best thing I've ever done anyway! Talk to your orthodontist if you are worried perhaps?
    Also, I'm from the UK, sometimes it's a little different in other countires..
    Hope this has helped, Jasmine xxx

    Posted 1 year ago #

  3. orchdork
    Member

    Hi! I don't know if you already had your surgery, but I had mine on the 1st of this month. Right now, it doesn't seem like the best decision on my part, simply because it's hard for me to be inactive for this long. (I'm 19 as well) But, in answer to your questions:

    1) I didn't vomit at all, but my friend who had the same surgery as me vomited for 2 days straight.
    2) Right now, I look a lot different, but that's only because I'm swollen in the lip area. This surgery really isn't meant to change the way you look. Only on the inside. The swelling is the worst part, most of which should go down in the first two weeks. When you wake up, you'll be extremely swollen. Don't let it get you down.
    3) Most everyone has their mouth rubber banded shut. I was lucky enough to avoid this, as my jaw happened to naturally bite into my splint. But, you won't be wired shut =)
    4) When I woke up, I felt great. The first day post op, I was on the computer and chatting with friends. However, the next two days were awful. I'll be honest. For me, the horribleness only lasted those two days. Since then, as long as you keep on top of your pain meds, you'll be fine. That's the most important thing. Take them on the hourly rate they're prescribed even if you aren't in pain when it's time to take it, and you'll be fine.

    Good luck with everything!
    -Sara (orchdork)

    Posted 11 months ago #

  4. daniel
    Member

    hey there, I had surgery 5 days ago and here's what my answers would look like:
    1): I had to throw up once because I had swallowed too much blood. Clearly, swallowing blood is a not a good idea.
    2): Whether you look different or not depends on what is being done. Generally, you should look better after surgery. In fact, this type of surgery is also being done for purely aesthetical reasons. Check all the before/after pics in the forum and you'll see that almost everybody looks better after the surgery.
    3): Most people get their mouths wired, which makes it harder to talk and open your mouth. But some people did not get wired shut.
    4): If you take the pain medication: close to none.

    34-old male, Switzerland, both jaws, chin reduction, correction of overbite and segmental osteotomie, surgery on June 7th 2011

    see http://kieferop.blogspot.com for more! (in german)
    Posted 11 months ago #

  5. RachelM
    Member

    I had my surgery (both jaws) four days ago and wasn't sick at all although I did feel a bit sick from swallowing lots of blood.
    2. can't say just yet how different my face will be as I look like a hamster with full cheeks but I'm really happy that I'll still look like me...but with a better jaw!
    3. I haven't had my jaws wired shut or any elastics as my teeth are meeting just right. I might have to have elasstics in the next couple of weeks but if things stay as they are I should be fine.
    4. It's not exactly the most comfortable I've ever felt but I wouldn't say I'm in any pain. Just really tired due to lack of sleep and very numb all over my face so if I am in pain, I can't feel it!

    It's certainly good to read up on what to expect but everyone is completely different. Just depends on how your body reacts to the anaesthetic, if you bruise easily etc.

    I can safely say I have no regrets at this point although the first 12 hours post op were pretty hoprrible. But that's long forgotten now and I'm just enjoying all the jelly and ice cream!

    Posted 11 months ago #

  6. delroy
    Member

    That is one of my main fears! The vomiting! How do you manage to vomit safely with your mouth banded shut?! :S

    Posted 11 months ago #

  7. RachelM
    Member

    if you do have to have elastics they don't put them on immediately until the possibility of throwing up is well and truly over. The thing I found most helpful was my 'suction machine' which I had for 24 hours post op and I could stick in my mouth to suck out all the dribble and dried up blood (it's not a sexy process!)

    I'm seeing my surgeon on tuesday so might have to have elastics then but fingers crossed I won't. I've just had a bowl of soup with a real spoon. Sounds like nothing but it feels like huge step forward, especially so early on!

    Posted 11 months ago #

  8. daniel
    Member

    throwing up while being wired shut did work well for me ;-) you can still open your mouth a bit, it's just harder. yeah, not sexy either... sorry.

    Posted 11 months ago #

  9. mdm007
    Member

    Prior and right after surgery, the fear of throwing up was the scariest part of the whole process for me as well. But surprisingly enough i haven't thrown up yet and thank god cause i am wired shut. I do get nauseous most of the times (especially when anyone cooks the slightest thing) but i just turn the lights off, spray the house/my room with glade air freshener and put myself to sleep...seems to work out fine for me...!
    Until next time people

    Posted 11 months ago #

  10. jennamoran
    Member

    1) I was TERRIFIED of puking as well, it's one of my biggest fears in general, let alone when my mouth is wired shut. I DID end up throwing up the first day of my surgery- BUT I hadn't eaten anything, so nothing really came out. It didn't hurt or anything, and I was still pretty out of it so I didn't have the anxiety with it. It happened when they made me get out of bed to take an x-ray just a few hours after I got out of recovery. It was toooo much for me, too soon. If the pain meds make you nauseous, I suggest laying down and taking the MINIMUM amount that you can.

    2) I've seen pretty drastic changes in other people, but mine seems to be somewhat subtle. All the changes I've seen have been a HUGE improvement, though!

    3) You may have wires or rubberbands. I was completely wired shut for 4 weeks. Your surgeon should be able to tell you how your mouth will be shut and for how long.

    4) There wasn't any pain involved in my jaw after surgery, but there was quite a bit in my teeth from the pressure of the wires holding them down. The pain meds will help!

    Posted 11 months ago #

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